For Massimiliano Allegri, it seems like there are very few decisions left to make ahead of the derby. However, we think AC Milan may need to look at the situation.
Ahead of the Derby della Madonnina, many reports have suggested that the team is all but decided. In fact, it would not be a surprise if we could already list the starting XI. After all, as we know, Massimiliano Allegri has his starters.
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However, there are a few areas that could need some further attention. Looking at this weekend’s game, there is not really any room for errors. If Milan win, they effectively seal a place in the Scudetto race – barring any major errors – and if they don’t, they have a five-point gap to fill.
It is probably worth mentioning that these views are quite common across the supporter base. Whilst it may not be the decision Allegri makes, we feel the chances are running out.
Right now, there are three real ‘concerns’, if you will, for us in the Milan team. Two are more pressing than the other, but we’d be lying if we said that it was a doubt-free situation ahead of this most important of Serie A fixtures.
Estupinan’s disappointment
At left-back, it seems like Davide Bartesaghi will start this game, and it is the right decision. With Pervis Estupinan, you get more experience, but it doesn’t really feel that way. There are far too many small errors in the Ecuadorian’s game, and he doesn’t seem completely ready for a game like this.
Since arriving in the summer, he has had some good moments, of course. However, in his past two games – the one against Parma and the friendly against Virtus Entella – he has made poor decisions against, with respect, lesser teams.
Against Inter, those mistakes cannot happen at the frequency that he makes them. Of course, when lineups come out, this could be a complete non-issue. After all, he is not expected to start. However, the fact that it is not a guarantee with the youngster yet is questionable in itself.
The Fofana Paradox
Youssouf Fofana is a confusing player. That is the best way to sum him up. The Frenchman is very competent in some capacities, but there are some elements to his game that take away from his popularity.
He is a nice box-crashing midfielder, and he has a pretty decent range of passing. However, he is also very flawed, to put it nicely. Whilst he makes nice runs into the box, his finishing has been really poor this season.
Then, outside of that, his commitment levels can also be questioned at times. There have been a few occasions this season where he has failed to give that extra 10% to track a man back, which has proven costly.
Against Virtus last Friday, he gave away an easy goal, and his effort to stop it was poor too. Fofana is talented, and that is where the frustration lies. Maybe it is in mentality, maybe it is work ethic – however, given his minutes last year, it seems difficult to pin it on this – either way, there must be a solution.
So, this weekend, we feel it may be best to start Samuele Ricci. The Italian would, in our view, be better suited for the nod over Ruben Loftus-Cheek, just as he offers slightly more balance.
Adrien Rabiot, it seems, will be tasked with being the aggressor of the midfield going forward, and adding the Englishman may be committing. So, as a late sub, he could make the difference. Ricci, then, could offer that nice mix. Another anchor, another progressive option. Exactly what could be needed this weekend.
Pu-Leao
Not a doubt, necessarily, but a worry perhaps. The idea of Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao together is a fantastic one. However, there have been many great ideas in history, and whether they work is another thing entirely.
Working off a striker, both have excelled. However, neither has really been the striker, and where they both work well is where the other is an unknown. Neither is really the hold-up player. Instead, they are the dynamic one, who drives into space.
Of course, where Santiago Gimenez has helped both has been the ability to make space, and both should be more than able to do that. Whether they will be able to manage the Inter backline for the key moments, though, is something in itself.
This isn’t really a doubt, but more of a, how will it go. On the other side, if they do not link how Allegri hopes, the need for a striker will only increase. There are, perhaps, positives to a good and less good performance.
Our XI for Inter-Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Ricci, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Leao, Pulisic.
I liked how Estupinan was performing before getting wiped out but Allegri’s making the right call starting Bartesaghi in this one. Let’s see if he does it with his boyfriend Fofana…
yeah currently only those 2 are under-performing
Santi at this point needs to go and if Juve keeps sinking, maybe Vlahovic is no-brainer at this point; we need goals. or let RLC leave and play Puli deeper.
Lucumi in CB also makes so much sense; hope we can get these 2 and Maignan extension. more than enough for winter.
In the summer a midfielder, Read from Feynoord and maybe a more exp CB kinda like we had Kjaer
This site really has it in for Estupian. There must be an Italian player behind him… That’s usually how it works.
Estupian overall has done well and the team has done better when he has been out there. He’s had some bad moments but never looked as awful as Bartesaghi did against Roma. I just don’t feel comfortable with him after that, and if the Roma game was too much pressure for him, Inter is not the game for him to be starting.
You have got to be joking. Estupinan against Napoli was horrible. Politano completely abused him in the first half and then he pulls the red card play. His stupidity led to the first Parma goal and then he got duped into letting up the cross on the second goal. His play is getting worse with each game. Bartesaghi had a poor half against Roma, no doubt. But none of his mistakes led to a goal. He’s by far and away the better choice to start on Sunday.
Thank you. I don’t like to hate on players but it’s true
So because Roma missed a bunch of chances that Bartesaghi gifted them, they don’t count? Ok. I’m sure Inter will not miss those chances.
The team was playing it’s best football before the last break and that’s before Barteshagi was starting. It’s not all his fault obviously but he has shown nothing really positive other than he can deliver a good cross, but so can Estupian.
I see nobody mentions the brilliant goal line tackle Estupian made in the last match that saved a goal and prevented a loss. Only his mistakes get mentioned. It’s the opposite with Bartesaghi.
But these are the same people that were screaming that Calabria was good and should have been starting last season. Where is he now? Not a single Serie A team would take him and he’s playing in the 36th ranked league in the world.
But hey, he’s Italian so let’s pretend he’s good when he is not…
F…inter😉
Pleaaaase don’t. This was a tactical thing: Gasperini put two man on both Saele and Barte. Saele is an extraordinary dribbler, that’s why he managed better. Barte does not have the build to be that player in tight spaced. Right after Allegri’s tactical tweaks, Barte was back in the game. I agree he isn’t world-class yet, but even at 19 years old, he is already more reliable and less erratic than Estupinan (at the moment).
I seriously vouch for this line-up ✌️
looking forward to Leao and Pulisic starting together. Watching one play while the other was sidelined with an injury highlighted what good passes both of them are and when they do play together each has a knowledge of where the other is. When Leao has the ball and is charging at the opposition Pulisic is finding space between the defenders and waiting for the pass or rebound. When Pulisic has the ball, he instinctively knows where Rafa is and 9 out of 10 makes the pass. They already put the fear of God into opposing teams when playing together and have an opportunity to be the most exciting duo in Europe.
F… Inter 😉
It going to be a great weekend for us and I hope Nkunku give us a Goal when he comes on
Very good decision. This should the best lineup so far
Ne veselim se Estupinanu ! sa njime gubimo utakmicu !!!!!!
Bartesaghi will get burned by Lautaro, Thuram, Bony OR Pio. Take your pick. He’s not ready to face an attack like this.
The mistakes he made against Roma will be punished, and that was the only Clean sheet he had this past 4 matches too.
Too inconsistent, too many mistakes.
Agree 100%…You are spot on. There is bunch of posters in here who either don’t watch matches or listen to the nonsensical journalists who clearly have their own biased agendas.
Because anyone who watches Milan’s matches would have observed two things clearly…..Bartesaghi has huge gaps in his game that are continually exploited game after game….and Ricci…omg, you never even know he is on the pitch. We’ve missed Rabiot terribly…why? because Ricci has about 10% of the output that Rabiot does. And the twilight zone blames Fofana?
Well let’s hope whoever plays does well…Milan need to win this game to keep the pressure on.
Allegri will 100% start Fofana imo. Not that i agree with it.. he needs to tell him to stay more back and not come forward as much