Oliver Glasner hasn’t spent the days since Wednesday’s Conference League victory with Crystal Palace celebrating, but (above all) studying AC Milan.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Glasner will meet with the Milan leadership (what remains of it) and wants to be prepared. That is, with a clear picture of both what went wrong last season and a squad he intends to revitalise by focusing on some key players that he knows and respect.
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Even though he’s coached in Austria, Germany and England, Glasner is a scholar of football and players. The same goes for his staff, who are helping him finalise the report that he will present this week.
The fixed points
At Crystal Palace, he practically always used a 3-4-2-1 formation. In the past, particularly at Wolfsburg, he relied on a back four (4-2-3-1), but everything suggests he’ll continue with the three-man defence that allowed him to lift trophies and establish himself in England.
It also suggests that he’ll deploy an ‘unusual’ trident of two attacking midfielders behind a striker. Will he adopt a more attacking style of football than Allegri’s 3-5-2? The owner Gerry Cardinale certainly hopes so.
Along with goalkeeper and captain Mike Maignan, Glasner’s key player is Pavlovic, who in a back three has more confidence in closing down and a greater propensity to attack with the ball. Koni De Winter has international experience and his physicality could be useful, ditto Matteo Gabbia, who can pass on his AC Milan DNA to the new members of the dressing room.
The decision regarding Fikayo Tomori will depend on the future: he has only one year left on his contract, and it remains to be seen whether the club wants to make a clean break with the past by finding him a place at another club (but will he accept?).
Glasner will certainly ask for at least a couple of reinforcements for the back line, knowing full well how costly it is to play on Thursdays in Europe and Sundays in the league.
In midfield, much revolves around the fates of certain players. Luka Modric is not expected to renew, Adrien Rabiot could join Massimiliano Allegri at Napoli, while the adventures of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Youssouf Fofana appear to be over.
Alexis Saelemaekers, Zachary Athekame, Davide Bartesaghi and Pervis Estupinan have the pace needed to play on the flanks for the Austrian. This doesn’t mean they’ll all stay, but keep one thing in mind: Estupinan faced him when he was at Brighton, when he was full of confidence.
Glasner certainly isn’t the type to barricade himself when the club wants to sell some of their prized assets. Crystal Palace sold Olise (to Bayern), Andersen (Fulham), Eze (Arsenal) and Guéhi (Manchester City) to him between 2024 and 2026.
Despite this, he brought three trophies and helped the club grow. Substance and quality will certainly be needed in the middle, depending on the outgoing transfers. Ardon Jashari can play an important role.
A three-pronged attack
Rafael Leao has ruled himself out of the Rossoneri’s future. Christian Pulisic can stay and bring international prominence to the new Milan. Cardinale wants to keep him, and Glasner knows him well.
His references for Christopher Nkunku are even more detailed: the Frenchman made him lose the 2022-23 German Cup in the final in Berlin, when the Milan winger scored a goal and provided an assist in RB Leipzig’s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
A centre-forward will certainly be needed, someone who can guarantee goals: the current squad only has Santiago Gimenez, whom Ibrahimovic has strongly desired. Will he agree to sell him or hope Glasner will relaunch him?
Certainly, in addition to a striker, a touch of quality and at least one solid investment in the two attacking midfield positions will be needed. Glasner is aware of this, and will communicate it to his potential new bosses.
In the meantime, it’s not just Milan that’s interested in the Austrian. Bayer Leverkusen haven’t stopped considering him yet, and that’s why Milan wants to move quickly. Glasner is interested in a different league and a venture with a team that can guarantee him a push for a league title. Is that Milan?