AC Milan could have an advantage over some of their rivals heading into next season with continuity being the key word.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes how next Friday to 11 July the European Championships will take place, and Milan could be more rested than their competition going into the new season because only four players will take part.
Mike Maignan will be there with France, Simon Kjaer is the captain of Denmark, Hakan Calhanoglu (who could still leave) will be there with Turkey and Ante Rebic will represent Croatia. Juventus will have 12 players at the Euros, Atalanta and Inter will have 9, Napoli have 8 and even Sassuolo have 6.
The advantage for Milan in this sense stems from the fact that having fewer national team players is not in this case synonymous with an uncompetitive team, because it just so happens that the Rossoneri have a global squad. In addition, last season the team achieved second place despite a season that started much earlier than normal due to the Europa League preliminaries.
Therefore, players like Theo Hernandez (inexplicably snubbed by France) and Davide Calabria can rest, as can Fikayo Tomori and Alessio Romagnoli. Kessie and Bennacer can prepare for the AFCON in January, while the likes of Leao and Saelemaekers will have a full preseason, as will Ibrahimovic due to his injury.
Compared to last season, the relaxed summer of most of the squad should mean Pioli welcomes a team charged and ready to take on the 2021-22 campaign.
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