With Tomori’s disqualification, in front of Maignan against Inter it will be Thiaw and Kalulu’s turn: so far in a 4-man defense they have played four games together as central defenders (two as starters) for 213 minutes
They won’t be new, but we’re close. Let’s say that around Milanello we have seen more tested central defensive pairs. But the disqualification that will fall on Tomori’s head in the next few hours forces Pioli to make the first real forced choice of this season: in front of Maignan, in the center of the four-man line, there will be Pierre Kalulu and Malick Thiaw.
programming
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The first thing that stands out is the registry office: the Frenchman is 23 years old, the German is 22. Combined, the median age is 22.6. Remarkable, but up to a certain point: in defense – but not only in defense – Milan has implemented a program that already in recent seasons has led to projecting the department into the future. A department where Kjaer is the exception that confirms the rule and the latest arrival Pellegrino represents the line of personal continuity. Pierre and Malick suddenly find themselves facing a derby that doesn’t care about the calendar: we’re only on the fourth day, but given the triumphant way in which the two teams get there, it already counts a lot. The goal is to disarm the newborn ThuLa – Thuram and, above all, the unleashed tournament top scorer Lautaro – and lock that door that has creaked more than once since July onwards. And then, since acronyms are in fashion, Milan responds to ThuLa with ThiKa.
margins of growth
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Let’s say that Pioli would have preferred to have both of them available on the days that accompany the derby. But if Kalulu remained at Milanello, Thiaw was instead called up by the German national team, a natural landing place for this player who exploded in the last six months. Malick continues to amaze because, observing him at work, he gives the clear impression of still having gigantic room for improvement. His character obviously benefits him: since he took the starting position last season, he has almost never given the idea of being in trouble. Not even in the Champions League. Over the summer, Pioli decided to officially hand him over to the reference eleven. Then, of course, as the coach says, the Diavolo has never had a squad like this year where the second lines are worth a lot. However, central defense is one of those positions where turnover is usually not contemplated, unless there are special needs. There in the middle, in front of the goalkeeper, when you find the square it is wise to keep it.
previous
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Kalulu finds himself wearing a starting shirt in the most important match of the Rossoneri autumn collection, and the same goes for Thiaw: Pierre is another cold by nature. When he had started making a steady couple with Tomori, coming from Lyon where he had never made his debut among the pros, he was the emblem of imperturbability. The Scudetto season was a fantastic ride, then last year more than one crack came for him too. So much, in fact, that he lost his titular ranks precisely for the benefit of Thiaw. They tell of a Pierre who is not too happy with the current situation – and who would be, starting from the second row -, but also of a Milan that never wanted to consider the possibility of depriving himself of him. Offers? Some have arrived but Pierre has a particular value, because he can also play full-back as well as in the centre. The derby will see him in the middle, next to Thiaw. It is not a new couple, we said, but almost. The two have shared the field in 21 games – just over 1,100 minutes -, most of which, however, in the context of a three-man defence: 12 times. On other occasions, however, the Frenchman acted as a full-back. In practice there are only four precedents in which Pierre and Malick have played together centrally in a four-man line. Twice as starters, both obviously last season: in Bologna and at San Siro with Cremonese, two games that finished 1-1. And twice in the current match, both against Roma at the Olimpico: 17 minutes last season (another 1-1) and 25 in Friday’s victory. Total minutes together as central players, in a four-man defence: 213. Goals scored by Milan: 4. The goal is to lock the door and who knows if this – given Tomori’s difficulties which show no sign of diminishing – may not be a change in Pioli’s hierarchies.
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