Moncada explains why Milan’s 3-4-3 shape is nothing new: ‘Not totally different’ | OneFootball

Milan director Geoffrey Moncada has explained why Sergio Conceicao’s switch from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 against Udinese is nothing new for the Rossoneri, and has also spoken about Mike Maignan’s return to Udine.

Milan are taking on Udinese in the Friday night kick off in Serie A. You can follow the action as it unfolds on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Moncada on Milan’s change in formation

The Rossoneri are without two senior right-backs in Kyle Walker and Emerson Royal, both unavailable through injury, which has led to a change in shape for Conceicao’s team, who have gone with a three at the back consisting of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia before kick-off, Moncada explained why changing to a 3-4-3 is nothing new for the Rossoneri players:  “They’ve worked in a three all week, they’ve been working on this system. We usually leave three at the back when we build up to leave a bit more space for Theo Hernandez, so it’s not totally different.”

Theo Hernandez runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Dodo of Fiorentina during a Serie A match at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 05, 2025 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Moncada also spoke on the difficulties that Maignan has faced heading into the Udinese match, given the repeated racial abuse he has been subjected to from certain Friulian fans, which began in this exact fixture last week.

“It was very difficult for him last year,” Moncada said. “We’ve talked with him a lot during the week, we’ve told him to stay focussed on the game, and I hope that everything will be okay tonight, that there will be no problems because he’s a really great guy.”