In the last match against Udinese, Tang Long's performance in the holding midfield position caught Mancini's eye!
And when Kovacic was moved from defensive midfielder to attacking midfielder, his impact, dribbling speed, and determination to go forward played a crucial role in changing the course of the entire game!
Therefore, in the upcoming match against Sassuolo, Mancini decided to continue using this tactic.
At the same time, Mancini made certain tweaks to this tactical setup.
Gualin needs to rest for a week due to a leg strain, leaving only Medel to pair with Tang Long in the defensive midfield.
Mancini instructed Medel to always run around Tang Long, providing the necessary support, just like Gattuso protected Pirlo.
Meanwhile, Mancini decided to deploy full-backs Yuto Nagatomo and Santon in the match against Sassuolo.
He required them to push forward quickly in the game, stretching the formation to the flanks, ready to receive long passes from Tang Long at any moment.
