AC Milan have got their best players back after four months of almost constant injuries, now Stefano Pioli has to show what he can do with this squad.
As reported by Calciomercato.com, the Rossoneri have been missing important players for the past four months, predominantly centre-backs like Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw.
That has led to a series of mismatched defences and a dip in form that saw the Serie A title challenge come to a very premature end.
Pioli came under fire for the number of muscle injuries his players were suffering but with that now in the past, the Rossoneri need a strong end to the season.
The best it can get for Pioli is second place in Serie A, with Milan currently one point behind a stuttering Juventus, and a Europa League trophy. They are into the round of 16 and face Czech side Slavia Praha, a very winnable tie.
Since Kalulu’s injury on November 4, Pioli has not been able to count on his full squad. Kalulu, Tomori, Thiaw and Calabria are all now back from their injuries and available for selection, with Tommaso Pobega being the only player out. The Italian midfielder is not one of Pioli’s regular starters, though.
CB absentees were only partially a problem for Pioli. His defensive inconsistencies have to do more with the defensive system he uses, especially in transition and the personnel he’s trying to use it on.
Namely man marking with offensive midfielders and defenders who can’t man mark well. That’s a system problem. And it has persisted under Pioli.