AC Milan had lost only once in Serie A all season, a home defeat to Udinese. In Ethan's previous life, Milan would lose just two league matches over the entire campaign, an outstanding record that made them appear both dominant and remarkably consistent. Yet after studying them closely, Ethan knew that while Milan were unquestionably strong, they were not quite as stable as their results suggested.
Carlo Ancelotti had repeatedly described Pirlo as the heart of his team. By converting a player who had originally operated as an attacking midfielder into a deep-lying playmaker, Ancelotti had produced one of the defining tactical innovations of his Milan career and helped redefine what a holding midfielder could be. But Pirlo was still only twenty-four. For the tactical hub of one of Europe's biggest clubs, he was not yet completely immune to fluctuations in form, and because Milan's possession game revolved so heavily around him, those fluctuations affected the entire side. When Pirlo played well, Milan could overwhelm almost anyone. When he struggled or an opponent successfully denied him space, the whole machine became less fluid.
Villas-Boas' scouting report made another point clear. Milan possessed an exceptional collection of individuals: Inzaghi, Shevchenko, Rui Costa, Seedorf, Pirlo, Nesta, and Dida. Several matches that season had effectively been decided by moments from Inzaghi, Shevchenko, or Dida, all three of whom were enjoying outstanding campaigns. Milan supporters had even turned their form into affectionate nicknames and chants, a reflection of just how heavily the team had relied on decisive contributions from its stars.
Over a long season, however, no player could remain at his absolute peak every week. Even if form remained good, opponents could study Milan's patterns and devote special attention to the players who decided matches. Udinese's victory at San Siro had demonstrated exactly that. It might have been dismissed as an unlikely result, but Mourinho had never been interested in ignoring weaknesses simply because they appeared infrequently. In football, the rare event was often where the hidden problem finally revealed itself.
Mourinho was far too cautious to reach conclusions from a single defeat, so he watched match after match before accepting the pattern. Another fixture that attracted his attention was Milan's 0-0 draw with Parma, their only goalless league draw of the season. Anyone who watched that match closely could identify a second weakness: Milan were often slow starters.
This did not mean the players were physically sluggish or unable to concentrate. Rather, Milan frequently needed time to establish their rhythm. Parma had dominated almost the entire opening twenty-five minutes of their draw and created several excellent chances. Had Gilardino been more clinical, Milan could easily have found themselves behind early.
The same tendency appeared against Ancona, Inter, Bologna, Perugia, Lecce, and several other opponents. Milan had played numerous matches that season in which they only began exerting real control after half-time. Their excellent defensive organisation had usually protected them during those slow openings. Cafu and Pancaro had strengthened the full-back positions, Maldini and Nesta remained an elite central pairing, and Gattuso's growing maturity gave the defence another layer of protection. Milan could afford to take time finding their rhythm because opponents so rarely punished them before they did.
Villas-Boas' analysis also revealed that Milan were much less comfortable when forced to chase a match. Against Udinese, they conceded after only two minutes and never truly recovered their composure. A second goal arrived in the 52nd minute, and Cafu's reply nine minutes later was not enough to rescue them.
Uneven rhythm, dependence on outstanding individuals, less collective cohesion than their results implied, slow starts, and difficulty playing from behind: these were the weaknesses Mourinho believed could be attacked. They also demonstrated how much room Milan still had to improve, which was a sobering thought considering how strong they already were.
At San Siro, Mourinho's overall approach was cautious, but not passive. His starting eleven made the balance clear. Drogba and Palacio operated highest, with Kaká behind them. Essien, De Rossi, and Beckham formed a three-man midfield, while Evra, Vidić, Curtis, and Kolo Touré made up the back four in front of Čech.
Milan remained in Ancelotti's familiar 4-4-2 variation rather than the Christmas-tree system he would later become associated with. Dida started in goal behind Pancaro, Maldini, Nesta, and Cafu. Pirlo, Gattuso, Rui Costa, and Seedorf formed the midfield, with Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi together up front. It was essentially Ancelotti's strongest available side.
Their selection made Milan's intentions obvious. Dropping out of the Champions League had hurt, particularly after winning the competition the previous season. Their domestic form remained excellent, but after also losing the Intercontinental Cup, Milan wanted another European trophy to salvage some pride.
"They want this competition," Mourinho told his players in the dressing room. "But we want this match more. From the first whistle, we take the initiative. Rodrigo, keep moving across both channels. Their defenders are experienced, but they're older than you. Make them run. Stretch them and force them to turn."
He then looked towards Drogba. "Didier, come short more often. Help us connect the play and occupy their centre-backs. Ricardo will be the one attacking the space behind you. If you get a chance to score, take it. If not, make the chance for someone else. Understood?"
Drogba nodded.
Mourinho turned to Kaká and said nothing more than necessary, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. The Brazilian had been almost faultless that season, scoring fourteen Premier League goals and establishing himself among the division's outstanding performers. His scoring rate was exceptional for an attacking midfielder, even better than Scholes'. He still had areas to improve, especially the final pass, because Mourinho wanted him to create as well as carry the ball forward and finish attacks, but his progress had been remarkable.
"We lost to Milan in the UEFA Super Cup at the beginning of the season," Mourinho continued. "I hated that defeat. I told myself afterwards that if we ever got another chance, we would show them a different team."
The players remembered Monaco just as clearly, and the desire for revenge was obvious.
"Now we have that chance. I'd love to come here and beat Milan at San Siro, but don't forget who we're facing. This is one of the strongest teams in Europe, in their own stadium. We've studied them, we've prepared for them, and we've built a plan, but once the match starts, preparation only matters if you execute it."
Mourinho looked around the room. "For the first twenty-five minutes, we attack them. Hard. I want us to exploit their slow start before they settle. We try to score early. But whatever the score is after that period, we change. We become compact and protect ourselves. Understood?"
"Yes, boss," the players answered together.
Mourinho gave a short nod. The players gathered in their usual huddle, hands stacked together, shouted as one, and then began filing out towards the tunnel.
When the referee blew his whistle, Milan kicked off. After only a few passes, the ball reached Pirlo deep in midfield. Kaká immediately closed from the side, leaned into him, and knocked him off balance while taking the ball. The referee whistled for a foul.
Kaká smiled and offered Pirlo a hand. Pirlo accepted it with a slightly irritated expression and quickly restarted the game. His forward pass was aimed towards Shevchenko, but Vidić rose above the Ukrainian and headed the ball down towards De Rossi.
New Manchester United moved forward immediately. Beckham received possession and accelerated the play before Gattuso could close him down, finding Kaká between the lines. Kaká fed Drogba, who held off Maldini and tried to release Palacio into space, but Nesta anticipated the pass and stepped in.
Mourinho had specifically instructed his players to favour quick ground combinations whenever possible. The first move broke down, but another attack followed almost immediately.
"New Manchester United have started very aggressively," the commentator observed. "They're pressing Milan high and moving sharply through midfield and into the channels. Palacio, Drogba, and Kaká are combining well, although Milan's defenders have handled the danger so far. Nesta in particular has already made several important interceptions."
When the front three struggled to find a breakthrough in the opening minutes, Beckham began moving higher to support them. He repeatedly stepped into the attacking third, and one perfectly weighted pass split Nesta and Cafu. Drogba turned onto it and shot, but dragged his effort wide.
The move encouraged New Manchester United further. Palacio constantly drifted between Milan's lines and into the channels, making him difficult to track. Dida had to push one of his shots behind for a corner, while another Palacio cross found Drogba, whose header went wide under pressure from Nesta.
Palacio soon received the ball again just outside the penalty area and slipped it inside. Drogba flicked it on first time, allowing Kaká to arrive from deep. The Brazilian controlled with his chest, lifted the ball over the recovering Gattuso, and struck towards goal, but Cafu threw himself into the path of the shot and deflected it behind.
"That's the clearest chance we've seen so far," came the commentary.
Beckham walked towards the corner flag while Curtis, Vidić, and Drogba all moved into the box. He raised a hand as though signalling a conventional cross, but instead rolled the corner short to Palacio. The Argentine immediately delivered from a different angle.
Curtis had initially drifted away from goal as if abandoning the near-post area. The moment Palacio crossed, he changed direction and attacked it at speed. His header beat Dida but struck the post and went behind.
New Manchester United had started exactly as Mourinho intended. Milan's experienced defenders continued surviving each attack, but the pressure was constant enough to suggest that one mistake could eventually prove costly.
Dida restarted with a short pass to Cafu, who moved the ball inside towards Pirlo. Kaká had been assigned specifically to stay close to Milan's playmaker and immediately pressed him again. Beckham, Essien, and De Rossi compressed the surrounding space, effectively creating a midfield trap.
Pirlo recognised the danger and moved the ball wide towards Pancaro rather than trying to force a pass through the pressure. Milan reset from the left and began circulating possession more patiently.
On the touchline, Mourinho checked the clock.
Twenty-nine minutes.
New Manchester United had attempted twelve shots. Five had been on target, and four had produced genuine danger, yet Milan had survived without conceding.
More importantly, the home side were finally beginning to settle.
Mourinho immediately gestured towards his players. The defensive line dropped several metres, the midfield narrowed, and the distances between the units tightened.
The opening assault was over.
Now the second part of the plan began.
(To be continued.)