A few weeks ago the idea of Samuel Chukwueze being potentially the main weapon in a knockout European tie seemed alien, but that is how things stand heading into the second leg against Roma.
This morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via PianetaMilan) speaks of a decisive week for Milan with the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Roma and the derby against Inter.
Samuel Chukwueze is one of the players who can lend a hand in both games given that he is in excellent form and has been for a month and a half now.
Chukwueze had the ball in the net twice at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday and both times VAR intervened to call them offside, though the stills from the technology suggested there was very little in both calls.
Few players in the Milan squad have his speed when it comes to dribbling, especially in closed spaces, something also seen in the few minutes on the pitch against Roma in the first leg when he should have had an assist when he set up Olivier Giroud.
The paper continues by asking a question: can Chukwueze be the extra weapon against Roma? The end of the first leg would say yes, but Milan would have to remove one of Christian Pulisic or Ruben Loftus-Cheek from the field in order to start him.
In this case it is likely that the American will be moved to the attacking midfield role with Rafael Leao on the left and Chukwueze on the right. Pioli will decide today and tomorrow what the best team is to try complete the comeback mission.
Why did things not go too well for Chukwueze at the start? Adapting to a new league was difficult, then he suffered an injury and missed a month due to being called up for the Africa Cup of Nations. Various factors have slowed down his initial impact, but the feeling is that next season he could explode.
Of course he should start. He is in red hot form. R L-C on the other hand has had horrible games. Get Pulisic as CAM and Chuk on the right and we can beat Roma. However, Pioli is stubborn and tends to repeat mistakes so I expect to see R L-C instead while Chuk warms the bench.
Bench RLC and move Puli to the center & Chuk as RW. That would give us a fighting chance as RLC has been absolutely awful last few weeks.
Absolutely correct my brother, we’re all on the same page. There’s no holding back in this game pioli shouldn’t be indecisive here, his selection is well presented to him. Of course at a crucial game like this, you have to opt for your best performing players. I still don’t have any fear for this Roma team, if in the right mentality, we should win them conveniently.
from the beginning I thought Pulisic was brought in to play 10 or replace Brahim.
I have been a daily reader of this site since the beginning but this is the first time I write.
To win this match Pioli must play with Bennacer, Reijnders and RLC as midfielders to be able to physically dominate the midfield which is the key in this game.
Leao, Okafor and Chuck should make the trio up front with Pulisic the sub. A 4-3-3 is needed to to win this game with fast transitions and counter attacks. Playing like this we could easily win against this Roma but with the formation in the article there is a bigger risk that we will loose.
I don’t think Chukwueze should start, I think he should come in in the 2nd half when he can be at full capacity.
Roma will not have an answer for him. He should at least 30 minutes. He will be fired up to come in and make the difference. Okafor should start from the bench too.
But we are not going down tomorrow. I’m so sure.
Red hot = 1 league goal this season? Love that Chuck is improving, but come on….
You don’t really watch football now, do you??