On the eve of AC Milan’s Europa League Quarter Final fixture against AS Roma, a report has offered some insight into the eleven that Stefano Pioli is set to pick.
Whilst the outcome of Thursday’s fixture will not change anything immediately, it could be the first domino in a positive or negative line, given the result for either side. It has been widely reported in the lead-up to this game how important European progression could be for Stefano Pioli’s future, so with this in mind, it is vital he gets his team selection right.
As MilanNews writes, in defence, there are no doubts about Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Matteo Gabbia and Theo Hernandez, who will start as usual in their favoured positions. However, due to Fikayo Tomori’s suspension, Gabbia will be partnered by Malick Thiaw.
In the midfield, there is only one change with Ismael Bennacer returning to the starting eleven after being a substitute against Lecce due to fitness concerns in the lead-up to the game, and he will partner Tijjani Reijnders.
With the importance of this game, Pioli will look to his strongest attacking quartet, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao will play on the flanks, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will return as the Trequartista – after missing the game against Lecce through suspension – and Olivier Giroud leads the line.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Gabbia, Theo; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.
Maaaan, Thiaw and Gabbia. The least tried CB partnership possible.
3-0, puli and ruben to score. One will be own goal by roma
Thiaw???
Roma is the most provocative disgusting club in Italy, Thiaw is the easiest to provoke.
I hope he will shut me up with his outstanding performance
Tomori is injured?
Suspended from Slavia tie
Nein er ist suspendiert!
Looks a great line up ..
What a good side we have ..I always believed things would come good …just love to see Olivier Giroud add to his goal tally …loftus cheek is scoring goals ,,and always looks likely to do so ..pulisic also ,,and then the man who is providing goals ,,,Rafeol leao
I hope we win tonight by at least 2 clear goals
Well done pioli ..we must keep him