AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim is under pressure to get his starting XI right for Sunday’s game against Lecce.
The teams that Amorim has picked from minute one so far have drawn understandable scrutiny. Milan are yet to score a goal in the first half this season, and only in the Juventus match did the coach avoid making multiple changes before the hour mark.
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The first defeat against Benfica on Wednesday night prompted further questions about whether the team are actually improving and building towards his vision of football. Lecce come to San Siro on Sunday, and answers are needed.
Predicted Milan XI vs. Lecce
According to MilanNews, Amorim will deploy his preferred formation: the 3-4-2-1. Mike Maignan will be confirmed in goal with the captain’s armband, and the defensive trio will feature the return of ario Gila along with Koni De Winter and Strahinja Pavlovic.
Changes are expected from midfield forwards. It should be time to see Diego Moreira start, likely on the left, considering the negative performances of Pervis Estupinan and Davide Bartesaghi in recent weeks. Alexis Saelemaekers could return as a right wing-back to offer balance.
Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot will be in the middle, although the Frenchman could also play as an attacking midfielder alongside Christian Pulisic. For now the favourites to play behind Goncalo Ramos remain the American and Alphadjo Cisse.
Predicted Milan XI (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Modric, Rabiot, D. Moreira; Pulisic, Cisse, Ramos.
Predicted Bench: P. Terracciano, Torriani, Tomori, Gabbia, F. Terracciano, Diawara, Bartesaghi, Estupinan, Musah, Comotto, Jashari, Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Hutchinson, Camarda.
I will start having issues with the performance if this starting 11 has any trouble with Lecce.
If you’re playing salad at RWB then Chuck should play as right 10 and pulisic as left 10. I know you don’t want to confuse Chuck too much since he’s had to make a pretty big adjustment but I don’t think he’s ever going to become a defensive genius he’s a fantastic attacker let him do what he does best. I think he and puli are the best at playing in between the lines. Cisse has not yet figured that out.
Totally agree. People have fallen in love with Cisse because of two very nice goals. But watching him in the field overall he is not a good choice. Repeating myself: he is slow on the ball, doesn’t progressively connect well with others, and his movement is limited.
Ya doesn’t make sense to keep forcing that and Chuck at wing back when the solution is staring you in the face. It’d be one thing if salad was just tearing it up at attacking mid but his base position is an outside back so not sure why you’d force puli to play on the right for salads benefit. Football is like water, the path of least resistance usually works best.
I agree entirely: he is not a great, wide player. What would you think of Cisse at the 9? He’s very strong holding off defenders and one of his best qualities is getting off a shot quickly (witness his second goal).
Totally. He seems to be a natural winger in a 433 but could be converted to a 9. Problem is we have camarda also there. We should have 3 strikers but two out of 3 being raw teenagers could be difficult for Amorim. I do think long term trying him out there would be worth it. His hold up play looks really strong and his quick release reminds me of del piero.
Aren’t you the one that constantly complains about a lack of Italians (might be confusing you with someone else though)? He’s 18 and can only get better with time. Kids will make passing mistakes, keep the ball too long, be indecisive. This is what we call inexperienced. You can’t then later complain that in Italy young Italians are not given a chance. They’re not given a chance because teams (and some fans, it seems) can’t tolerate growing pains.
In any case, it’s clear that 50M left-footed Hutchinson is going to be the right-sided AM as soon as he fully integrates with the team. Pulisic ought to stay on the left side, which is where he can make the best use of his natural right foot.
I didn’t know the job of a club team is to give playing time to players just because they’re Italian. That fine if you are a mid-level team, but ACM can not afford to not get CL ball next year.
In fairness, the one thing Cisse does appear to do well is shoot the ball. I agree that he shouldn’t be a regular starter, but he’s a good sub at 60-70 minutes, if we need a goal.
Just remember that Cisse is not yet fully recovered from a serious injury, and his pace will improve.
Cisse is not a starter and he doesn’t progress the ball well. It should be Pulisic and Omari behind Ramos.
9.5/11
So what’s up w Camarda? I maybe missed something.
Maigan
Gila-dewinter-pavlovic
Salaemakers -modric-Rabiot-Moreira
Chukweze -pulisic
Ramos.
Agree! That looks like the best lineup, give it a shot with all the best players. Milan need a statement win this weekend.
Yes pls take out chuku all he does is just dribble the ball up with no type of effective p
I would start Saelemaekers ahead of Cisse. Other than that I like it
Strong XI. If this team struggles vs Lecce it would be very concerning and means there’s something not working. Also, with Moreira, Chuck, and Pulisic on the field there should be service for Ramos. If he also doesn’t score or at least assist that’s also going to be very concerning
Had Puli started a couple in the last few games some of the results might have been different in a good way and less pressure for Amorim. Thats contributing to at least half our problems. Nice to see Salad at WB and not AM. He, Moreira and Chuk should form good competition and a solid base for the wide areas.
My prediction is that Ramos misses seven shots on goal again and Modric gets pressured into turnovers again.
It’s easy to see that both players struggle if they are tightly marked and pressured
I think it’s time to start giving few minutes in next games for Comotto.
Maignan
Gila – kdw-pav
Chuk – Modric – Rabiot – Moreira
Puli – Salad
Ramos
I would go with this lineup.
Salad is good in half spaces and can really allow Moreira to get in some very promising positions , plus he chases like a mad dog which we need to cover up for Modric a bit