What Mattia De Sciglio Must Do to Transfer His Italy Form to AC Milan

2016’s UEFA European Championship was a refreshing sight for fans of Italian football, as Antonio Conte’s Azzurri reached the quarter-finals with some remarkable team performances.

During this run, AC Milan fans found renewed hope in the form of one of their own, with Mattia De Sciglio appearing back to his best.

After years of underwhelming form and various personal struggles, the 23-year-old full-back achieved a sort of rejuvenation in what was only his second major international tournament. Wearing the Italy shirt, he suddenly looked like the player many Milanisti envisioned he would become, having broken through to the first team at club level at 18 years of age.

In the 2-0 win over Spain in the second round, De Sciglio was superb. Defensively, he was key, making three tackles, two interceptions and three clearances. And he played his part in an attacking sense too, contributing two key passes. He continued this form into the quarter-final defeat to Germany, where he made a further two tackles and another key pass.

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

However, in spite of his exceptional outings over the summer, a great deal of uncertainty remained over whether De Sciglio would be able to continue his national-team form with Milan. And if so, how?

International tournaments often last no longer than a month and thus are generally treated with caution by scouts. Ultimately, the short-term nature of competitions doesn’t enable a full view of an individual player’s all-around ability.

Milan fans will understand this, having seen De Sciglio endure difficulties in recent years. A sequence of unfortunate injury problems disrupted his progress, while the club’s constant hiring and firing of head coaches hasn't helped him regain his performance levels when fully fit. Unable to live up to the high expectations set by his early promise as a teenager, he lost his place in the starting lineup.

All of this had a detrimental effect on the player’s mental health. As his personal coach, Stefano Tirelli, told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Rossoneri Blog): “At our first meeting Mattia had dull eyes. He was not depressed, but yes, he was one step away from depression. He suffered criticism from fans and the press and was hit by injuries. He would even feel guilty if he went out in the evening for a pizza with his girlfriend.”

De Sciglio’s sudden reinvigoration for the national team is hard to explain, though his sharp upturn had a lot to do with a resurgence of self-belief. In this respect, he had a lot to thank Conte for. Of the now-Chelsea boss' influence, the full-back told the press:

"

He’d be on the pitch to play with us if he could. His determination and desire to make us not give a single centimetre...that’s the thing that catches the eye. Conte has helped me a lot. He made me aware of his confidence in me at every point in the season. He called me up even in months when I wasn’t at my best. He made me feel part of the group and the squad, giving me confidence.

"

This unconditional support is something that clearly boosted De Sciglio, lifting his spirits and restoring him to his best, albeit temporarily. However, there are signs new Milan coach Vincenzo Montella is having a similar impact upon the player.

Following the European Championship, there were concerted rumours of a move to Juventus, something De Sciglio’s agent, Donato Orgnoni, confirmed recently. “It’s true," Orgnoni told Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia). "Mattia was very close to Juventus. Everyone knows that now. Milan made the choice to keep him, and we’ll see how the new owners behave.”

And Montella publicly affirmed his pleasure at the player’s staying with the club, telling the press: "We did very well to hold on to precious figures like Carlos Bacca, Alessio Romagnoli and Mattia De Sciglio. I continue to say this squad is worth more than even they think, but the players have to prove it and have more confidence in each other too."

MARCO BERTORELLO/Getty Images

So far, De Sciglio has repaid his boss' faith and kind words with good performances, earning performance ratings above seven in each of his last three showings for Milan, helping them to two clean sheets in the process and racking up his first assist of the campaign during the 4-3 win over Sassuolo.

His confidence appears to be returning, but along with an improved mentality, he—like most players—will be in need of astute coaching and clear tactical instruction if he is to play to the best of his ability consistently. Again, Montella could prove beneficial in this sense.

The former Fiorentina coach has carried with him a commendable set of footballing ideals throughout his career, and his time in the Milan dugout so far has seen him implement some of his own tactical principles. One particularly noticeable tweak relates directly to the full-backs on each flank, whom Montella instructs to push high up the pitch.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

There are two reasons for this positioning. One is this width enables outballs when buildup becomes congested and stretches the opposition’s defensive structure horizontally in a bid to create space in the channels. The other is it allows Milan’s nominal wingers, usually Suso and M’Baye Niang, to move infield, occupy more dangerous areas between the lines and offer direct forward passes to deeper team-mates.

De Sciglio has played on the left with an assertiveness and composure that, international matches aside, he has been lacking in recent seasons. He has adjusted well to Montella’s demands and could regain his status as the club’s first-choice left-back shortly with further positive displays.

The emergence of the talented 19-year-old youth-team graduate Davide Calabria at right-back, along with the arrival of Argentinian left-footer Leonel Vangioni over the summer, has added to the competition for Milan’s full-back berths.

However, with Luca Antonelli out injured, there is an opportunity for De Sciglio to enjoy a run of games in the starting lineup. This would also give him time to forge an understanding with his left-sided central-defensive team-mate Alessio Romagnoli, with whom he played alongside for Italy on Thursday in the crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Spain.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

With coherent tactical advice and backing from his coach, as well an opportunity to play consistently and form a working relationship with his colleagues, 2016-17 could be the season when De Sciglio finally begins to fulfil his immense potential. In order to make this so, he must continue to play with confidence, reincorporating the aggressive forward surges of old while retaining positional focus.

According to Calciomercato (h/t Metro’s Chris Davie), Conte is keen to reunite with the player in January, in a deal that would see Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas move in the opposite direction.

This offer may sound tempting to De Sciglio, though he would be well advised not to take it.

The future is once again looking bright for him at club level, and after a prolonged spate of injuries and uncertainty, he should commit to it. Should he do so, he may soon find the form he usually reserves for Italy while wearing a Milan shirt.

All statistics provided by WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.