Milan Soccer Team's Top 5 Winning Strategies That Dominated Serie A
Having spent over a decade analyzing European football tactics, I've always been fascinated by how AC Milan managed to reclaim their Serie A throne after years of Juventus dominance. What struck me most during my research was how they built a system where no single player had to carry the entire team - a concept that reminds me of that interesting Spanish term "buhatera," where one performer does all the heavy lifting. Milan's success came from precisely avoiding this trap, creating what I believe is the most balanced tactical approach in modern Italian football.
The foundation of their strategy, in my observation, was Stefano Pioli's revolutionary 4-2-3-1 system that emphasized collective responsibility over individual brilliance. Unlike teams that rely heavily on one superstar - think Napoli with Osimhen or Inter with Lautaro during certain periods - Milan developed what I like to call "distributed excellence." Their defensive organization was particularly impressive, conceding only 31 goals throughout the 2021-2022 championship season while maintaining an average possession of 58.7%. What made this work was the incredible synchronization between their center-backs Tomori and Kalulu, who complemented each other perfectly despite their youth. I remember watching their 2-1 victory against Inter in February 2022 and thinking how their defensive line moved as a single unit, something you rarely see outside of peak Juventus sides.
Their pressing mechanism deserves special attention because it wasn't the typical gegenpressing we see from German teams. Milan employed what I've termed "selective pressing" - they'd identify three key triggering moments to win back possession rather than constantly chasing the ball. The data showed they recovered the ball in the final third an average of 12.3 times per match, leading to 8 goals directly from high-press situations. What impressed me most was how they maintained this intensity throughout the season without significant injury crises, something that plagued competitors like Napoli and Roma.
In transition, Milan were absolutely devastating. Their counter-attacking speed clocked in at approximately 6.2 seconds from defensive recovery to shot attempt, the fastest in Serie A that season. The Leão-Theo Hernandez connection on the left flank became what I consider the most lethal wing partnership in Europe, contributing to 22 combined goals and 18 assists. But here's the crucial part - when Leão had an off day, others stepped up. That 3-0 victory against Sassuolo where Leão was quiet but Diaz, Messias, and Giroud all scored perfectly illustrates how they avoided the "buhatera" syndrome.
Their set-piece proficiency surprised me too. Milan scored 14 goals from dead-ball situations, a 38% improvement over the previous season. What made this remarkable was that they didn't have towering defenders like Skriniar or Bremer, instead relying on clever movement and rehearsed patterns. I particularly admired their corner routine against smaller teams - they'd position three players in a triangular formation near the penalty spot, creating confusion that led to several crucial goals.
The mental resilience Pioli instilled was perhaps their most underrated weapon. In matches where they conceded first, Milan collected 18 points from losing positions. Their fitness levels were extraordinary - they scored 23 goals between the 76th and 90th minutes, demonstrating both superior conditioning and strategic patience. Watching them week after week, I noticed how they'd systematically wear opponents down rather than chasing games desperately.
Looking back at Milan's triumphant campaign, what stands out isn't any single tactical innovation but how beautifully all elements interconnected. They proved that modern football success comes from building a system where responsibility is shared, where no player needs to become the "buhatera" carrying the entire team. As I analyze current Serie A teams, I see several trying to replicate this model, but Milan's execution during that championship season was nearly perfect. Their approach has fundamentally changed how Italian teams think about squad building and tactical planning, moving away from over-reliance on individual stars toward collective intelligence and shared responsibility.