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.