The night in Udine was nearly perfect. A 4-0 victory on the road, four different scorers, a first clean sheet in nine games, and above all, a glimpse of something Milan fans hadn’t seen in a while: balance. What began as a desperate tactical experiment by Sergio Conceicao may well have become the Rossoneri’s best weapon as the season heads into its defining weeks.
A seismic shift to a 3-4-3 formation raised eyebrows, not least because of the club’s deep-rooted history with a back four, especially during the Berlusconi era. But at the Stadio Friuli, history bowed to pragmatism. And in the process, some of Milan’s biggest names rediscovered their spark.
“It took a while for Conceicao, but in April he finally found something that works for Milan,” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport after the Rossoneri’s emphatic win. Milan’s back three allowed them to press Udinese high while maintaining defensive solidity, something that had eluded them for much of the season.
Conceicao’s new shape sacrificed traditional wide play for more inward movement from his wingers, creating space for defenders and wing-backs to attack. And that left-sided corridor became a playground for two of the team’s most dynamic players.
Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic: Both flanks secure
Rafael Leao had been struggling for form, without a goal contribution in his last three Serie A games. But in Udine, he silenced all doubt with a blistering performance: one goal and one assist, and a man-of-the-match rating from Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Very good, I found the movements up front, I created danger, those up front looked for me a lot,” Leao told DAZN. “The coach found a good strategy defensively, and also in attack, we felt at ease.”
With an extra defender behind him, the Portuguese was freer to roam, cutting inside from the wing and attacking with conviction. His goal—a stunning first-time strike into the top corner—was vintage Leao, while his delicate chip to set up Tijjani Reijnders capped a complete display. On the same flank, Theo Hernandez thrived. Finally able to push forward without worrying as much about defensive cover, the Frenchman scored his first goal in three months.
While Leao and Hernandez dazzled on the left, Christian Pulisic quietly pulled the strings on the right. The American winger assisted Pavlovic’s goal from a well-delivered corner and was a constant presence with his intelligent movement.
“Is this the right formation? It worked today. So yes, I like it,” the American told reporters after the game. The system allowed him to drift inside and connect with the front three, rather than hugging the touchline—a shift that suited his strengths.
Not all Sunshine: Who could struggle to adapt?
While some players found a new lease on life, others look likely to find themselves drifting further into obscurity. Santiago Gimenez, Milan’s winter marquee signing, has now gone over two months without a goal. Once expected to lead the charge toward Champions League qualification, he has lost ground in the pecking order to Tammy Abraham and Luka Jovic, both of whom now seem more physically and tactically in sync with Conceicao’s new plan.
The Mexican apparently still needs some time to figure out his damage-dealing abilities. However, maybe the wing-backs can help him recover his form with some accurate crosses when he gets back from injury.
Meanwhile, Joao Felix’s situation grows more complicated. The 3-4-3 doesn’t accommodate a traditional No.10 role, and with Leao and Pulisic occupying the wide channels, Felix risks being left out again. A bright spark in Milan’s attack on his debut in the Coppa Italia, he is now expected to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, having lost the trust of both manager and fans.
