Stefano Pioli is taking the Coppa Italia tie against Cagliari as a chance to test out a new ‘B-team’ ahead of the first Serie A action of 2024, a report suggests.
As has been reported by La Repubblica (via Milan News), Pioli is changing things up for the visit of the Sardinians as he is going to alter the formation and hand starts to a handful of very young players.
By doing this, he should get a chance to see more of his squad in a first-team setting which will inform his choices for the rest of the campaign.
There should be a debut for 18-year-old Alex Jimenez in defence, whilst Jan-Carlo Simic is also expected to start.
Chaka Traore and Luka Romero are both expected to start as well in a 4-2-3-1 formation in which players like Luka Jovic and Yacine Adli, who do not usually get to start games, will be on the pitch from the first minute.
The cup match is being viewed as something of a nuisance by Cagliari and Claudio Ranieri, given he is without players like Nahitan Nandez and Leonardo Pavoletti for the long trip to Milan.
The Rossoneri have a number of players who may need to take this chance to impress Pioli.
Milan 2-1 Cagliari. Goals from Jovic, Reijnders and Adli (og).
Hopefully chaka scores, it wouldn´t change pioli not playing him but it would help him grow.
😅give Adli a break my brother. He is a misguided Pirlo in the making. Remember this statement when he comes into his own. Forza Milan