How AC Milan could line up against Chelsea amid nine key injuries

By Isak Möller -

Stefano Pioli has a lot to think about ahead of AC Milan’s clash against Chelsea on Wednesday. The starting XI is already being discussed but the reality is that the manager doesn’t have many options. 

As if the injury situation wasn’t already bad, Calabria, Kjaer and Saelemaekers are left the pitch injured in the 3-1 win against Empoli last night. This means that nine (!) will miss the game against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Pioli will thus have to rely on his squad depth, as we saw against Empoli by throwing on Rade Krunic to replace Alexis Saelemaekers. Junior Messias would have been the natural replacement, but he got injured the day before the game.

The XI against Chelsea, therefore, will be similar to what we saw towards the end of the Empoli clash. Kjaer is perhaps the only question mark with regards to the injured players, as his didn’t look as serious (he played on for quite a while).

Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Dest, Kalulu, Tomori, Ballo-Toure; Bennacer, Tonali; Krunic, De Ketelaere, Leao; Giroud.

The biggest blows, of course, are Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez who have been key players for Milan this season. Losing the captain, Calabria, is not ideal either and the situation on the right in general sure is dire.

Charles De Ketelaere could perhaps be an option for the right-wing but the feeling is that Krunic will start there again, as he did well against Empoli. Most likely, there will be a lot of in-game rotation between the players in the attacking trio.

Should Kjaer make it back, then we could perhaps see him from start as well, with Kalulu moving out to the right. But the above XI is the most likely one for now. Ante Rebic, who scored yesterday, will be an option off the bench.

Injury list: Maignan, Calabria, Florenzi, Kjaer, Hernandez, Saelemaekers, Messias, Ibrahimovic, Origi.

Tags AC Milan Chelsea Stefano Pioli

22 Comments

  1. I would put Kalulu as RB while Gabbia partner with Tomori. And Balo played quite well against Empoli, but i hope he plays better because Chelsea is definitely a stronger opponent than Empoli.

    It would be amazing if we can win twice from Chelsea. That would make less pressure for match against Salzburg and Zagreb because Milan already have 10 points which is enough to win the group or at least get 2nd place.

    1. i agree with you Kalulu as RB is one the best youngsters in the world its shame we don’t play him there often i believe he can be our starting right back for years to come and Gabbia i don’t remember if he ever play with our best defender Tomori it would be interesting to see Gabbia performance with player like tomori and believe me as is really important who you play with in defense as i was defender myself in my younger days

  2. Well its pure bad luck isn’t it with so many missing…..but for me kalulu should be at cb he is fast and will suit him against chelsea given epl teams runs like headless chickens. let’s give dest a run since we got no theo so we have someone at left back who holds back the line……it has to be sandro and isma at base of midfield then Diaz. It would be an interesting option to move cdk to right wing since he played there if not then krunic I am not to sure about….leao and giroud to end…..then have to keep an eye on juve this is one match I don’t wana loose…seeing at table I am kind of shocked we play so well yet we stand down at 4th or 5th depending of results today……

    1. Im agree with @meer… Too risky to play Gabbia (as an experiment) in CB with Tomori for UCL game. Especially against Chelsea. Let Dest in RB, n Kalulu back to CB. As for RW, im prefer Krunic. Put CDK still in AM.
      For game against Juve, we can try (if its ok for Pioli) CDK on the RW, as Adli or Brahim as AM. In the back, we can try Gabbia n Tomori as CB, with Kalulu move to the RB

  3. Against Chelsea I rather play Kalulu at CB Gabbia is slow remember the game against Florentina last year Dusan out ran him time and time again why aren’t we playing Adili is my question. The kid is a good player and can be effective on the wing or behind the striker . Anyway let’s go to Stamford Bridge and do our best … Forza Milan .

  4. 4231 . Kalulu – Tomori for CB , Dest for RB , balo toure for LB . Double pivot tonali – bennacer . Leao for LW , CDK for AMF , krunic / brahim for RW

  5. Well this is what you get for trying to get old man Kjaer going instead of the young Gabbia who has potential and a future ahead of him. I really didnt get why Kjaer starts over Gabbia in the Empoli game and overall. He’s so slow and was always an injury waiting to happen. Especially specifically after he got injured with the NT 🤦‍♂️. Give old man a rest and start the young guy. I get that he has experience but Gabbia can do the job.and the system requires faster CBs

    1. Maybe for one on one and aerial capabilities…Pioli pick Kjaer over Gabbia. But now…maybe Gabbia will have more playing time as Kjaer n Calabria injured. Blessing in disguise for him…as long as he can proove himself. Just like Tomori n Kalulu when they replaced Romagnoli n Kjaer last season…

      1. I think even with Kjaer fit, Gabbia should play ahead of him. I can’t see the point of a young backup. I dont mind a veteran backup but young backup? Come on now

    2. Kjaer not just good at 1v1 and aerial duel but he’s commanding skill at the back is top notch. Look at Tomori who improves a lot last season because he partnered with Kjaer. That’s why Pioli picked him over Gabbia.

  6. I would question Medical and training crew what are you doing to have players fragile like glass. It’s only few games, not even mid season and same thing happening. It happen this year. Exact same last 8yrs now? Milan, as team, has no depth and on top team crew are another problem.

    1. Don’t ever tell us like that do you want to tell me that yes is it in now they can never beat Milan artworks in their own way going to play draw they will come back to our who were going to pick them nobody and what mistake we have already see her mistake with injury player always is champions league if you want to play with him English football we always have injury last season what to play with Liverpool we have injury last two season again same thing I so much believe that God will take control thanks

  7. It’s AC.MILAN FOR ME..love this team ,yes too many injuries at the moment ,but I think we will at least get a draw ,which would be a good result …It’s great that rafeol leao is back ,what a tricky player he is ,a real handful for any defender .I like the fact that he is playing alongside an amazing in form man at the moment that is Olivier Giroud ,never ever write this man off as his hold up play is real class ,and of course he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time ,this is not luck but pure skill ..Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him score again in this game against Chelsea …What a manager we have in pioli ..remain optimistic,,we can win this group ..

  8. Pa valjda igrač poput Leaa može bez problema igrat desno krilo a Rebič ljevo krilo !!!! Žiru za centarfora ( (Origi zamjena ) a De Katelare centralno desetka !! ( Dias zamjena ) Mislim da bi tako što se tiče napada bili najopasniji s obzirom na situaciju sa ozljedama !!

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