AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has spoken about the choices that he has made in midfield for tonight’s game against Napoli at San Siro, given there is a new-look double pivot.
Milan come into the game off the back of another comeback away win, this time against Frosinone, while they welcome a side who have had anything but a smooth Scudetto defence.
Tijjani Reijnders will not be available for the game given that he picked up a yellow card against Frosinone thus triggering a one-game ban. It will be the first game he has missed all season, and a change in midfield is needed as a result.
Pioli has chosen to entrust the duty of protecting the defence to Yacine Adli and Ismael Bennacer, who will start a game together for the first time, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek will act a bit further forward.
The coach spoke to DAZN before the Napoli game to explain the choices and what he expects from his side, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
It will be a new look midfield with Bennacer and Adli…
“I expect them to play together as a team. There is also Loftus, they will have to deal with a midfield of technique and substance. It will be an important clash but also beautiful to watch.”
Loftus-Cheek now has a key role…
“He will be important, he is understanding the position. He will have to understand who will take him. He is a quality and intelligent player, he will be ready.”
Could there be overloads out wide?
“They will also have prepared their defensive situations, we will have to be good at making the right choices. We will have to be very good at technical play, it will have to be of a high level.”
One if tbe biggest issues with Leao is that he is so sleepy, he needs to be a lot more hungry off ball.