Sergio Conceicao is planning to rotate the starting line-up for the league game against Bologna, in view of the cup final next week.
As Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) report this morning, Milan resumed training at Milanello in preparation for tomorrow night’s Serie A match against Bologna at San Siro, a match that matters more for the visitors who are still fighting to reach the Champions League.
The Rossoneri’s minds are already focused on Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final, and this will likely be reflected in Conceiçao team selection. The coach is in fact thinking about a large-scale rotation tomorrow night.
Injuries and chances
First of all, taking stock of the injured players, Tammy Abraham – who missed Monday’s trip to Genoa due to a muscle strain – returned to training with the group yesterday and has therefore fully recovered.
Youssouf Fofana is struggling with a problem with the sole of his foot, so he and Riccardo Sottil (also muscle discomfort) have been working separately and are aiming to be available again for the final. Warren Bondo’s recovery (a blow to his right ankle) will be more complicated.
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As mentioned, Conceiçao is thinking about several changes to the starting line-up compared to the last few games, including in goal where Mike Maignan could even make room for Marco Sportiello.
In defence, Malick Thiaw is ready to give one of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia or Strahinja Pavlovic a rest. In midfield, Fofana is out due to injury, Tijjani Reijnders will be rested and therefore the starters should be Yunus Musah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
There are also planned changes on the flanks: on the right there should be Kyle Walker, while on the left Filippo Terracciano could give Theo Hernandez a rest. Finally, in attack, a new trident: Samuel Chukwueze and Joao Felix behind Santiago Gimenez.
This is mostly because Rafael Leao is suspended and therefore won’t be available, but the coach wants to give Christian Pulisic and Luka Jovic some rest, clearly viewing them as important for next week’s game.
Coach’s smart move…
Wow – that looks like a team destined to lose…
Why not start the Primavera; they’d have a better chance..
These are final chances for some of the players to earn their stay, so personal motivation should be high(er compared to the usual starters).
Also:
1. There’s no reason to risk the key players before the final, as we play for nothing in the league. Make the best out of the sad reality.
2. All the pressure in the first match is on Bologna’s end. They play for CL spot and need the 3 points, but also have to conserve energy for the final and for the the equally important match (league-wise) with Fiorentina. They will most probably also rotate some of the starters.
I would have taken Bartesaghi, Sandri, Liberalli instead of Terraciano, Musah and Chukwueze
Bondo over musha all day