After dealing with several absences last night, the situation will be a lot better for Paulo Fonseca against Roma next weekend. For the game after that, the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus, it could be even better.
The likes of Christian Pulisic, Alvaro Morata and Yunus Musah were missing from the squad yesterday, with Fonseca forced to play Filippo Terracciano in the midfield. It ended up being quite a good move, as Tijjani Reijnders scored the winner from the No.10 position.
As reported by today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below), three players will be back from injury for the game against Roma: Ismael Bennacer, Luka Jovic and Pulisic. The former has been out since September, so his return will certainly be a boost.
For the game against Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, Yunus Musah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek should also be back in action. Morata and Lorenzo Torriani only missed yesterday’s game due to fever so they will also be back, having not been injured per se.
Noah Okafor, however, could be out for a little longer and it also remains to be seen what Rafael Leao’s tests will reveal today. He left the pitch with an injury yesterday and Fonseca stated afterwards that it wasn’t anything serious. Hopefully, that is the case.
Ive been toying with the idea of moving Gabbia up to midfield, he played there in the Primavera, but we don’t have anyone in defense who can lead the line, also Jimenez needs to move to right back, at this point he should be starting over Emerson and Calabria. Calabria can improve after the injuries, but it does take time. Emerson has reached his peak and I’m tired of seeing him unable to control balls that even I can easily.
Gabbia is a centre back tho, he’s literally our best centre back, so moving him to midfield will disturb our balance
“For the game after that, the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus, it could be even better. ”
What, you already know Fonseca will be fired before Juventus?
Getting Puli back for Roma is going to be critical. We’re toothless without him. Given our emergency in midfield it’s most likely he’ll play AM, but once we get healthier he should move back to RW and Tijji should start at AM, with Benny and Fofana in the pivot. If Puli can’t make the Roma game in the end I think we will lose.
In a pinch Pulisic is also effective on the left side.
Pulisic is naturally a left winger. He only plays on the right or central because of Leão.