It has been all change at most of the expected title challengers in Serie A this summer, and this promises to refresh the league as each new boss works out a tactical plan than he hopes will deliver glory. While some of the bottoms settling into hot seats are not new, others have yet to experience the seat-squirming nature of the Italian game. However, even those with experience, like Inter’s Gian Piero Gasperini, are unaccustomed to life at a big Italian club, while those without, notably former Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique, will write a new chapter in their fledgling coaching career.
Key to each coach’s success or failure will be their tactics. Inside Futbol assess the tactical set-ups the Serie A title challengers are likely to adopt under their respective managers:
AC Milan – Coach: Massimiliano Allegri
Allegri continues at Milan after leading the club to last season’s Scudetto, but the Italian has brought some fresh faces to the Rossoneri. The ex-Cagliari coach will again deploy his favoured 4-3-1-2 and should trust in new arrivals Taye Taiwo (left back) and Philippe Mexes (centre back) – the Frenchman especially is seen as potentially a world class defender who can operate alongside Alessandro Nesta or Thiago Silva at the heart of Milan’s defence.
Milan are still on the lookout for a left sided midfielder – the club’s target has been nicknamed “Mister X” and his arrival has been mooted by vice-president Adriano Galliani for the entire summer – but whoever lands at the club is unlikely to be a difference-maker. Allegri will once again play Kevin-Prince Boateng as a trequartista, with the Ghana star interchangeable with Brazilian Robinho. Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Alexandre Pato will be handed the front roles.
Space looks limited for Antonio Cassano and, despite the former Roma man’s declaration of loyalty to the Rossoneri, Allegri’s tactical plans make substantial time on the pitch for the striker unlikely.
Inter – Coach: Giampiero Gasperini
Gian Piero Gasperini is the man handed the task of reinvigorating an Inter side that lost their crown to Milan last season. The 53-year-old is a tactical innovator, adopting a wide range of systems when managing Juventus’ youth teams and, more recently, Genoa, guiding the Rossoblu into the Europa League.
At Inter, Gasperini will choose to play either a 4-3-3 or, more probably, a 3-4-3. A three-man defensive line will be a novelty for an Inter side accustomed to playing with four at the back – Gasperini looks set to pick Walter Samuel, Brazilian centre back Lucio and Andrea Ranocchia. The new coach also intends to make use of Wesley Sneijder in midfield if the Dutchman is still at his disposal after the summer transfer window has shut.
Up front, the former Bianconeri stalwart will base his attacking play around “untouchable” Samuel Eto’o, Giampaolo Pazzini and new signing Ricardo Alvarez, a tricky Argentine bought from Velez Sarsfield. Alvarez is a quick and highly technical player, but it remains to be seen whether he can fit in with Gasperini’s plans. Striker Luc Castaignos, freshly arrived from Dutch side Feyenoord, could enjoy a fine campaign and was used heavily throughout pre-season by the new Inter boss.
Juventus – Coach: Antonio Conte
After two unacceptable seasons the Bianconeri have opted for change in the manager’s office once again. Following the failed spells of Ciro Ferrara, Alberto Zaccheroni and Luigi Delneri, Juventus President Andrea Agnelli has appointed Antono Conte, an Old Lady legend who patrolled the club’s midfield during the reign of Marcello Lippi at the end of the 1990s.
Conte worked wonders at Bari and Siena and intends to grace the new Juventus Arena (set to open in September) with an open and brave 4-2-4, taking his inspiration from Brazil’s magnificent 1970 World Cup team.
Juventus brought in veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo from Milan and Arturo Vidal from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, and the arrival of the 2006 World Cup winner and the Chile international promises a passing game in the middle of the park. Up front Conte looks set to choose four dangerous attackers, with the Italian able to pick Milos Krasic, Fabio Quagliarella, new signing Mirko Vucinic and Claudio Marchisio, who could also operate in midfield.
The Bianconeri’s defence looks weaker than the rest of the team and this may prove to be a real problem for Conte as the season drags on.
Napoli – Coach: Walter Mazzarri
If Napoli can hold onto their top players, the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik, and the signs look good, then the club’s side are stronger than last season. And given Napoli’s charge to the Champions League and, even at one point, Serie A title challenge, that is a worry for the rest of Italy’s top flight.
Walter Mazzarri can count on several new faces to push Napoli even further this season. Gokhan Inler, the tough-tackling Swiss midfielder, has been signed from Udinese and Blerim Dzemaili, a Macedonian schemer, brought to southern Italy from Parma. Tactically Mazzarri will continue his 3-4-2-1, with Uruguayan Edinson Cavani a lonely forward.
The test for Napoli comes in handling two prestigious competitions such as Serie A and the Champions League – all with a squad without too much experience in Europe. Mazzarri needs to add another player up front to replace Cavani on occasion and should swoop before the window slams shut.
Roma – Coach: Luis Enrique
The Giallorossi could well prove to be one of Serie A’s most interesting sides this season in tactical terms. Owned by American tycoon Thomas DiBenedetto, Spaniard Luis Enrique has been appointed, lured from Barcelona B; the former utility man has no experience at senior level, having bossed only youth teams.
The ex-Barcelona favourite has bet on an attacking 4-3-3, counting on new recruits Bojan Krkic (from Barcelona) and Erik Lamela (the 19-year-old who impressed with Argentina’s Under-20 side but suffered the pain of relegation at club level with River Plate) alongside Roma legend Francesco Totti.
At the back there are fresh faces too, with Jose Angel Valdes signed from Sporting Gijon on the left, veteran defender Gabriel Heinze (via Marseille) in the centre, while goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, snapped up from Ajax, is also expected to play a crucial role for the Giallorossi. For Roma though, the continued presence of midfielder Daniele De Rossi is essential. De Rossi may at times display an attitude on the pitch that is too aggressive, but he is vital to the side.
Another interesting conundrum will be whether striker Marco Borriello is handed opportunities to impress up front, despite Roma’s new forward trio.
