AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has settled on the starting line-up that he will use tonight against Club Brugge, according to a report.
La Gazzetta dello Sport often have a difficult job predicting the team that Fonseca will use, but the coach did something rather interesting in his pre-match press conference yesterday by naming it for the media.
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The paper (seen below) have taken his words at face value and thus believe that it will be Mike Maignan in goal with Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez as the defence, meaning three changes to the rearguard from the Udinese win.
The double pivot is down as Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders with Ruben Loftus-Cheek acting ahead of them in a more advanced role. Christian Pulisic should move back to the right wing after playing down the middle at the weekend, with Rafael Leao on the left.
Alvaro Morata will almost certainly lead the line given that both Tammy Abraham and Luka Jovic will not even make the bench due to injury. Chukwueze, Noah Okafor and Francesco Camarda – who would become the youngest Italian to appear in the Champions League if he comes on – are all available.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Morata.
Predicted Club Brugge XI (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Seys, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari, Vanaken; Skov Olsen, Jutgla, Tzolis.
This is probably the best 11 available. No proper AM, no prolific striker, lousy RB and average midfield. It shows that the market strategy is terrible. It should be enough for Bruges at home but it’s going to be a long and painful season. Again.
You are so negative man.
Because he’s stating facts and not sugarcoating the situation? 4 losses, 4 wins and 2 draws Serie A and CL combined. This doesn’t tingle my mingle either.
Right, because the first 8 games under a new coach are a predictor for the rest of the season …. kind of like how it went for Pioli when he took over …
Worst start in last 10 years. And we had the likes of Brocchi, Pippo, Montella and Giampaolo before.
Try harder.
He is realistic*
Perhaps a bad market strategy, but we have a great marketing strategy, and our financial numbers are fantastic……
I cant stand Royal.. besides from that its ok
Tomori is short one!Why always him?
I think Okafor should replace loftus
Exactly, Okafor looks like someone who will do great as a SS/AM. He should be given a shot.
Ok,again sabotage guys in action,would be nice to watch them
I already know what will happen, it is the 8th minute of the game and leao is down there crawling like a snail’s grandfather who just played 180′ of snail’s football league derby,i am sick of that attitude man
Are you also sick of Leão’s 5 goal contributions this season? Because, you know, it’s second best in the team, only after Pulisic, despite Leão having played fewer minutes than most other strikers.
No, Leão doesn’t track back well, doesn’t defend well, and doesn’t run much. But he does create scoring opportunities (some of which his companions convert, some they don’t; if his companions had converted more opportunities created by Rafa, he’d have an even big goal participation stat).
Agree but Pulisic has created more chances than anyone so the same could be said about his goal participations also and he tracks back. Leao is more gifted than Pulisic but his approach to the game is horrible. Maybe it is his conditioning.
Sure, Puli is currently more helpful to the team than Rafa, agreed. But Rafa is also helpful, unlike what the haters pretend. A hater here said yesterday that Rafa adds “zero contributions.” That’s preposterous. Rafa has had 29, 30, and 28 goal contributions in the last 3 seasons (and is at 5 this season) so how this can be called “zero contributions” only exists in the twisted mind of a Rafa hater.
Clown Luigi ,you asked me and answered for me. I dont give a f. about his stats if he doesnt do for a team , everyone would have better stats saving energy and staying just upfront.if a player doesnt want to run in 5th minute of a game its a big problem. I can tolerate that attitude after 60 minutes but being that lazy from begining of a match ….
This is his way of motivating Okafor and co. This coach is rubbish !! he’s a fixed set of players that must always play even when others are doing better.
Fonseca don’t use Loftus cheek as attacking midfield instead used musah as attacking midfield then play chukwueze as winger then pulisic should rest second half pulisic should replace musah and play attacking midfield
One thing I don’t understand is why Fonseca discloses everything (who will start) the day before in press conference. It helps the opponent’s coach in his preparation. He should keep it vague “we’ll see who will start; I haven’t decided yet” and only announce it at the last possible moment.
Tomori – good grief
i dont get it hasnt fonseca learned anything why would he play that 4-2-3-1 rlc at cam emerson even playing and tomori playing this might end really badly