MN: Probable Milan XI to face Monza – four changes possible after Rennes win

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli is expected to make changes to his side for the game against Monza on Sunday night following last night’s win over Stade Rennais.

As MilanNews reports, Pioli’s side are entering a decisive and tough phase of the season with a lot of games close together, which means it is logical for rotations to factor into the equation at some point.

At present there seem to be four main doubts regarding the team that will face Monza at the U-Power Stadium, with one of them being at the back and the other three in attack.

Either Jan-Carlo Simic or the returning Malick Thiaw will partner Matteo Gabbia because Simon Kjaer athletically cannot handle three games in a week, so he will be on the bench.

Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has held up very well physically in the month in which Samuel Chukwueze has been busy at the African Cup of Nations, but the Nigerian winger is back now and might be a bit fresher.

Pioli will also need to decide if this is the right opportunity to rest Rafael Leao, who was also decisive on Thursday in the Europa League with a goal that closed the game, but he came off feeling a twinge in his calf. Noah Okafor could take his place.

Finally, it seems that Olivier Giroud will be given a rest given that he played the full game against Rennes and Luka Jovic is ready to replace him.

Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Simic, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Reijnders, Bennacer; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Okafor; Jovic.