What Is Filippo Inzaghi's Best Defensive Line-Up at AC Milan?

AC Milan have a long list of problems. None of them is bigger than their defence.

The statistics don’t really tell us why. On the surface, it is not the worst in Serie A: 10th in goals allowed with a goal differential of plus-five.

Instead, the intangibles—consistency, chemistry, cohesion—are missing. The defence changes too much. With 12 games left in the season, coach Filippo Inzaghi still has not decided on a solid defensive line-up.

One thing or another forces some kind of disruption at the back. It’s an injury or a bad substitution or poor discipline. Setbacks to Alex, Mattia De Sciglio and Ignazio Abate have been the biggest enemies.

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

That’s why Inzaghi has deployed a centre-back like Daniele Bonera at the full-back position: Milan have played games without their starters, and there isn’t enough depth to make up for the losses.

But sometimes Inzaghi tweaks things too much. In fact, Milan have had a dozen different centre-back pairings this season. Alex alone has lined up with six separate partners in the heart of the defence.

Injuries can only excuse so much. It’s also down to discipline, and Milan’s defenders, in particular, don’t show a lot of it.

Six red cards—including two from Bonera—have come from the back-line. Never mind the numerous suspensions: That’s a ridiculous number. Some Serie A teams as a whole unit don’t have that many.

There are several reasons for that. Some of Milan’s defenders don’t know how to make or time proper tackles. De Sciglio, in particular, when healthy, had a tendency to foul almost immediately after losing possession, putting himself and his team at a disadvantage. Other times, it was Bonera reacting too slowly to a deke or challenge coming in too late.

Gregorio Borgia/Associated Press

Or in the case of Philippe Mexes, it was blind rage, an attempt to choke out Lazio's Stefano Mauri.

Add up all of these issues, and we can see why Milan have not won more than two games at a time.

Stringing together any streak is infinitely harder without a sense of comfort, restraint and familiarity in the most important position. 

Luca Antonelli, Alex, Adil Rami and Ignazio Abate most probably make up the best possible back four at this point, and Milan have not even started a game with all four in the starting XI. That alone says everything.

Let’s examine that potential line-up. Here are two responsible full-backs (Antonelli and Abate) that push up the field as well as defend: one slower, albeit experienced, centre-back (Alex) with the leadership to direct and make orders from the back; and another more modern defender (Rami) with the instinct to score the odd goal and the height to clear the lines.

Each one brings their own attributes. No more makeshift adjustments: The time is now to use a smart combination of defenders.

The game against Fiorentina on Monday will test Milan, and there is no greater opportunity to test out those four defenders. Alex is back in training (per AC Milan's official website) and the rest are healthy. It could even save Inzaghi’s job. He was granted a reprieve earlier this week after dropping points to Hellas Verona.

That amnesty period will not last long if he doesn’t find a solution to the defence.

Luckily, there is one.