Giacomo Bonaventura's Improved Showing Crucial to AC Milan's Win over Sampdoria

AC Milan ended a turbulent week in the best possible way on Sunday evening. With former coach Sinisa Mihajlovic sacked last Tuesday, Cristian Brocchi was in the dugout for the first time and watched on as his side won 1-0 against Sampdoria in the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

The result gave the team their first taste of victory since March 1, an achievement that was aided by a strong performance from Giacomo Bonaventura.

Brocchi had little time to work with his players following his promotion from the post of Primavera coach last week, though he made it clear he intended to shake things up.

In his opening press conference, per the club’s official website, he stated:

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I like to play with three in midfield and four in defence. I like the idea of playing with a play-maker. There are players who can play in a midfield of three and those who can play as attacking midfielders and we have the chance to play with a trident. This is the route we will follow.

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Luca Zennaro/Associated Press

The 40-year-old, who played for Milan before turning to coaching, followed through on this on Sunday, lining his team up in a 4-3-1-2 shape in a break from the 4-4-2 system favoured by his predecessor Mihajlovic.

Having settled on this rough layout, one of the first brave decisions Brocchi had to make was to then decide who would fill the midfield positions, particularly the role of trequartista.

Against Sampdoria, he fielded Andrea Bertolacci, Riccardo Montolivo and Juraj Kucka in the central three, and chose Bonaventura over Keisuke Honda to occupy the area behind the strikers. His decision was repaid, with the playmaker setting up Carlos Bacca’s goal on 71 minutes, which turned out to be the game’s decisive moment.

That pass ensured Bonaventura claimed his first assist since January 17, and it was a clear piece of evidence the Italy international relished his more central role, having spent much of the last four months on the left wing.

While he played well out wide, his more central placement against Sampdoria enabled him to be more influential.

One of Milan’s major tactical flaws towards the end of Mihajlovic’s reign was an inability to penetrate the opposition’s defence and create chances. This problem was primarily the result of a lack of linkage and combinations in the final third.

Playing as a central playmaker between the midfield and attack, Bonaventura was allowed to move horizontally across the pitch and seek the ball, offering his more withdrawn team-mates a forward passing angle where possible. Thanks to his movement, he often found himself in dangerous spaces.

It was his backheeled touch that set up Kucka for a left-footed drive that flashed just wide in the first half. In the second half, he once again found space deep in Sampdoria territory with a three-on-two situation, only to rush his pass to Bacca when he could have waited and committed a defender.

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Bonaventura'nın pasında Carlos Bacca'nın AC Milan'ı 1-0 öne geçiren golü.#SampdoriaMilan #ForzaMilan pic.twitter.com/NHlbL4GaiO

— AC Milan Türkiye (@acmilanturkiye) April 17, 2016"

One poor piece of decision-making aside, Bonaventura showcased some of the qualities Milan have been desperately in need of in recent weeks. He completed three dribbles, which was more than anyone else on the pitch, and made two key passes, per WhoScored.com.

After the match, Brocchi made a point of reiterating the importance of the player to his desired style of football, telling Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia): "The role of trequartista is important for me, as it gives us superiority in midfield. I don’t necessarily want a creative type who wants the ball to feet, as it’s not a solid position, but all about finding the right space behind the strikers."

Assuming Brocchi is to stick by the 4-3-1-2 and continue fielding an advanced playmaker, Bonaventura proved he can be the man to take on the role going forward with his positive outing against Sampdoria.

His display was full of the footwork, movement and deft touches that have been missing from his and the team’s play of late. When Milan needed a linkman, he stepped up. His challenge from now until the end of the season will be to build on Sunday's showing.