AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli could try a new system on Saturday night at San Siro as his side take on Udinese hoping to halt a run of three winless games.
According to MilanNews, Pioli will finally be able to count on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who returned to training with the rest of the group on the morning of Thursday 2 November after 33 days out, while Malick Thiaw served his suspension in the Napoli game.
Mike Maignan will start in goal with Davide Calabria and Theo Hernandez the two full-backs, then Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori in the middle of the defence, an area which has been hit by injuries.
There is a surprise in midfield forwards, with a 4-4-2 expected. Yunus Musah and Rafael Leao should on the flanks, with Rade Krunic and Tijjani Reijnders in the centre.
Up front there will be Olivier Giroud flanked by one of either Luka Jovic or Noah Okafor. The two are competing for a starting jersey for tomorrow evening’s match, with the Serbian currently in the lead.
Should Jovic play, the Rossoneri will line up with a 4-4-2, already seen during the game against Genoa. If Okafor were to play instead it will be a dynamic 4-3-3.
Probable Milan XI (4-4-2): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Musah, Krunic, Reijnders, Leao; Jovic, Giroud.
Available: Mirante, Nava, Florenzi, Simic, Bartesaghi, Jimenez, Adli, Loftus-Cheek, Romero, Okafor, Jovic.
Injured: Sportiello, Kalulu, Pellegrino, Caldara, Bennacer, Pulisic, Chukwueze, Kjaer.
Suspended: None
I don’t understand why Jovic is getting more opportunities than Okafor. If Pioli is going to play 442 then it makes more sense to use the player who is more in form and that would be okafor. Smh
If it is 442 formation. A mobile striker is better to partner Giroud and that will be Okafor.
We can not play 4-4-2 with Leao in the midfield because of complete lack of him defensively. It is a suicide.
These formation changes make little sense to me, or is the individual players who don’t play their part, if you ask me.
If we are going to play with two strikers, and I am happy to see Jovic and Giroud up top, then Romero must play further back than Leao and Theo further forward than Calabria – This is however very transparent and easy to counter by now…
Forget Krunic, play Musah/Adli and RLC. Let Reijnders, if anything, be the midfielder who fills in on the left. Romero looked completely out of his element against Napoli and Chukwueze was not living up to the hype, unfortunately, before his injury.
Reijnders is also on the verge of becoming a disappointment – A quarter into the season he is about as dangerous in front of goal as a certain Belgian in Bergamo…
No Pulisic No party
I’m starting to think Pioli has gambling issues like Tonali…..!
I think our players should thought how to be disciplined. Okafor attacks more and takes on players the coach think again by giving him more laying time.
We playing against Udineses!!
why Simic doesn’t get his chance?? now it’s time.
Also for Bartesaghi , Romero and Okafor.
We need to try new things and Leao doesn’t have to play every game, we need to see how his absence affects the players to not be relied on.
Also, Giroud is 37, and we need the prepare the surface for the new ones.
If Jovic gonna score it’s a bingo, unless waste of opportunity for Okafor.
Don’t worry fans we will win the game against udinese. Giroud will probably score again .
It’s difficult sometimes to understand tactics used ,, but I do believe they will sit back ,,so perhaps to big strong forwards could be used ,,,but we don’t even know the starting line ups for certain yet ..
It’s a very exciting weekend end ahead as I believe that both juventus and inter could drop points .
I also believe we can win the scuddeto this season no doubt about that …I do hope Loftus cheek could make an appearance sometime during the match ..I do love this guy in midfield as he has physical strength height pace , and he can certainly pass a football ⚽️ and of course score goals .
Any how fans we will start winning games ,,tonight is the beginning of the turning point . I also have faith in our coach pioli …..
I am not going to mention the champions leauge .
I have said I believe we will win the scuddeto.
To me that is success .
So please fans keep believing.We are AC Milan