After a difficult start to his first season at AC Milan, Samuel Chukwueze is back to his best form. With huge games on the horizon, a report has suggested that Stefano Pioli cannot afford to drop him.
Calciomercato.com writes that there are now seven days in which everything is at stake for Milan: the future, trophy hopes, judgments on the head coach and others, the credibility of the project and more.
On Thursday there is the mountain at the Olimpico to climb and overcome against Roma for a place in the Europa League semi-final, then on Monday the derby against Inter to avoid the great nightmare of the city rivals celebrating a second star after that game.
Pioli knows that every detail, every training session and every selection choice can make the difference between a turning point or a profound disappointment. The signals are also coming from the players, too.
There are those who are shining after difficulties like Chukwueze , those who are providing continued positive signs like Christian Pulisic and those who are struggling more than others to find certain levels after injuries like Malick Thiaw.
The great enthusiasm that had accompanied Chukwueze’s arrival last summer was not the result of a collective hallucination, because he was one of the best attacking wingers in LaLiga and a key man in Villarreal’s Champions League run.
After a decidedly mediocre first part of the season, the Nigerian has seemingly realised what it means to play for Milan and now he is a completely different player with his unpredictability, quickness in closed spaces and intoxicating dribbling.
It is no coincidence that the only real danger created for Roma in the first leg came thanks to some magic by Chukwueze who – after leaving three opponents behind – provided the easiest of assists for Giroud. The Frenchman, as he will no doubt have nightmares about, hit the bar.
Chukwueze had the ball in the net twice at the Mapei Stadium and both times VAR intervened to call them offside, though the stills from the technology suggested there was very little in both calls.
Regardless of what the fans’ feelings may be and the rivalry with Inter, the big game is on Thursday against Roma. Pioli must pick the right team and at present it seems almost sacrilege to exclude Chukwueze from the starting XI.
Milan at the Olimpico must be courageous and at the same time balanced, so they must consider the system too. One idea could be to move Ruben Loftus-Cheek back to midfield with Pulisic as an attacking midfielder and Chukwueze on the right.