AC Milan will play their final preseason friendly on Saturday against Manchester United, and the time for experimentation is over.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the team that Ruben Amorim will field against United in Wroclaw is very similar to the one Ruben Amorim will name in his competitive debut as a Serie A coach against Torino on August 23rd.
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A glance at the Portuguese manager’s selections in the three friendlies against Celtic, Inter and Chelsea shows that he’s distributed the minutes almost evenly and fielded ‘mixed’ lineups to avoid finishing the matches with exclusively young players and/or reserves.
This decision has helped keep a fairly competitive starting eleven on the pitch, but it hasn’t allowed him to synchronise certain mechanisms. This is why, starting Wednesday, he’ll focus more on Torino and less on making decisions for the good of the group.
The return of Mario Gila in the back three will allow him to keep the defensive line higher. However, the absence of Christian Pulisic must be noted, as he will be a key part of how the former Sporting CP boss intends to play.
The probable XI vs. Torino
Naturally, the transfer market must also be taken into account. While Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot will be missing against Manchester United on August 15, the two Frenchmen should already be available for the following week’s home opener against Torino, despite only one week of training.
What starting eleven can we expect against the Granata? It should be Maignan with a defence of Gila, Gabbia and Pavlovic, then Chukwueze on the right and either Saelemaekers or Bartesaghi on the left.
Modric could be partnered by Comotto if Rabiot is not 100%. There’s uncertainty in the attacking midfield spots two, where two of Nkunku, Leao, and Loftus-Cheek will play. Ramos will be the lone striker.
“Modric could be partnered by Comotto if Rabiot is not 100%.”
He is 101% fit but he won’t be available then, you’ve just said it.
Revolttt i lyk U
i know it ISNT a good sign having not won a single preseason game so far BUT, better to lose now, try all the shenanigans and combinations and be ready week 1. We’ve had preseasons where we beat the likes of Madrid and Bayern only to flop.
Lose now. i dont care. but better be ready when the season start.
I hope we will see an 11 consisting of
Maignan
Gila-Gabbia-Pavlovic
Saelemaekers-Modric-Rabiot-Bartesaghi
Nkunku-Leao
Ramos
Its a bit more balanced then if we would have Sallad and Chuk on each side.
If Chuk starts over Sallad its not a big thing. Sallad was horrible against Chelsea. Hopefully he has a better game vs United.
Rabiot was fantastic away against Torino last season. We need his ball carrying abilities in an away game, arriving late from vacation or not.
A thought experiment here. If Modric & Comotto are paired up in the centre, Rabiot could move to the left and Barte to the right which would look something like this:
Maignan
Gila – Gabbia(C) – Pavlovic
Bartesaghi – Modric – Comotto – Rabiot
RLC – Leao
Ramos
Never going to happen Barthesaghi on the right…. It’s going to be sawlemakers or chukwu