Franck Kessie in the brink of a possible tactical evolution
A season, the past, as a true workaholic for Franck Kessie, with 54 appearances and 4,603 minutes collected in his first year in the Rossoneri. Only 3 matches skipped and never due to physical problems. The 21 year old was on the bench with Shkendija after the 6-0 of the first leg, not called-up against Rijeka (qualification and first place already secured) and against Sampdoria (suspended).
For the rest, a constant presence, without distinctions based on the competition. Few, however, the goals from open play: only two. The 2018-2019 championship has started differently for the Ivory Coast international also in terms of scoring, with an immediately decisive net against Roma in the second game of the season.
Price tag and value considered, Kessie has been one of the best purchases of the previous management but his performances have often been inconsistent, also because of his young age. After having accumulated experience and integrated better in Gattuso’s schemes, now the fans expected Kessie to make the definitive leap in quality. In the last game against Roma, the central midfielder, in addition to the goal scored, showed a brilliant physical condition despite his great commitment throughout the game. The feeling, observing the game from the stadium, was that Kessie was everywhere and in all areas of the pitch.
These days coach Gennaro Gattuso is considering a new lineup for AC Milan. Rino is studying a transition to 4-2-3-1, which could prove useful even with the game in progress. Franck Kessie in this formation would act as defensive midfielder, accompanied by Lucas Biglia or Bakayoko, with the trio Suso, Calhanoglu and Bonaventura free to invent behind Higuain.
However, to implement this tactical innovation Franck Kessie should be trained a lot in that position, limiting his tendency to move forward every time there’s an attacking attempt. If the AC Milan coach Gattuso succeeds, he can have an extra arrow available in his bow and make his team much more unpredictable.
