After one draw and one win, AC Milan will be looking to continue their unbeaten run tonight, preferably with a win against Empoli. As a report claims, Sergio Conceicao will make some significant changes to the starting XI.
The derby draw gave the Rossoneri some confidence after a rather chaotic few weeks, despite the late goal conceded, and the win against Roma fueled the enthusiasm even more. As such, against Empoli tonight, Conceicao is looking for a convincing win.
According to today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below), four significant changes are expected to the starting XI, in addition to a new formation. The manager is finally set to deploy the 4-4-2 from start, relying on Joao Felix and Tammy Abraham up front.
The successful pairing of Fikayo Tomori-Strahinja Pavlovic will make way for another successful pairing (prior to injuries), namely Matteo Gabbia-Malick Thiaw. In midfield, Yunus Musah will take the spot of Tijjani Reijnders and Riccardo Sottil will start on the right, with Christain Pulisic on the left.
Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez are both not 100%, hence why they are starting on the bench, but we will likely see them in the second half of the game. Hopefully, the (necessary) rotation won’t come back to haunt the Rossoneri.
Predicted Milan XI (4-4-2): Maignan; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Sottil, Musah, Fofana, Pulisic; Abraham, Joao Felix.
Predicted Empoli XI (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Henderson, Pezzella, Cacace, Esposito; Colombo.
442 here we go!
Abraham deserves the start after banging 2 Gs, but I think we all want to see Giminez and Felix on the field with Leao, Puli, Reijnders, and Fofana.
2 Italians in the starting XI and 5 more on the bench, with a 6th who despite being born abroad, also possesses Italian citizenship due to ancestry (that’s Gimenez). We have 8 Italians called up for this game. Given that Ricci is the main summer target (and if acquired, such become a fairly consistent starter), it does seem like Milan is slowly getting Italians back into prominent roles.
Not that I care much for a player’s citizenship. I defend the idea that Milan needs good players regardless of their citizenship. But some people here were complaining of a lack of Italians, so, I’m highlighting that this trend seems to be reversing in favor of more Italians in the first team.
*should become
musang eh musah
We still need strong holding midfielder to dictate the game tho. So we can keep our score when we are on winning side.
Everything changes except musah ,he is priceless
Why not Pulisic on the right and Sottil on the left.
I think that’s more likely
Good observation,and Sottil is left footed.
That’s what I was wondering. I’m curious if Puli still prefers the LT side more.
Pulisic needs some rest