After demanding games against Inter and Red Bull Salzburg in quick succession, AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli is thinking of some rotation ahead of Saturday’s game away against Sampdoria.
Calciomercato.com report that it is still too early to try and predict a line-up, but there are a number of players who are pushing for a spot and could be given an opportunity from the first minute against a struggling Samp side who have injury issues of their own.
Malick Thiaw and Aster Vranckx are yet to make their debut and both are not on the Champions League squad list as well as Yacine Adli, but that does automatically mean being a starter then in the league games that follow.
Pioli already has alternatives he trusts: Simon Kjaer in the role of centre-back, Tommaso Pobega for the midfield (and Rade Krunic when he returns) and Brahim Diaz for the playmaker role. However, the 0-0 draw against Sassuolo shows that rotating en masse can cause problems with rhythm and cohesion.
Ante Rebic should soon be back and he is vital as Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao need some rest and the Croatian can cover both roles. Divock Origi is accumulating minutes and is vying for as the starting centre-forward, while Theo Hernandez and Ismael Bennacer will need rest soon.
