The 2022-23 Serie A kicks off tomorrow at San Siro as the champions AC Milan host Udinese hoping to start the season in the right way.
According to MilanNews, Sandro Tonali will not be available for the game as he will not be risked due to a slight muscle problem that he picked up in the friendly win over Vicenza, but he should be back in the next week.
The bench meanwhile will be consolidated with a trio of new arrivals in Charles De Ketelaere, Yacine Adli and Divock Origi, while Olivier Giroud is also expected to start on the bench too as he suffered with muscle fatigue.
Stefano Pioli is therefore expected entrust to the following players: Mike Maignan in goal, Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez in defence, Ismael Bennacer and Rade Krunic in the midfield, Junior Messias, Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao as the trident and Rebic up front.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Theo; Bennacer, Krunic; Messias, Díaz, Leao; Rebic.
I hope CDK comes on for Diaz at halftime.
I hope Messias carries his good form from preseason into this match; but if he reverts back to his inconsistent self that he was for us last season, then I hope Pioli shifts Rebic to the RW at halftime and puts Giroud or Origi up top as lone forward.
Who am I to question Mister Pioli’s decision, but anyway, I’d opt for CDK over Diaz, without a shadow of a doubt. Well, we’ll see.
Managing a team isnt only about to put the best player every single time. This squad won the scudetto they deserve to start with à small edge. Its up to CDK to outperform diaz when he comes in and win his spot as a starter.
Good line-up after all this is the team that won us the Scudetto last season. CDK for JM, YA for BD, AF for DC and TP for Krunic ending the game with
MM; AF, PK, FT, TH; IB, TP; AR, YA, RL; CDK
Don’t worry. Diaz will soon drop down the pecking order behind both De Ketelaere and Adli. Pioli knows this too but initially he wants to go with those who have been around longer in pre-season.
Krunic with his physicality fit well at the 10 last couple of games last year, with him in the pivot tmrw. I might be tempted to drop Rebic to the 10 and bring in Giroud or Origi up front at the break. Diaz has his moments but is easily pushed off the ball, has difficulty seeing the passing lanes, and is no threat with back to goal…….