Turin, Italy, 12th May 2021. Stefano Pioli Head coach of AC Milan during the Serie A match at Stadio Grande Torino, Turin. Picture credit should read: Jonathan Moscrop / Sportimage PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK SPI-1047-0061

CorSport: Pioli could explore wild card solutions to cope with absence of key midfielders

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli is thinking of solutions ahead of the African Cup of Nations which will see him lose two key midfielders, according to a report.

This morning’s edition of il Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) writes that with the departure of Kessie and Bennacer for the Africa Cup, Milan’s safety blanket in midfield will undoubtedly be Sandro Tonali after his fantastic start to the season.

At the moment there are two other natural options for the role of defensive midfielder in Tiemoue Bakayoko and Rade Krunic, but in cases of necessity then Pioli will also be able to adapt Davide Calabria or Alessandro Florenzi to that role.

Of course the duo are natural right-backs but they have both filled in as midfielders before during their career, so it is very much a solution that Pioli could consider if other players were to encounter difficulties, as well as of course a potential system change.

Tags AC Milan Alessandro Florenzi Davide Calabria
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