More Tactical Options for the Granata, with a Midfield Ready to Adapt
The pre-season friendlies hinted at it, and Monday`s Coppa Italia match against Modena offered a glimpse: Marco Baroni envisions a versatile Torino, with a midfield capable of adapting to different tactical needs and game situations. Captain Duvan Zapata confirmed this yesterday to journalists. “We are working on various formations,” the Colombian striker stated. “We shouldn`t limit ourselves to just one way of playing. In training, we are actively practicing, trying out up to three different setups: a five-man midfield (3-5-2), 4-4-2, and 4-3-3. All this work will be crucial.”
The Core Idea
This Monday, Torino will kick off their league campaign at San Siro against Inter, and the new coach is preparing a tactical `wardrobe` with various formations for different scenarios. The initial formation is the 4-2-3-1, featuring Casadei and Gineitis in midfield, supported by an offensive line of attacking midfielders like Ngonge, Vlasic, and Aboukhlal behind the striker. However, against Modena, Baroni shifted to a 4-3-3 at halftime, replacing an attacker (Aboukhlal) with a deep-lying playmaker, Emirhan Ilkhan, to unlock the game. President Urbano Cairo later emphasized the need for such players: “We are a team that needs a playmaker in front of the defense. We already have many wingers, so it`s much better to focus on a central midfielder now.” The identified target is Kristjan Asllani: a preliminary agreement has been reached with the 23-year-old Albanian midfielder and with Inter, though a final deal is still pending. A true playmaker can significantly broaden Torino`s tactical options, starting with the 4-3-3 formation seen in the Coppa Italia, where Ilkhan would play centrally, allowing Casadei and Gineitis to operate as mezzalas, freed from deep-lying duties and more at liberty to attack space.
The Alternatives
Additionally, Baroni is exploring at least two other formations, both featuring two strikers. The first is a five-man defense, essentially a 3-5-2, which would include a central playmaker flanked by two mezzalas (like Casadei and Gineitis, with Anjorin and Ilic also available) and two wide players providing defensive coverage (such as Pedersen and Biraghi). Another option is the 4-4-2. This would again utilize two forwards, with Zapata – when he`s fit enough for extended play – potentially partnered by Simeone or Adams, as seen last season. In midfield, Vlasic would operate on the right wing, with Casadei and Anjorin as central midfielders, and Aboukhlal`s dynamism on the left. These strategies aim to provide Torino with a comprehensive tactical toolkit.
