Marchegiani: AC Milan Should Play with a Back Four

Former goalkeeper and Sky's long-serving pundit Marchegiani has weighed in on the tactical debate surrounding AC Milan following the win over Lecce. In his view, the team is gradually converging on the formation that best suits their current squad: a back four in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape. Marchegiani stressed that adopting a back four is 'normal' and that the coaching staff choose their best players 'little by little' to operate this system. The biggest weakness highlighted by the pundit lies on the right flank. AC Milan do not have a natural right-back, forcing Gila to fill the role out of position – far from an easy adaptation. To solve this, Marchegiani proposed deploying a right winger who cuts inside onto his left foot, freeing the full-back to push forward in attack. Moreira is envisioned as a high wide player rather than a wing-back covering the whole flank. However, this tactical solution has only been tested in one match – the victory over Lecce, a side he described as allowing space and breaking with lower quality. Marchegiani admitted that time is needed and that teams pressing harder will be the real test. He also insisted that players coming back from the World Cup need to be put in the most comfortable conditions to rediscover their best feeling. On a psychological level, Marchegiani had positive words for Gonçalo Ramos – who is enduring a run without goals. According to him, Ramos not scoring 'is normal,' and his reaction when teammates scored, along with his hug with Moreira, shows the right team spirit. This is a positive dressing-room signal, an important factor as the team seeks stability. In the short term, the tactical debate will continue until AC Milan show consistency against stronger opponents. But it is clear the coaching staff are moving toward a clear-back-four system – and the tactical patches on the right flank will be the key to making this system work smoothly.