AC Milan: 5 Ways to Fix Filippo Inzaghi's Defensive Woes

Milan have started the new campaign by conceding an average of two goals per game, a statistic that puts a heavy weight on the attack to try to outscore the abomination at the back.

It doesn't help when your coach has no experience whatsoever in the top flight and was a striker in his day. If the team has focused on the offensive department under Filippo Inzaghi, it certainly shows.

There is no chemistry between the back four, as the line is constantly switching while Inzaghi is still trying to figure out who his two best central defenders are.

Here are five fool-proof solutions I've come up with to fix the problem at the back for Milan:

Get Bonera Out, Now

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There isn't really a word in the English dictionary to describe just how bad Daniele Bonera has been this season. He's now become one of the most bizarrely overused players in Milan history who has no business being at the club or starting for that defense.

Four out of five doctors across the world discourage patients with heart problems from watching tape of Daniele Bonera defending for an extended period of time.

When he's not giving up penalties, he's terribly out of position and was at fault for both of Empoli's goals on Tuesday.

Pictured above is Bonera, doing his best man-marking impersonation on a set piece without actually having lifted off from the ground.

If Filippo Inzaghi keeps starting him, then it's clearly because of familiarity from his playing days and nothing else. You cannot have preferential treatment as a coach for a player just because he's your friend when there are much better options on the bench.

Use Alex and Rami Together

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Alex and Rami still haven't started together from the first minute, and they've shown so far that they are Milan's two best individual center backs available.

While Philippe Mexes is the highest paid outcast in Europe, his fellow Frenchman Rami has usually been solid when given an opportunity. It seems Inzaghi still doesn't favor him, for reasons unknown to anybody. 

Alex and Rami not only have the required experience, but they are very physical and strong on set-piece situations, which is one of Milan's main weaknesses at the moment. Use them together and prepare to concede less.

Let El Shaarawy Work on the Wing

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Other than getting forward, Stephan El Shaarawy excels at getting back and helping the defense whenever possible.

The youngster isn't in fine form after not playing virtually all of last season, but his work rate is still excellent and provides an auxiliary full-back to help cover the wings.

So often, he breaks up a play by cutting off the passing lane or pressing the opposing winger or full-back. In a 4-3-3, it's essential to have players like this who can also track back with the overlapping full-back, so their own back line isn't exposed.

El Shaarawy is one of Europe's finest young players, but he now needs to get the time on the field to really work his way back to the form we saw from him two seasons ago.

Use More Creative Midfielders

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Often, the defense is lazily blamed by pundits when the real problem stems from the midfield.

If the current midfielders aren't able to hold the ball or string together several passes without losing possession, then the back four become exposed to dangerous counter-attacks as we've seen in the past few weeks.

Sulley Muntari has no business as a starter until he stops his incredibly sloppy play, and Milan cannot wait much longer for their captain Riccardo Montolivo to come back from his nasty leg injury.

The midfield has to stop attempting so many inaccurate long passes to the attackers, which often end up in lost possession and the opposition darting back the other way.

Shore up the poor midfield link-up play, and the defense will inevitably benefit.

Allow De Jong to Switch Positions in Defense

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A tactic we saw last season from Clarence Seedorf that seemed to work fine was telling Nigel De Jong to switch back to the center of the defense when the other team was in possession.

The team would revert to a 5-3-2 to close the passing lanes and allow De Jong to play a very defensive role whenever needed.

This worked fine, as the Dutchman has a great instinct in intercepting passing lanes and is an excellent tackler in the open field.

If Milan is under duress, use De Jong as a third center back and then allow him to venture forward to the center of the park when the Rossoneri are back in possession.

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