Ibra
Rebic - Hakan - Saele/Samu
Biglia - Krunic
Laxalt - Gabbia - Kessie - Conti
We should be fine defensively as long as the midfield duo don't push up at the same time, leaving huge holes behind them, the way Bennacer and Kessie usually do, which went severely punished by Atalanta in the infamous game. As a matter of fact, none of Biglia and Krunic should, even one at a time.
Another reason for the 5-0 disaster was the passengers at the front. Leao and Suso weren't pressing or properly covering for the players that did it for them(Hakan & Kessie), leaving huge spaces for Atalanta to exploit(which they did). Luckily Suso is out of the picture. However Ibra covers even less ground than Leao, and he's also getting Hakan to compensate for him. But this is fine, as long as the mid duo stay in their position. It doesn't mess up with the defensive structure as much when he's not the LW.
The left side is the biggest concern.
Rebic is very attack-minded for a LAM/LW.
Can Laxalt do anything properly?
I think we'll be fine, again as long as the mid duo don't get overambitious and naive.
It won't be pretty. But another 5-0 thrashing would be uglier.
