Ahead of AC Milan’s clash against Lecce, some injury news has come to light. Alvaro Morata has suffered a muscle injury during training, and now, there is a decision to make about the squad.
In his press conference earlier this afternoon, Paulo Fonseca confirmed that the Spanish striker had suffered ‘a contusion [which] caused him bursitis. We have this doubt, let’s see tomorrow’. Whilst he stated that the striker was named in the squad for the game, his involvement looks unlikely, at least from the first minute.
Given the former Atletico Madrid striker has already had a muscle issue this season, Fonseca may opt to give him a rest rather than risk aggravating the injury. With the Portuguese manager already stating that the structure of the side did not change for the game against Inter, a replacement should be easy to find.
In fact, Calciomercato.com suggest that Tijjani Reijnders or Ruben Loftus-Cheek could move into the Trequartista role, and this would see a more ‘traditional’ 4-2-3-1 shape return, rather than the 4-2-4 shape that was seen against Inter.
When asked if Jovic could be the Spaniard’s replacement, Fonseca stated that the two players had different characteristics, so would not be considered to replace him in this instance.
Again?
At least there’s Tammy now for a suitable backup. Or maybe he’s saving Morata for Europe.
Bruise – took a knock.
Bursitis – took a very very hard knock.
Fingers crossed he can play UCL next week!
Abraham-Jovic is a good pair in my opinion. Camarda can enter in the last 30 minutes if we lead Lecce comfortably till then.
Again, someone who is too optimistic about a youth player doing well in Serie A. Have you noticed how Camarda has been struggling in Serie C? Milan Futuro hasn’t scored a single goal in Serie C yet, except for the one single goal they got out of a PK. No goals from open plays or free kicks.
The kids are struggling against the grown men in Serie C. Why do you think they’d do well against the grown men in Serie A?
If Camarda plays for 30 minutes against Lecce, he will probably do nothing and will be bumped around by the big grown men center backs. For a 16-yearl-old to play well as a striker, it is more difficult than for a winger or midfielder, because strikers work in a tighter space against big center backs. Camarda would be working against players 10-15-20 years older than him, with lots of pounds of muscle more than him, and whole lot more experienced.
Our kids are great (Camarda, Zeroli, Liberali, Vos) but they need a lot of muscle development and fine-tuning of their skills. Let them do it under less pressure, with Milan Futuro. They are not even ready for Serie C yet, let alone for Serie A.
I checked with a couple of former pros about this (winger, mid and GK) They say the same thing. Unless the kid is physically developed (Cubarasi is an example) then CB, ST and Keeper are tough for youngsters.
My kid was big and fast for his age and able to play against much older kids and even adults in some situations. Kids far more skilled and just as quick struggled immensely in the same situation. There is definitely an art/science to playing kids above their current level.
Interestingly Torriani looks too thin to me to hold up as a GK right now but proved me wrong with Liverpool I think. So here is hoping we see more of him in places like the cup or even the most and of games we have in control.
Why not put Okafor
Same thought here because his work rate.
Ok4 seems to naturally drift left alot. I dunno if it instruction or habit. This might disqualify him?
Good Lord! Again! Morata is perhaps showing that he is injury-prone and this is a huge concern.
Morata was absolutely essential for our victory in the Derby. He was fabulous when he assumed the work of an offensive midfielder, much better than what other players have recently tried in that role. I do not think that at this point we can replace Morata with the same level of quality.
I hope he recovers fast and only misses the Lecce game. We may have paradoxically more trouble with Lecce than we had with Inter, and the Lecce game is almost as essential to win as the Derby: they are both worth 3 points and while I understand the huge boost in confidence that winning the Derby has provoked, Fonseca (in his press conference) is right that if we don’t beat Lecce, it will be like walking backwards and will destroy the good feelings the players are now experiencing; it will take another long time to build up again.
Of course the Derby is the Derby but in this specific moment of time, beating Lecce is extremely important, and for sure we’ll miss Morata.
But if we can beat Lecce without Morata and preserve him for Leverkusen, that’s not bad.
Imagine we didn’t sign Tammy. Our since would have been over before it started. We had better looked into David option in January.
I think something is definetly wrong with our training facility.
Last year the main suspect for our injury crisis was Osti, but right now Osti isn’t here and Morata is a new player who was never physically prepared by Osti.
I think an investigation has to be opened.
This stuff is happening all over. If you want something to blame look at the overcongested schedule that top players have between club and national team.
This. Morata went from the end of last season, to the Euros to the beginning of this season with almost no break. Then during the season you have league matches, European competition, cup matches, international competition, and if your club qualified, the international club world cup, which is actually being expanded into an actual summer tournament. For some players this will mean non-stop football for the foreseeable future, as you go from Euros, to season, to Club World Cup, to season, to World Cup, to season, back to Club World Cup, etc. It’s insane.
Dude is breaking down
Another Fonseca misdirection?
Why he got such a long contract is crazy.
Hopefully he can stay reasonably fit for a year or two, though he wouldn’t inspire confidence in how hes started
Because he’s a fantastic player who has sacrificed himself for the better of the team. Morata has never really shook off the injury. Can’t always look at goals and assists for a striker because how hard Morata works and how he keeps it simple and gets his team involved is his best trait. It’s obvious why he’s the captain of Spain. Happy to have him at milan.
Bring in liberali plz
Also remove Bonera asap…messes when he was a player and now he is a coach
For those who are suggesting Milan Futuro players to be brought in to the first team, do read my post up there in response to Enzo.
The kids can’t even perform in Serie C, let alone in Serie A.
Sure, Bonera is way worse than Abate, but I don’t think the issue with Milan Futuro is the coach. The issue is that our guys, nominally a U23 team, are actually much younger than that, and lack the muscle development, experience, and fine-tuned skills needed to shine among grown men.
I fully believe that the likes of Camarda, Liberali, Zeroli, and Vos, will be spectacular players in a few years, but they aren’t there yet. Developing them, that’s exactly what Milan Futuro is for; not the first team.
Camarda.
Currently Camarda can’t even score in Serie C if not from a PK, and he’d do absolutely nothing against a Serie A team, playing against center backs who are 15 years older, 15 years more experienced, and have double of his muscle mass.
Camarda will be great in a few years but currently he is not ready to seriously play for the first team.
I agree that young players need to develop and strikers in particular have a tough job.
However it is also worth considering the team he plays in, if you are a striker playing for a team that is being overrun you are not going to score.
Getting chances on a good team gives shooting practice /opportunity.
The reverse is true for goal keepers, they should play in bad teams where they get lots of action