A.C.

MILAN: A LEARNING VISIT WITH THE

WORLD CHAMPION.
By MAURIZIO VISCIDI - MASSIMO LUCCHESI

Directly from its training camp, technical and tactical

combinations proposed by A.C. Milan during the week.
Carlo Ancelotti, coach of A.C.Milan, European and World Champion, is the coach who hosted us with exquisite
courtesy, giving us the opportunity to produce this article, which we hope will enlighten and stimulate our numerous
readers/coaches.
In addition to Ancelotti, other very valuable contributors have been Mauro Tassotti, Dr.Bruno Demichelis and
Prof.Daniele Tognaccini.

Milanello: the key for the successes of the

“rossoneri”

As everybody knows, A.C. Milan’s training site

is at located at Milanello’s sport center, a modern
structure used by Ancelotti’s team and also by the
“Primavera” team trained by Filippo Galli. The
latter is essentially the U20 A.C. Milan team,
useful for the development of young talents and
for testing innovative solutions proposed inside of
the MilanLab laboratories. The coaches of A.C.
Milan can count on facilities and equipment
which are in the vanguard in the field. The
Milanello center includes 6 regulation size fields,
one field with synthetic turf, an indoor field also A.C. Milan Technical Staff
with synthetic turf, a caged area, and a circuit in
the woods which is used for athletic training and A.C. Milan’s technical staff is headed by Carlo
for the recovery of injured players. The central Ancelotti and includes Mauro Tassotti and
part of the facility includes a two-floor building, Alessandro Costacurta as assistants. Tassotti has
which houses offices, the athletes’ rooms, the been the first assistant for several years;
medical center, a TV room, a billiard room, a bar, Costacurta, who stopped playing at the end of last
the kitchen, two dining rooms, the press room, a season, in addition to his duties as assistant on the
meeting room, and other rooms that contribute to field, handles also evaluation and analysis of
the efficient functionality of the complex. game videos. Prof. Daniele Tognaccini is
The locker rooms (for the first team and for the responsible for the athletic preparation with the
“Primavera” team) and the modern equipment support of Prof. Giovanni Mauri and 6 young
room are in a separate building, located close to assistants. Dr. Bruno Demichelis is the team
the training fields. The rooms that host MilanLab psychologist; William Vecchi and Beniamino
have been built recently under the locker rooms. Abate handle goalkeepers training.

Daily Diary: Sept. 19, 2007. Wednesday

We meet with Ancelotti the morning of

Wednesday, September 19 at the Milanello
complex. A.C. Milan has just defeated Benfica in
the first Champions League game and has to get
ready for the Serie A game against Parma on
Saturday, Sept. 22nd.
Ancelotti talks to us about his team: “The
decision to go with the 4-3-2-1 system is based not
only on the characteristics of the available
players, but also on the advantages guaranteed in
the build-up and pre- finishing touch phases.
Pirlo is a player with great ability in organizing
the attacking maneuvers, and the skill of our
“trequartisti” (attacking midfielders, called also
“mezzepunte”) is of fundamental value for the
pre-finishing phase and the conclusion of the
attacks. The alignment of two attacking
midfielders behind one deep forward forces the
opponent to difficult adjustments. Who is going to
mark our two “trequartisti”? Will the task be
handled by the wing fullback by shifting toward
the middle and moving in front of the natural
defensive line? Or will the marking be handled by
the two central midfielders (more used to
alternate role in marking only one attacking
midfielder), who would have to push back closer
to their defensive line? My wing fullbacks have to
accompany the maneuver of our midfielders, by
moving forward (even simultaneously), in order to
expand the attacking front. This creates problems
for our opponents, who are left with the
responsibility of covering the whole width of the
field and trying to block the filtering passes to our
two attacking midfielders. Obviously, our
opponents, knowing our approach, often try to
block Pirlo with a withdrawn forward or with a
midfielder dedicated to man to man marking.
Clearly, this makes things more difficult for us. If
Pirlo has difficulty playing under this type of
pressure, we are ready to a dynamic exchange of
position between him and Gattuso or Ambrosini,
making sure that there is always a central
midfielder as main reference point. Once the ball
gets to Pirlo from our backfield, our playmaker
follows with a filtering pass toward our two
attacking midfielders or a pass to the outside for
the advancing fullbacks, in case the middle of the
field is too congested. The ability of our attacking
midfielders to receive from the back and turn with
the ball does not oblige us to have as advanced
forward a player excelling in “check back”
movements. It suffices for our advanced forward
to have propensity and ability in finishing.
2
The development of attacking moves follows the
principles of the game. We do not use the
classical 11 vs 0 drills, but rather train on game
situations (numerical superiority, or inferiority, or
even numbers). The group must be able to tackle
various situations and attack guided by principles
rather than through prepared schemes.
In defense, the 4-3-2-1 system creates difficulties
in covering the width of the field, in particular
when the play switches rapidly from one side to
the other and there is no adequate pressure on the
opposing ball carrier. When the ball carrier on
the flanks is the opposing wing back, the attacking
midfielder on that side moves wide to put
pressure (at the least in the opposing half of the
field). However, if the opposing fullback receives
the ball in an advanced position, it is
responsibility of the outside midfielder to move
wide to put pressure, with the whole midfield
shifting toward the side where the ball is. In these
situations, the attacking midfielders try to block
any “dumping” pass to support players in the
middle. The outside midfielder on the weak side
slides toward the middle, leaving the weak side
unprotected at midfield, whereas the defensive
lines shifts minimally toward the strong side,
accepting a 2 vs 2 match up in the middle, if the
opposing team has two forwards. If the team finds
it particularly difficult in controlling opposing
attacks, I shift to a 4-4-2 alignment, which is a
system of play with better safeguards in defense.
In general, my Milan finds it easier to play in
European competitions than in the Italian Serie A.
In European matches we find more spaces;
besides, the competition against the best teams
from other countries adds enthusiasm and gives
us the opportunity to implement in the best
possible way the type of soccer that we propose.”
The team is divided in two groups: the players
who did not play in the Benfica match the night
before are involved in technical/tactical exercises,
the others do light work-out. EXERCISE No.3 (5 minutes): 1 vs 1. Getting
free from marking.
Sept. 19, 11:00 am - TRAINING SESSION Coach Tassotti, positioned on the side of the
playing area, passes the ball to a midfielder inside
WARM-UP (10 minutes) : 11 players move freely of the center circle. The receiver passes the ball to
in one half of the field, exchange various balls the forward inside of the playing area, who can
among themselves. The technical exercise is receive the pass to his feet or in free space. The
alternated with stretching/walks/accelerations. forward’s objective is a shot on goal, after
avoiding the defender (Fig.3).
EXERCISE No.1 ( 5 minutes): 1 vs 1. The
defender, positioned on the side of the playing
area, kicks the ball toward the forward in the
central zone. The latter controls the ball and enters
into the playing area, dribbles around the defender
and shoots on goal (Fig.1).

30 mt

Fig.3

30 mt
EXERCISE No.4 (5 minutes): 1 vs 1. Wall pass
and go.
The coach, positioned on the side of the playing
Fig.1
area, passes the ball to a midfielder inside of the
center circle. The receiver executes a wall pass
with the forward inside of the playing area, then
EXERCISE No.2 (5 minutes): 1 vs 1. Control proceedes to beat the defender and shoots on goal
the pass and turn with the ball. (Fig. 3bis).
The defender, positioned on the side of the
playing area, executes a 40-yard pass toward a
player situated inside of the midfield circle. This
player rebounds it first-time to the forward in the
middle, who controls the pass, enters into the
playing area, dribbles around the defender and
shoots on goal (Fig. 2).

30 mt

Fig.3
Fig.3 bis

30 mt EXERCISE No.5 (5 minutes): 2 vs 2.

Coach Tassotti, positioned on the side of the
playing area, passes the ball to a midfielder inside
of the center circle. The latter then feeds the two
Fig.2 forward who try to beat the opposition of two
defenders and go to goal (Fig.4)
3
 September 20, 4:15 pm - TRAINING SESSION

WARM-UP (5 minutes): the players warm up on a

full field, by moving around freely, alternating
stretching/runs/walks (see photo below).

30 mt

Fig.4

EXERCISE No.6 (5 minutes): 3 vs 2.

The coach, positioned on the side of the playing
area, passes the ball to a midfielder inside of the
center circle. The latter then feeds two forwards
and makes an overlapping run, with the objective
of cooperating with the two forwards in beating
two defenders and going to goal (Fig.5).
EXERCISE No.1 (10 minutes). Minigame. 10 vs
10 with minigoals.
Two teams of 10 players each face each other on a
45x45 field and try to score in the minigoal (see
photo).

30 mt

In the first part the players are only allowed two

Fig.5
MINIGAME (15 MINUTES): 6 VS 6 + 2 GKs.
Two teams of 7 players each (including the GK)
face each other on a 40x30 field. In the first half
the players cannot touch the ball more than 3
consecutive times; in the second half there are no
restrictions.
consecutive touches and cannot tackle each other
(cannot take the ball away from the ball carrier,
can only intercept it). In the second part, the
players are restricted to only one touch. The third
part has no restrictions.
EXERCISE No.2 (15 minutes). End zone
scoring. 10 vs 10.
Two teams of 10 players each face each other on a
60x45 field (no goals), trying to connect a pass
with a player freed in the end zone (see photo).

Daily Diary: Sept. 20, 2007. Thursday

On Thursday, Sept. 20, the team gets together in

the afternoon for the training session. We are
impressed by the intensity, the concentration and
the application of all players (Pato surprises us
with some great accelerations).

4
The players have only two consecutive touches in
the defensive half of the field, whereas there are
no restrictions in the attacking half. The exercise
should stimulate through runs and connecting
deep passes beyond the defenders (see Fig.6)
60 mt
45 mt
Fig.6
EXERCISE No.3 (15 minutes): Team in
numerical inferiority (9 + GK) defends vs team
with 10 field players.
On a full field, a team with numerical inferiority,
lined up first with a 4-3-2 system, then with a 4-4-
1, contrasts a team aligned with a 4-4-2 system.
The team with numbers down tries to intercept the
ball and break down the maneuvers of the
opposing team, which tries to go to goal. When
the defending team steals the ball, the exercise is
interrupted, then restarted with the ball in
possession of the team with numbers up. The
attacking team has no restrictions. At half time,
roles are inverted.
MINIGAME (10 MINUTES): 9 VS 9 + 2 GKs.
Two teams of 10 players each (including GKs)
face each other in half field with two regular
goals. No restrictions.
At the end of the session, we meet with Mauro
Tassotti, who provides us with additional ideas,
methodologies and insightful tips: “ I believe that
one of the characteristics that distinguish the line-
up of A.C.Milan from the A.C.Milan’s past line-
ups and from our opponents is the presence of a
playmaker in the back[ Pirlo] and two attacking
midfielders[Seedorf and Kaka]. Our 4-3-2-1
benefits of a playmaker in front of the defensive
line and two players able to operate between the
lines of the opposing teams. This makes it possible
for us to control the possession of the ball and the
rhythm of the game in general. The players
arrangement of the 4-3-2-1 system allows us to
best develop the attacking schemes. We have to
give up the coverage of some spaces, when we
defend, in that this system does not offer the same
simple applications of the 4-4-2 on the defensive
mode. Our central defenders must be skilled in
one vs one and two vs two situations, since our
wing fullbacks cannot always offer adequate
support by pinching toward the middle.
Essentially, two factors impact considerably on
the work of our backfield: the frequent attacking
moves, even simultaneous, of our wing fullbacks,
and the fact that the weak side of the action is not
guarded by the outside midfielder on that side. On
the other hand, the presence of five players (three
midfielders and two “mezzepunte”) in the critical
zone of the field enables us to maneuver with ease
and variety not possible with other systems. Our
style, initially based on Pirlo’s ability of
changing rhythm and front of attack, has, as
ultimate goal, the activation between the lines of
our two “mezzepunte”, capable to operate with
uncommon creativity. The filtering passes for
Seedorf and Kaka positioned between the lines of
the opponent’s backfield are our priority. Our
team gives priority to verticalize the attack,
whenever possible. When the midfield is well
covered by the opposing team, it becomes
essential to open the front of attack with the
participation of our fullbacks attacking the flanks.
Didactically, we train situational attacking
moves, often utilizing exercises with even numbers
between attackers and defenders or with
numerical superiority. In our training sessions,
we dedicate equal time to attacking and defensive
phases. The dynamic of the movements may vary,
depending, of course, on the tactical context of the
next opponent.
Unfortunately, with a schedule that imposes a
game every three days, we have limited time for
recovering and training. This slows down the
growth progress during the season. I believe that
the team could improve the defensive phase of the
game. In particular, we would like to be more
aggressive and effective in recovering the ball.
Often, we have a tendency to back off, in that we
are aware of our limitations in the negative
transition. This affects the distance and the space
that we have to cover, once we regain possession
of the ball. During our frequent retreats, we
spend quite a bit of time in reviewing videos, to
become more aware of our mistakes and to study
our opponents.”
5
Daily Diary. September 21, 2007. Friday
On the afternoon the team gets together on the
field for the final preparation session before the
match against Parma.
Sept. 21, 4:15 pm - TRAINING SESSION
WARM-UP (10 minutes): players warm up by
alternating freely stretching/ runs/ walks on the
full field (see photo below)
SMALL HURDLES and SPEED: after the warm-
up phase, the team goes through exercises for
neuromuscular reactivity and sprint, under the
direction of Prof. Daniele Tognaccini (see photo)
EXERCISE No.1 (10 minutes): Game 9 vs 9 on a
small fied.
Two teams of 10 players each (including GKs)
face each other on a small field (40x30) (see
photo).
6
Objective of each team is to go to goal. The first
part of the exercise has a 3-touch restriction, then
the game proceedes without restrictions (see Fig.
7).
30 mt
40 mt
Fig.7
EXERCISE No.2 (15 minutes). Game 9 vs 9.
Following the previous exercise, the same two
teams face each other on a field slightly bigger
(55x40). Again, the first part has a 3-touch
restriction, then no restrictions. The two teams are
lined up with a 4-3-2 (or 4-3-1-1) formation.
EXERCISES ON SET PLAYS
The session ends with the players practicing
corner kicks and direct kicks. Ancelotti assigns
Pirlo, Gourcuff and Seedorf to take corners first
from the left, then from the right, whereas three
groups of 5 players, on a rotational basis, attack
the ball to finish in goal.
The exercise then continues as a minigame, with
one group of five players attacking, another group
defending, and the third group waiting for their
turn outside of the penalty box. Corner after
corner, the three groups exchange roles.

The session ends with the specialists taking direct
free kicks from outside of the penalty box.
At the end of the session, we talk with Prof.
Daniele Tognaccini, responsible for the physical
preparation, regarding the difficulties in training a
team of champions with limited time to work out.
“ Obviously, the frequency of official games in the
schedule limits the time for training. Under these
circumstances, it is indispensable to favor the
quality of the work; therefore, our methodogy is
based on high intensity. The technical/tactical
sessions directed by Ancelotti are monitored by
reading the cardiac frequency, in order to
identify the workload for each player. Our
fundamental principle relies on identifying the
athletic work during the exercises. Our objective
is not much the expansions of the athlete’s aerobic
potential in order to delay the production of
lactate, but rather the stimulation of the athlete’s
ability to convert the lactate accumulated into
energy. We train for resistance at an intensity
greater than the upper limit (S4); our reference
parameter is the maximum cardiac frequency.
We try to train the aerobic system as a recovery
system and extend into the lactate zone during the
work. Training of the aerobic capacity is done by
interval training on variable distances, with the
longest being 400 meters. Working at 60-70% of
the maximum cardiac frequency means that we
can stimulate the aerobic capacity, whereas,
working at 70-80% of the maximum, we impact on
the strength. We prefer instead to stimulate the
body to go slightly above 80% of the maximum
cardiac frequency and activate what we call
specific aerobic capacity.
Through the interval training exercises we try to
obtain the build-up of sufficient quantities of
lactate (18-20 millimoles/liter), to be transformed
into energy by the athlete. From a practical
standpoint, it is possible to stimulate the
production and build-up of lactate either, with
technical exercises conducted at very high pace
(i.e., 1 vs 1) or with the classical repetition runs
(i.e., 400 meters).
The work toward strength is also personalized,
and we try to fill gaps that may exist at the
individual level. Strength workout is done with
instruments (for the volume) and without them (to
stimulate the neuromuscular system). I consider of
fundamental importance an adequate training of
the upper body in order to avoid lack of balance
when working on exercises specific for strength.
We also give great importance to recovery
sessions. After abdominal, lumbar, stretching
exercises and the classical pool work, we finish
with strength workout with low loads.
Speed is stimulated through classical exercises or
with the use of elastics (hyperspeed) and is
measured with photocells. I give great importance
to foot speed (exercised with skip, ladder, etc.).
We strive to lower regularly the reaction times to
stimuli.
Another parameter that we train with great
diligence is flexibility (not to be confused with
stretching), which we train with lunges, jumps,
walking under hurdles, etc.)”.
In the course of the morning, we took advantage
of the courtesy and competence of Dr.Bruno
Demichelis (A.C.Milan’s psychologist and one of
the creators of MilanLab), who admitted us into
his office and gave us an interesting animated
presentation, highlighting MilanLab’s objectives
and philosophy. “MilanLab’s primary objective is
to optimize the health (therefore performance) of
the players, who are a fundamental asset for the
Club. The psychophysical integrity of each player
is protected by a series of advanced technologies
that allow monitoring of the mental, biochemical
and neurological status. MilanLab’s task aims at
supporting the “visual” evaluation of the coach
7
with objective data compiled through a series of Kaka and Seedorf between the lines with filtering
tests. These data, of course, help the coach in passes.
making final decisions. In other words, MilanLab
provides information and evaluation parameters
to the coach, putting the latter in the best position
for making choices and guiding the team.
The awareness of the value of each player to the
club leads us to operate in a way that helps
preventing accidents and problems rather than
curing them. The player is seen as an entity
depending on the best equilibrium of three
different and correlated functional areas:
structural, psychic, and chemical.
The structural area relates to the
muscular/skeletal aspect.
The biochemical area considers the athlete as a
physical, chemical and biological entity, whereas
the psychic area analyzes and monitors mental
health and psychological status of the player.
To achieve the objectives of prevention that
MilanLab has set, we have developed the concept
of “systemic vision”: overall, a soccer player
includes a series of interconnected “gears”that,
together, determine the global performance. In
order to optimize the performance of each
individual gear, it is important to collect and
evaluate as many data as possible. All the data
are elaborated by a sophisticated computerized Obviously, the opponents try to block these moves
system that produces parameters related to the with close marking on Pirlo. In particular,
psychic-physical status of the athlete. Reginaldo pinches in from his right wing position
MilanLab is a research and development project to man mark Milan’s playmaker, whereas Pisanu
that uses data from past experiences to project on the left flank drops back to the line of the
factors that could lead to risky situations for the midfielders.
health of the athlete. When he receives the ball from the back line and
Because of this global vision, the Center of is unable to start the build up phase, because
Scientific Research of MilanLab plays a pivotal under high pressure, Pirlo in general dumps the
role at the Milanello center”. ball to one of the central defenders (Fig.8), often
free to operate and start the build up (Nesta and
Bonera are contrasted only by Corradi).
The Match: MILAN-PARMA 1-1

The week ends with the home match against

Parma at the Meazza Stadium.

The “rossoneri” line up with the usual 4-3-2-1 44

44
13
13
25
25
formation, whereas the Parma team uses a 4-3-3 18
18
21
21
that becomes a 4-4-1-1 in the defensive phases of 32
32 23
23
the game.
10
10
22
22
In the build-up phase, Ancelotti prefers to rely on 99

Pirlo’s ability as playmaker, due to his ability in

Fig.8
connecting short and long passes, and in finding

8
When he is under pressing even before receiving
the ball, Pirlo frequently elects to shift position
with one of the outside midfielders (Fig.9). Fig.11
Fig.11

25
25
13
13

21
21
23
23
32
32 18
18
13
13 25
25
44
44
18
18 10
44
44 10
22
22
21
21
23
23 99
32
32

10
10
22
22

99
Fig.9
Another solution sees Pirlo move forward in order
to free space for a central defender, who is then
able to start the attacking move (Fig.10).
Milan’s ability to manage the control of the ball at
midfield correlates not only with Pirlo’s class, but
also with the combined, well coordinated
movements of midfielders and “mezzepunte”
(attacking midfielders).
On the strong side, with the ball in possession of
the wing fullback, usually the corresponding
outside midfielder opens up toward the outside,
forcing the opposing team to make difficult
choices:

1) if the opposing wing fullback steps up to

absorb the movement of the midfielder,
25
25
automatically he creates space for the attacking
13
13 midfielder (Fig.12).
44
44 21
21

18
18
32 23
23
32

10
10
22
22
Fig.12
Fig.12
Fig.10
Fig.10 99

When there are enough time and space to organize

the preferred attacking moves, Pirlo uses one of 13
13
25
25

44 18
18
the following options (Fig.11): 44

1) filtering pass between the lines for Seedorf or 23

23
21
21

Kaka; 32
32
22
22
10
10
2) deep pass for an advanced player , who attacks 99

the opposing defense with a timely movement

toward the ball;
3) opening pass toward the flank for the
advancing wing fullback, who gives width to the 2) if the opposing wing fullback does not step up,
attacking maneuver; the outside midfielder is free to receive the ball on
4) short pass to the midfield in supporting the outside (Fig.13).
position.
Obviously, the principal options are the ones that
enable the playmaker “rossonero” to verticalize
the action.

9
 toward the strong side, the “mezzapunta” must
provide width or depth, according to the situation,
Fig.13
Fig.13 for the development of the attacking maneuver.
If, however, the center forward checks back, at
the least one of the “mezzepunte” gets closer to
receive the wall pass.
13 25
25
13
18
44
44 18
Against Parma, the A.C. Milan team has not been
23
23
21
21
able to do better than obtain a tie score, despite
32
32 the fact that it controlled great part of the game.
22
22
10
10
99
The careful protective action of the opposing
midfielders outside of their penalty box has
limited time and space for Kaka and Seedorf,
limiting the possibility of freeing a player for a
3) if the opening movement of the midfielder is shot on goal. Even the attacks from the flank by
absorbed by the opposing central midfielder, this Oddo and Jankulowski were not incisive enough;
creates space in the middle for the closer moreover, the crosses in the air did not find
“mezzapunta” (attacking midfielder), or possibly enough receivers in front of the goal.
for the other “mezzapunta”, in case the other In defense, A.C. Milan was rarely challenged.
opposing midfielder shifts much toward the strong However, when Parma was able to come forward
side (Fig.14). with rapid counterattacks, A.C.Milan encountered
difficulties in keeping the team’s sections close
together, with particularly uncovered spaces at
midfield.
Fig.14
Fig.14
In summary, we can say that the technical
superiority of the “rossoneri” did not produce the
expected results. The frequency of the games on
13
13
25
25
the schedule may be in part the cause of blurry
44
44
18
18 performances such as this one. Anyway, the
23
23
Parma team has been able to take advantage of the
21
21
32
32
weaknesses evidenced by A.C.Milan in the
10
10
22
22
negative transitions and had more energies to
99 spend in the critical zone of the field.

If there is no space for a pass into space beyond

the defensive line, the attacking maneuver
develops with combinations or with a search for
numerical superiority in a portion of the field.
If there is no enough space to serve the attacking
midfielders between the lines, the team relies on
lateral attacks or, less frequently, uses the center
forward as a rebounding wall to set up the
“mezzepunte” or the midfielders for a shot.
The movements of the 3 attacking players (a
center forward and two “mezzepunte”), even
though not always well coordinated because of
the “mezzepunte’s” great mobility, are activated
by the center forward. If the latter moves wide,
the “mezzapunta” on the weak side moves toward
the center, whereas, if the center forward moves

10