Inside Monza: Nesta’s Tactics, Transfer Window and Best Players

So close and yet so far is a succinct yet accurate snapshot of Monza’s season so far. The Biancorossi are still winless in Serie A with three points after five games. Still, the picture could have been far rosier for Alessandro Nesta had it not been for two late goals conceded against Fiorentina and Inter Milan.

Having failed to score against Empoli and Genoa in their first two Serie A outings this term, Monza led 2-0 in Florence. Lapses in concentration meant Moise Kean would pull one back for La Viola on the stroke of half-time, then Robin Gosens equalising in the 96th minute.

The draw against Inter was arguably even harder to take, as the Brianzoli took the lead with nine minutes left through Dany Mota’s header, only to concede an 88th-minute equaliser.

Disappointing as the result was given the circumstances, Nesta admitted he would have happily taken a point against the reigning Serie A champions.

“I’m happy with the performance because of the effort the lads put in,” the former Lazio and AC Milan defender said.

“I would have signed for a 1-1 draw against Inter before the game. We’re improving, I’m confident. We’re on the right track.”

Nesta, who led Reggiana to 11th place in Serie B last season, has his work cut out in his first season in Lombardy as Monza (arguably) overachieved under Raffaele Palladino last term, finishing in 11th place with 52 points.

The Biancorossi were mathematically safe with six matches left, a record for a team making its Serie A debut and enough to convince Fiorentina to hire Palladino as a replacement for Vincenzo Italiano.

Like Palladino before him, Nesta was chosen by Monza CEO Adriano Galliani, who worked with the 2006 World Cup winner during their respective spell at Milan.

Polarising a figure as he may be, Galliani’s nous when it comes to managers has few equals in Italy, but Nesta is somewhat of a gamble.

The 48-year-old had never managed in Serie A until this season and failed to secure promotion to the top-flight in each of his three managerial stints in Serie B with Perugia, Frosinone and Reggiana.

The Coppa Italia wins over second tier sides Sudtirol and Brescia have provided the highlights of an otherwise underwhelming Serie A season that has yielded just three league points from six matches. The clock is ticking.

Transfers: Monza spent only €3m (£2.5m) this summer, all of which went on making Georgios Kyriakopoulos’ move from Sassuolo permanent. Daniel Maldini and Stefano Sensi arrived on a free transfer from AC Milan and Inter Milan respectively, while Omari Forson also signed on a free from Manchester United. Monza were also active in the loan market, with goalkeepers Stefano Turati and Semuel Pizzignacco joining from Sassuolo and Feralpisalo respectively, while Alessandro Bianco arrived from Fiorentina. On the departures front, Carlos Augusto made a permanent move to Inter Milan, while Michele di Gregorio and Andrea Colpani joined Juventus and Fiorentina on loan.

Best performers: Federico Dimarco has picked up where he left off last season, cementing himself as the best wing-back in the league and will be sorely missed against Manchester City on Thursday. Elsewhere, Marcus Thuram has bagged four goals in as many Serie A appearances so far, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan remains pivotal for Inzaghi’s system even at the age of 35.

Tactics: Nesta has tied his colours firmly to the 3-4-2-1 mast so far this season, with Daniel Maldini and Gianluca Caprari behind Milan Djuric and the midfield anchored around club captain Matteo Pessina and Warren Bondo. While that has so far proved solid enough from a defensive standpoint, Monza have looked blunt up-front and Nesta needs his side to start scoring goals if they are to avoid being dragged into the relegation quicksands.