In my time at Milan, the club played with a 4-3-1-2 formation, and I was the player behind the two strikers. At Real, I play behind three. There is a greater defensive obligation, but I try to work around the area.
It's a different playing style than at Monaco; there were two of us in midfield there, and here at Liverpool, there's three.
Perhaps I am influenced by philosophies like the one at Chelsea which was 'If it isn't broken, change it' which saw us win three league titles in five years playing three different formations and tactical strategies so that the opposition could never keep up with our evolution at the time.
I think it's nice to have a variety of lineups and formations to use against different opponents, depending on what they bring.
I think that Sarri's formation and playing with a midfield three have been fundamental for me.
They didn't change positions, they just moved the players around.
I was only used to 4-3-3. For me as a left-winger you have also a left midfielder and a left-back behind you. But in a 4-4-2 you are basically also the left midfielder so you have to help more in defence and I wasn't used to that.
Nobody criticised me when we qualified for the World Cup when I decided that the best shape for us going forward was three men at the back and stretching the pitch width-wise, which gives you options.
It's true that Coutinho played on the centre because sometimes Messi likes playing on the right side. If that happens, we have to readjust a bit.
It takes time to settle in and learn a new formation and style of play.
In the English 4-4-2 you have to change your mentality from a winger to a left midfielder, having to help your full-back.
