AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has decided on the line-up that will take to the field for the Coppa Italia quarter-final against Atalanta at San Siro tonight.
Pioli has decided not to rotate like he did for the Cagliari game a week ago given the importance of this one, but there are still a few tweaks from Sunday’s 3-0 victory in Empoli.
Mike Maignan will be in goal and the centre-back pairing will feature Theo Hernandez again – after his excellent performances there recently – plus Matteo Gabbia, who gets his first start since returning. Davide Calabria and Alex Jimenez are the full-backs.
In the middle of the field it will be Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined by Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah, with the USA international also ready to make a first start since coming back from a muscle problem.
In attack, Christian Pulisic keeps his spot on the right with Rafael Leao on the left and Luka Jovic the striker. Olivier Giroud is initially on the bench after playing a full 90 in Tuscany.
Official Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez, Jimenez; Musah, Reijnders, Loftus Cheek; Pulisic, Jovic, Leao.
Bench: Nava, Mirante, Adli, Giroud, Romero, Kjaer, Terracciano, Chaka Traoré, Simic, Zeroli, Bartesaghi.
Official Atalanta XI (3-4-1-2): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Holm, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Miranchuk, Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere.
Bench: Musso, Rossi, Toloi, Hein, Palomino, Pasalic, Muriel, Bakker, Zortea, Adopo, Zappacosta, Scamacca.
I’m surprised Gabbia started but this is great. Let’s go for the win boys.
I can’t believe this Atlanta team scare Milan It’s very different level I don’t understand how we lost against them 😞😞
Systems my friend. Systems matter and Pioli barely has one. “Ball to Leao and DAI DAI DAI” only works so many times.
You may not like Pioli, but this is so far from the truth its not even funny.
He is one of the few italian coaches that caught up with the times. Compared to Allegri or Mourinho, he is actually a system coach and why a team with the 3rd/4th best squad actually managed to win a scudetto and make it to the CL semis. It is why many players in our system can play many positions, because of system. If you are to bash Pioli, which is fair – at least try to be thoughtful.
Scudetto is down to Ibrahimovic not pioli
2010 and 2022 Scudetto which Milan last 2 Scudetto are majorly Ibra than the Coaches
Changing formations every other game and having players play out of natural position is not a system. Systems are systemic, that is, they’re repetitive. The evidence against Pioli is the fact that the team can play a game like that against PSG and the next time out look completely lost and listless against Lecce. This is precisely where a system would come into play. Even if players are emotionally drained, you go through the motions and get the result. See Pep’s Barcelona, Mourinho’s Inter, and latterly Spalleti’s Napoli. And for the record, we have the 2nd best squad in the division, after Inter only. And finally, players can play in many positions because they can, that is they have the skills. Pioli didn’t endow them with special powers.
“Ball to Leao and DAI DAI DAI” is working today!
We lost against them again bud. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Forza Milan!
FORZA MILAN. Today I’m very optimistic
I’m surprised Simic is not starting this one, he has done well so far and is more integrated than Gabbia at this point.
Yet we seem to be chasing another CB
Also would have thought this was a good chance to rest Reijnders. RLC, Adli, Musah would make a good midfield.
Anyway, hopefully the lads play well. i look forward to more Jovic goals
How the hell will simic get a chance when our injured players come back when he pick gabbia before him
30 mins gone and Milan have dominated possession and territory.
However there has been zero quality in the final third.
Its a shame we have no okafor or even Chucky to spice things up
Oh f*ck that! Gabbia had great match and now this?! F*ck our luck!
Looks like he has broken nose if I see these reports correctly. He won’t be out long but I assume will wear a face guard for a while. Damn…
It’s a curse!!
1st start injured. Pellegrino same etc etc etc
Suppose we need to go get another CB now lol? Wow. He shouldn’t have started so soon. Oh and Gasperini got red carded lol
Leaoooooo! Finally he broke his drought. What a fantastic goal!
It’s a shame about Gabbia. Yeah looks like he has a broken nose. Face guard for a while but he shouldn’t be out for long at all.
We’ve been missing that all season!
This Musah boy really thinks he’s possessed with R80 or something.
Great goal with good play from Reijnders, Theo and Leao.
Is Theo the most dangerous CB in history? I think so!!
His value has increased.
Saying all that, disgraceful to be caught out immediately by Atalanta, that’s just amateur!
Shout out to CDK!! This is the 1st time I have seen him play well, should have had 2 assists. Good for him.
Still don’t understand what his position is and don’t think he suits Milan but good to see him do well.
Why we need Jimenez with buy back option. In this case we develop player and then Real just take him back. Are we Real farm club?? What benefit for us?
Kjaer’s a liability – missing for the first goal caught out of position for the second – would rather have seen Simic replace Gabbia
Atalanta, one of Pioli’s many bestie nere. Roma and Udinese, two clubs in that group, are next. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Pioli has reverted to the vaunted 5-0-5.
It’s funny how we play with 3 midfielders with no creativity and their backs to the opponent’s half and expect any creativity. Say what you want about Adli but he’s the only creative midfielder we have and everytime we bench him, we suffer from “running midfielders” we’re playing. I’ve seen Jovic and Leao make many runs without anybody making forward/splitting passes to them.
At least Leao kept trying tonight.
We just never looked dangerous really. A lot of tired legs in midfield and attack.
Jimenez played well, I feel sorry for him.
The better team won
Goodness gracious me, Stefano Pioli !