AC Milan are set to make a lot of changes for the second Serie A game of the season with Paulo Fonseca having a lot of decisions to make against Parma.
The expectation was that Alvaro Morata would be handed his first start for the club after coming off the bench against Torino and inspiring Milan to secure a 2-2 draw from 2-0 down, but the Spaniard picked up an injury in that game and won’t be involved against Parma.
That leaves Fonseca needing to decide whether Noah Okafor or Luka Jovic will take Morata’s place. The La Gazzetta dello Sport prediction (as seen below) was that it would be Okafor and Fonseca confirmed as much in his press conference on Friday.
There should be a first start for Strahinja Pavlovic who may take Malick Thiaw’s place in the back four, whilst Theo Hernandez is expected to return and form a back four in front of Mika Maignan comprising Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Pavlovic and Hernandez.
Ismael Bennacer could soon leave the club and he is expected to have his place alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek taken by Tijjani Reijnders.
In the attacking trio behind Okafor, the same three names will be selected. Rafael Leao on the left, Christian Pulisic in his new central role, and Samuel Chukwueze on the right wing.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao, Okafor.
Predicted Parma XI (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Coulibaly, Del Prato, Circati, Valeri; Estevez, Bernabe; Man, Sohm, Mihaila; Bonny.
Many fans will have wanted to see Youssouf Fofana start but Fonseca said in his press conference that the Frenchman and Emerson Royal need a bit more time. They are expected to be on the bench, though.
Yes this line up is perfect but we are missing Gabbia to partner Pavlovic then we need musah in the second half to replace pulisic as an attacking midfield in the 72nd minutes
Just Chukwueze and Pulisic change places and that’s it. We need a left footed AMC (Mattia Liberali is also a good choice) because the attacks will flow from the left side…..hellooooo
I don’t know if Chukwueze would work there going forward but I’m pretty sure he would expose our cm’s compared to Pulisic who has a pretty great work rate and also does well for an offensive player in retrieving the ball back
Saelemaekers instead of Chukwueze and we´ll be fine. Saelemaekers works hard from the first minute. Chuk will be more eager coming of the bench when Saelemaekers has worn Parma´s left side down with his work rate.
I’m happy with it as Thiaw and Salad are not starting in defense.
Fonseca also said Okafor will start and not Jovic. So this lineup is wrong. I also expect Pulisic will start on the RW with RLC playing attacking midfield and Bennacer in the double pivot with Reinjders.
Totally agree with this lineup 🖖🏻
It would be nice to see a different milan tomorrow. Don’t concede our usual goals of being disorganized and attack with creativity. A clean sheet would be wonderful.
I’d rather see salad start in lieu of Chuk.
Milan 3 – 1
Leao with a brace
Salad off the bench
Puli with two assists
Parma is different from Torino. They have a similar system to Milan’s, so I think Jovic as a striker would make more sense, with Okafor behind him, and Pulisic or Saelemaekers as a right winger.
Also, Emerson Royal if he’s ready. I have no problem with Calabria, but a full back who runs forward might be more suitable for this game.
Bro nailed it. Most people just cook with what we have without even looking at the opponent we are playing.
That’s why we need a coach who puts in the effort to read the opponents, and regularly rotates between all the players he has, based on the opponent.
Basically, we need someone like Thomas Tuchel, but less toxic.
that season or even another few games could be key for the future Okafor in AC Milan. he has got chance to proof that he deserves to be in so famous club as AC Milan.
.
in other way better to make some swap deal with Juve or Roma. Okafor – Chiesa or Okafor – Zalewski.
I hope 3 pure midflields and Pulisic on the right. We cannot play with Leao, Pulisic, Chuku and Okafof. Parma is not a relegation team, they will comfortably be mid table.
Another pretty draw for you guys Ac Milan. No 2ways about it
Surely Gabbia deserves some form of loyalty. Saved Milan last season and now dropped to the bench.
I’m afraid we may be watching through our fingers.
RLC – Reijnders in a double pivot could be disastrous, i mean 3-0 disastrous.
Better to have Musah at that rate.
Anyway i doubt Fonseca is dumb enough to do that