AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli is set to make some changes to his starting line-up for the game against Salernitana compared to the team that beat Genoa.
According to this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mike Maignan should have a back four of Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli and Theo Hernandez ahead of him with Simon Kjaer out due to a knee ligament injury.
In midfielder it should be a double pivot of Sandro Tonali and Tiemoue Bakayoko with Franck Kessie returning to the bench and doubts remaining over Ismael Bennacer as he is battling an inner ear infection.
Junior Messias and Brahim Diaz remain in the trident behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while there should be space on the left wing for Rafael Leao to come back after a couple of games of rest.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kalulu, Tomori, Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Tonali, Bakayoko; Messias, Brahim Diaz, Leao; Ibrahimovic.
Probable Salernitana XI (4-4-2): Belec; Zortea, Gyomber, Gagliolo, Veseli; Kechrida, Coulibaly, Di Tacchio, Ranieri; Djuric, Bonazzoli.
I hope Pioli never considers this centre back pairing against top teams. Theo’s constant foray forward means our left sided CB must be fast and capable. Ergo, Tomori is the best fit there.
Romagnoli can play against these smaller teams but it will be a disaster against better teams as he’s too slow.