Head coach Stefano Pioli deserves special praise for keeping his Milan side rolling despite the many injuries and other absences.
Tuesday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanLive) notes how by beating Rio Ave in the Europa League on Thursday and Spezia at home on Sunday – without getting too ahead of ourselves – Milan would find themselves with a Europa League group stage place in the bag and at least tied for first in the league.
It has not exactly been the easiest start to the season from a selection standpoint either, as Romagnoli, Conti, Musacchio, Duarte, Ibrahimovic and Rebic are all out.
Winning and becoming dangerous even without the presence of star players and leaders like Ibrahimovic is no small matter. The squad are showing character and solidity, and a superior mentality even after Rebic’s bad arm injury that could psychologically hit the Rossoneri.
The impact of the younger players shouldn’t be forgotten. Gabbia is now almost a certainty in defence, Saelemaekers a wild card not to be underestimated, and in Crotone both Tonali and Brahim Diaz also earned praise.
