Legendary Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi has shared his thoughts on AC Milan’s revamped attacking lineup, emphasizing the importance of style and management in the team’s future success. While welcoming the abundance of offensive options, Sacchi stresses that these resources must be managed wisely.
Sacchi begins by addressing the wealth of attacking talent now at Sérgio Conceição’s disposal. “Having a greater number of solutions is undoubtedly important for a coach,” he says. “However, I want to clearly state that what Milan has lacked so far is style. Therefore, it will be up to Conceição to give the team a playing style. It’s not an easy task, but I believe he can do it.”
The former Milan coach expresses hope that the players were chosen by the manager based on both technical and human evaluations. He points out that Milan must be competitive in Serie A, Champions League, and Coppa Italia, justifying the need for a large squad.
Sacchi specifically mentions Rafael Leão, suggesting that the increased competition could benefit certain players. “Well, Leão will need to wake up,” he states. “He can no longer play well in just one out of three matches: consistency is a fundamental quality in a champion’s repertoire.”
Regarding new signings Santiago Giménez and João Félix, Sacchi is cautiously optimistic. He’s followed Giménez in the Netherlands but wants to see how he adapts to Italian football. As for João Félix, Sacchi describes him as “a great promise so far unfulfilled” but believes Milan’s environment could help him reach his true potential.
Sacchi also discusses Conceição’s likely tactical approach, noting that the Portuguese coach favors defending with two lines of four and employs pressing. “He wants to take the initiative away from the opponent, he doesn’t accept being dominated,” Sacchi explains. He believes the abundance of attacking options will allow for wise rotation and energy management.
When asked if Milan’s attack is now stronger than Inter’s, Sacchi is measured in his response. “The Lautaro-Thuram pair is the best in Italy,” he acknowledges. “Certainly, the Rossoneri have raised the bar and, above all, have valid replacements. But, and I insist on this, the important thing is that Conceição gives a playing style to the team. When there’s a style, it’s easier for new players to fit in. If there’s no style, you can’t be protagonists.”
