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Missing link: How AC Milan should line up without main man Bonaventura

Alberto Lingria / Reuters

AC Milan realised its worst fears last weekend.

Losing to Udinese was damaging, another setback in the club's desperate chase for European qualification, but the losses of protagonists Giacomo Bonaventura and Mattia De Sciglio hurt the team long term.

Bonaventura's out for the season after undergoing thigh surgery Wednesday, a prognosis that could throw Milan's European chances out the window.

The Rossoneri are so much worse off without the Italian's industrious play, not to mention his versatility on the left flank. Bonaventura started the season in midfield, where he could offer defensive cover and still contribute in the final third, and moved up to left wing when M'Baye Niang's performances began to frustrate.

Related: Bonaventura's season over after thigh surgery

In the Supercoppa Italiana, the 27-year-old showed his incredible penalty-box instincts, his penetrating run through the Juventus defence allowing him to get a head onto a Suso cross and score a crucial equaliser.

Besides his overall ability to take over matches, Bonaventura's quiet leadership is just as important. Milan is short on leaders as it is, and now it's lost another.

A man often does not make a team, but Bonaventura is an exception. He gave life to the resurgent Rossoneri this season, and allowed manager Vincenzo Montella to play with the same 4-3-3 formation.

Montella has yet to veer away from his trusted tactical setup, even though recent results suggest he should.

Here are three systems Montella should consider without Bonaventura in the lineup:

Status quo

The simplest solution is to stay the same. There's no inherent risk, although not much reward. The 4-3-3 is something Montella spent all season working on, and he doesn't appear willing to change.

Either one of wingers Gerard Deulofeu and Lucas Ocampos - both of whom arrived on loan in January - could occupy the left-wing role that Bonaventura was tasked with covering in recent matches. Even if that doesn't solve any midfield issues, the presence of either Deulofeu or Ocampos would ease any potential shortcoming in attack.

That also means more minutes for Mario Pasalic, who's flitted between good and bad performances during his own season-long loan spell. He can join the attack and put pressure on defenders, but he has a habit of giving up possession in compromising positions.

The full-backs don't inspire confidence. Despite his speed and defensive nous, Ignazio Abate has looked tired and inadequate in recent matches. Injuries to Luca Antonelli and Davide Calabria also cause complications. Montella may have to rely on the seldom-used Leonel Vangioni as De Sciglio recovers.

This one is about keeping it simple and allowing the wingers to do most of the creating.

Mobile threat

It's clear Montella wants his players to stay wide, and the 4-2-3-1 allows him to attack opponents with the same spirit. This formation would maximise the use of Ocampos and Deulofeu and place them in their natural positions, while encouraging a lot of movement across the front line.

Placing Suso in the middle means he can interchange with either one of the wingers and still maintain a presence in Milan's overall build-up. It would also grant him more creative licence than he's accustomed to getting on the right flank and return him to the trequartista role that he grew up playing. More of his shots are getting blocked as he attempts to cut in from the wing, giving the impression more Serie A defenders know what they're going to get. A fresh start would add some unpredictability to his game.

The key to this system, however, is Juraj Kucka's running. A bundle of energy who can score goals and track back just as well, the Slovakia international has the characteristics to fulfill a box-to-box role. Manuel Locatelli, whose incredible timing has put a stop to many attacks this season, can concentrate on helping the defence and soaking up any counterattacks.

Effort over skill

The 4-4-2 is no longer a popular choice amongst tacticians because teams run the risk of losing the midfield battle. With one fewer player in the middle of the park, it puts more pressure on the two pivots.

Montella should, however, consider this system because he needs a boost in the attacking department and it allows Carlos Bacca and Gianluca Lapadula to play together. Milan doesn't have many good midfielders as it is, and Lapadula is more than happy to come deep and pick up the ball. That's in direct contrast with Bacca, who's more of a static presence and in desperate need of service.

In other words, Lapadula can do the running that Bacca doesn't, and Bacca can focus on getting into goal-scoring positions and being the poacher he is.

We've already mentioned Kucka's energy reserve and Locatelli's growing presence as a holding midfielder. But Suso is a lot more important in this formation.

He's demonstrated this season a willingness to track back when necessary and chase the play - he was everywhere in a 4-1 win over Empoli - so Suso isn't some luxury player who isn't capable of working for the team. Under these parameters, Montella would have to ask the 23-year-old to contribute in midfield before drifting out wide.

Effectively, he would become the right-sided version of Bonaventura: Putting in the effort to cover as much ground as possible.

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