How AC Milan Can Get the Best out of Balotelli and El Shaarawy

Milan entered a new era this season when they decided to cash in on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, despite the brilliant Swede being the most vital member of the side over the last two seasons.

Antonio Cassano was swapped for Giampaolo Pazzini in order to fill a specific type of quality missing from the front line—that predatory instinct.

It is arguable that Cassano was Ibrahimovic's best partner last season, especially when you consider Alexandre Pato's fitness problems and Robinho's timidness in and around the penalty area.

But the Rossoneri knew exactly what they were doing and despite the 4-4-2 (diamond) being used often last season, Massimiliano Allegri eventually insisted the team line up in a 4-3-3, and there was mainly one reason for this, Stephan El Shaarawy.

Il Faraone is a versatile player, but the 20-year-old thrived on loan at Padova in a wide berth, and Milan realised that the player could make an impact sooner than expected.

The Savona-born forward has been the revelation of the Serie A season, and although Milan secured a great coup in bringing Mario Balotelli back to Italian football, the former City striker should not jeopardise the influence and development of El Shaarawy.

Unfortunately this will mean, in all probability, that despite Pazzini's impressive form, he will be pushed out of the side as Allegri will not be able to maintain El Shaarawy in his preferred position, while also fielding both Pazzo and Super Mario.

So, the 4-3-3 it is, and it seems to be working rather well, for the time being, Balotelli already striking five times in five league appearances.

It is important for Balotelli to tweak his predatory instincts though, in order for El Shaarawy to maintain that scintillating form that he produced for the opening four months of the campaign.

Pazzini, who occupied the centre-forward's role before Balotelli's arrival, would tend to operate with his back to goal, dragging a centre-back further up the field and vacating space in behind.

A similar outcome happened whenever Robinho or Bojan Krkic played through the middle, with both looking to drop into that pocket of space and get control of the ball, whereas Pazzini would offload it more quickly, all three created space in behind the opposition's defence to be exposed.

El Shaarawy was lethal at scampering inside the opposition's right-back and beating the centre-backs for pace, as they struggled to react to passes slipped in behind them.

Balotelli has been exceptional since he returned to the San Siro, but the 22-year-old often looks to start deep and drive towards the penalty area himself, which nullifies, to an extent, El Shaarawy's effectiveness.

While Allegri would not want to completely change Balotelli's game, it would be beneficial for the Rossoneri to see Super Mario mixing it up somewhat, coming deeper and holding the ball with his back to goal.

This is a skill that Balotelli is more than capable of doing due to his impressive physicality and first touch, not to mention an underrated ability to pass the ball and use his vision, if he can turn his marker once he has dropped deep.

By the same token, Milan will want Balotelli to occupy the centre-backs in the opposite manner by lurking inside the penalty area, which will also benefit Milan.

With Kevin Constant's athleticism to drive up and down the left, if opponents decide to drop deep, Milan can feed El Shaarawy the ball out wide and let him dribble the ball, which he is also highly effective at doing.

His goals have been the most outstanding contribution this season, but El Shaarawy can cut through defences by carrying the ball himself, especially if Constant continues to drag a defender away on the overlap.

Variation is therefore the key for Milan in order to bring out the best in both El Shaarawy and Balotelli, tapping into their array of skills to make the Rossoneri one of the most potent attacking forces in European football by next season.