AC Milan Better Without Andrea Pirlo

Back in 2006, Italy would not have won the World Cup without Andrea Pirlo. The Milan ace was crucial to Italy’s success and his performances were recognised after he was voted the third best player of the tournament. In the all-important final, Pirlo was recognised as the best player on the pitch, a remarkable achievement given the talent on display that day.

Since arriving at Milan from Inter in 2001, Andrea Pirlo has been equally crucial in helping the Rossoneri win two Champions League trophies, reach another final and claim the 2004 Scudetto.

Pirlo has enjoyed an incredibly successful career. Originally more of a second striker in the mould of a Roberto Baggio or a Francesco Totti, the Milan No. 21 has achieved all this success playing in a role that was innovative at the time.

It was Carlo Mazzone who first deployed Pirlo has a kind of deep-lying midfielder when he was plying his trade at Brescia. The reason being that with Roberto Baggio playing in the same side, there was no room in the attacking third for Pirlo.

At Milan Pirlo found himself in a similar situation. With the likes of Rivaldo and Rui Costa being first choice for the creative attacking role, there was no room again for the promising Italian starlet. Carlo Ancelotti, hence, made the same move as his namesake at Brescia had done. It proved a masterstroke. Milan’s success over the decade was largely created around the creative spirit of Pirlo playing out from deep in midfield.

But, this success also hinged upon the partnership Pirlo formed with Gennaro Gattuso. In his day Gattuso was arguably the best defensive midfielder in the game. Tough, committed, brave and plain relentless, Milan’s passionate No. 8 seemed to never tire doing the work of two players it seemed at times.

It was a simple ploy really. Gattuso’s job was to get the ball and give it to Pirlo. From the start Pirlo’s defensive qualities were suspect, but such was the presence of Gattuso in his peak that this mattered little.

However, in recent seasons Gattuso has not been able to retain the same high levels. Particularly poor in his last two seasons, though, the spirited Calabrian is enjoying somewhat of a Renaissance this term.

The same can be said of Pirlo. His last two seasons have not been great by his standards and even this season he continues to blow hot and cold. There is a correlation here.

Pirlo’s success as a deep-lying playmaker was very much reliant on Gattuso. This was the case for both club and country. But, with Gattuso not being the Gattuso of yesteryear, much more is now expected of Pirlo defensively.

But as it was in the beginning, it is the same now. Pirlo is not a defensive player. He is not a great tackler, he is no presence physically and he lacks aggression.

In Milan’s last three games, Andrea Pirlo has not started one. Yet, these last three games have arguably been the best three games played by the Rossoneri this season. There may be a correlation here also.

Playing with his favoured 4-3-1-2 system, Max Allegri has turned Milan’s fortunes around as the club sit atop the standings with great prospects for Scudetto success.

With this system, three hard working midfielders are deployed behind the trequartista. Mathieu Flamini, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini have been the preferred midfielders, with Kevin Boateng first back up. All four players have been enjoying some good form and this has made life much easier for Seedorf (and Allegri) as the trequartista as it relieves him of much defensive duty and allows him to concentrate on offense, an area his skills are more suited for.

Against Bari, Palermo and Inter—at least in the first half—this set up enabled Milan to control games. Bari were nowhere close to Milan in the middle of the park. Palermo’s creative star Javier Pastore had a night to forget. And it was the same case for Inter’s attacking spirits on Sunday night.

It is a system that has paid dividends. However, it is a system that Andrea Pirlo is not really suited to and this was perhaps indicated by Allegri has he opted to start him on the bench for the derby.

For this reason perhaps time is up for Andrea Pirlo as a deep-lying midfielder. He is not as effective in this role as he once was. Milan are set up differently now and the new system has different needs.  

This does not mean the end of Andrea Pirlo. But may be better used in the more advanced role he played as an Italian under-21 international. Perhaps as an understudy for Clarence Seedorf who at the age of 35 cannot start every game. But the Dutchman definitely deserves to keep hold of his new role. He has been enjoying it and has five assists to show for his efforts.