AC Milan tactic and team guide for Football Manager 2021. Club vision,
tactic, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM21.
AC Milan tactic and team guide for Football Manager 2021. Club vision,
tactic, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM21.
Here is a brief analysis of the Milan squad, their club structure,
relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and
possible tactics any FM21 manager can use.
AC Milan are without a league title since 2011 and finished 6th in the 2019-2020 season. They have completed their UEFA ban and are now playing the Europa League. Once you take over, the board requirements are;

1. Make the top 6 of the Serie A (Automatic Europa League spot)
2. Make the SF of the Italian Cup/Coppa Italia.
Additionally, you will be required to sign young players under the age of 23 for the first-team squad and work within the budget constraints.
Milan have excellent training facilities and a very good youth system that will churn out the occasional potential star player. You can rely on this to make the club achieve their targets and to rebuild a strong squad with Milan
Milan have a set of players that suit a vertical tiki-taka style of play or a fluid counter-attack style of play. You can choose whichever you feel best works for you.
A 4-2-3-1 is the best-suited formation for Milan considering the strengths of their current squad of players. However, you can also play a 4-3-3 if the situation demands so.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows,

Gianluigi Donnarumma as a sweeper keeper.
Alessio Romagnoli & Simon Kjaer as your 2 centre backs both are comfortable on the ball and can play as ball-playing defenders.
Andrea Conti & Theo Hernandez as the 2 full-backs. Increased crossing instructions to take advantage of the high crossing ability
Sandro Tonali & Franck Kessie as the 2 central midfielders. Tonali playing the role of a defensive playmaker, Kessie in a box to box role.
Hakan Calhanoglu to be played as an attacking midfielder in a No10 role.
Ante Rebic and Alexis Saelemakers as the 2 wingers with Rebic playing as an inside forward and Saelemakers as an inverted winger.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the lone forward in a deep-lying forward role.
Despite being 38, Zlatan is one of Milan’s best players and has been absolutely sensational going forward. Zlatan in real life already has 10
league goals in just 6 games this season and is one of the main reasons they are on top of the Serie A points table.
Romagnoli is the club captain and a very accomplished ball-playing defender.
The Italian international already has over 160 appearances for Milan and is
considered a matured defender for his age.
Considered as the heir to Buffon, Donnarumma is considered by many as already one of the best keepers in the world despite being just 21. In the game, he goes on to become an absolute beast between the sticks and will be crucial for managers to hold on to him to secure favourable results.
Kessie is an important cog in the Milan midfield. Although he is just 23, he
is already an established international with Ivory Coast and also in Serie
A. He also contributes important goals from central midfield.
AC Milan are not the best squad in league concerning squad depth, these players could be welcome additions to the side.
· Andrea Belotti
· Luca Pellegrini
· Lorenzo Pellegrini
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Diego Laxalt
· Mattia Caldara
Related: Football Manager 2021 Transfer Budgets
About AC Milan
AC Milan are a professional football club that ply their trade in the Serie
A. They are a legendary club that spent only 2 seasons outside of top-flight
football since their inception.
A.C. Milan's 18 FIFA and UEFA trophies is the fourth highest out of any club and the most out of any Italian club. Milan has won a joint-record three Intercontinental Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup, seven European Cup/Champions League titles (Italian record), the UEFA Super Cup a joint-record five times and the Cup Winners' Cup twice.
A.C. Milan's 18 FIFA and UEFA trophies is the fourth highest out of any club and the most out of any Italian club. Milan has won a joint-record three Intercontinental Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup, seven European Cup/Champions League titles (Italian record), the UEFA Super Cup a joint-record five times and the Cup Winners' Cup twice.
With 18 league titles, Milan is also the joint-second most successful club in Serie A, behind Juventus. They have also won the Coppa Italia five times,
and the Supercoppa Italiana seven times.
Milan's home games are played at San Siro. The stadium, which is shared with city rivals Internazionale is the largest in Italian football. Inter are considered their biggest rivals, and matches between the two teams is one of the most followed derbies in football. Milan are also one of the wealthiest clubs in the world.
Milan's home games are played at San Siro. The stadium, which is shared with city rivals Internazionale is the largest in Italian football. Inter are considered their biggest rivals, and matches between the two teams is one of the most followed derbies in football. Milan are also one of the wealthiest clubs in the world.
Board Requirements
AC Milan are without a league title since 2011 and finished 6th in the 2019-2020 season. They have completed their UEFA ban and are now playing the Europa League. Once you take over, the board requirements are;

1. Make the top 6 of the Serie A (Automatic Europa League spot)
2. Make the SF of the Italian Cup/Coppa Italia.
Additionally, you will be required to sign young players under the age of 23 for the first-team squad and work within the budget constraints.
Milan have excellent training facilities and a very good youth system that will churn out the occasional potential star player. You can rely on this to make the club achieve their targets and to rebuild a strong squad with Milan
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
Milan have a set of players that suit a vertical tiki-taka style of play or a fluid counter-attack style of play. You can choose whichever you feel best works for you.
A 4-2-3-1 is the best-suited formation for Milan considering the strengths of their current squad of players. However, you can also play a 4-3-3 if the situation demands so.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows,

Gianluigi Donnarumma as a sweeper keeper.
Alessio Romagnoli & Simon Kjaer as your 2 centre backs both are comfortable on the ball and can play as ball-playing defenders.
Andrea Conti & Theo Hernandez as the 2 full-backs. Increased crossing instructions to take advantage of the high crossing ability
Sandro Tonali & Franck Kessie as the 2 central midfielders. Tonali playing the role of a defensive playmaker, Kessie in a box to box role.
Hakan Calhanoglu to be played as an attacking midfielder in a No10 role.
Ante Rebic and Alexis Saelemakers as the 2 wingers with Rebic playing as an inside forward and Saelemakers as an inverted winger.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the lone forward in a deep-lying forward role.
Key Players
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
2. Alessio Romagnoli
3. Gianluigi Donnarumma
Considered as the heir to Buffon, Donnarumma is considered by many as already one of the best keepers in the world despite being just 21. In the game, he goes on to become an absolute beast between the sticks and will be crucial for managers to hold on to him to secure favourable results.
4. Franck Kessie
Related:
Football Manager 2021 Best Players Shortlist
1. The quality of backups in the squad may not be up to the quality and could prove fatal if your squad is affected by injuries.
2. You run the risk of some talents being poached by other clubs, especially in search of higher wages.
3. This is a very young squad that lacks experience and this could affect the performance for any managers that are taking over.
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
Considered by many as one of the best defensive midfielders in the game,
Tonali is said to be the next Andrea Pirlo in terms of ability and
playstyle. Milan have the option of buying him and any manager taking over
should most definitely do so as he can reach the very top in the
game.
The young winger has the potential to become one of the best players in
Italy. He is already accomplished enough to be a backup in the squad and will only grow further under the right manager.
The 18-year-old Italian striker is currently playing for u20s. He is a
competent striker who is composed in front of goal. In a couple of seasons, he could be a breakthrough prospect at the club and definitely fill the Zlatan shoes.
Related:
Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids Shortlist
Weaknesses
1. The quality of backups in the squad may not be up to the quality and could prove fatal if your squad is affected by injuries.
2. You run the risk of some talents being poached by other clubs, especially in search of higher wages.
3. This is a very young squad that lacks experience and this could affect the performance for any managers that are taking over.
Youth Prospects
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
1. Sandro Tonali
2. Daniel Maldini
3. Lorenzo Colombo
Potential Transfers (in)
AC Milan are not the best squad in league concerning squad depth, these players could be welcome additions to the side.
· Andrea Belotti
· Luca Pellegrini
· Lorenzo Pellegrini
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Diego Laxalt
· Mattia Caldara
Related: Football Manager 2021 Transfer Budgets
Summary
To Summarize, Milan were once one of the greatest teams in Europe and have now fallen to a mediocre level. Can you take over as manager and bring
them to the heights they once were?