AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has named the starting line-up for the game against Empoli at San Siro, and previous reports have been confirmed.
There are the three injury absences: Luka Jovic had surgery on a back problem in the past few days, while Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi are still recovering from their respective operations.
Fonseca has chosen a back four of Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez ahead of the goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders keeping their spots too.
It emerged in the build-up to the game that Yunus Musah would start and he is expected to play on the right of the attacking trident, though he could also tuck in more as a midfielder.
Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao are also part of the attacking department, while Alvaro Morata is back and starts up front after serving a suspension during the midweek win over Slovan Bratislava.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Pulisic, Leao; Morata.
Bench: Sportiello, Torriani, Calabria, Loftus-Cheek, Chukwueze, Tomori, Pavlovic, Terracciano, Camarda, Abraham.
Official Empoli XI (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Ismajli, Goglichidze, Viti; Gyasi, Maleh, Henderson, Pezzell; Anjorin; Pellegri, Colombo.
Bench: Perisan, Seghetti, Sambia, Cacace, Belardinelli, Solbakken, Ekong, Tosto, Marianucci, Bacci, Bembnista, Konate, Esposito
This playing of Musah at RW and Pulisic at AM strikes me a subtle message from Fonseca to management saying that we need a better RW than Chukwueze and a better AM than RLC. And before a DM or RB. Which is sad, considering Royal is barely a footballer and Reijnders could easily play AM if a proper DM were finally brought in to play next to Fofana. Point being, a lot of money has been spent on a lot of nothing.
Nah it’s a subtle message that he’s an idi0t who doesn’t know how to adapt to the players he has..
This team was built for 433 last summer. Either we replace all our midfielders but fofana or we switch to a system that can harness those pesky mezzalas they spend 60M on.
From my pov it’s a no brainer
We can’t play with 3 man midfield without a true destroyer in the vein of a Casemiro, Gattuso etc, and unfortunately there aren’t many out there, it would be better to play 4-3-3 I agree on that.
It’s not an easy task to convince new players to join.
This is Milan, given the choice players will join, we’ve never been turned down by a player who is interested in building their career. The problem is established players want crazy salaries that they aren’t worth because of the Premier League. Many overpaid players there. Like Anthony, etc. and when they wake up it’s too late and end up playing in Turkiye. Nobody has ever accused footballers of being clever people.
That’s what everyone kept saying when Maldini left – no one will join and everyone will leave…
Good insights. How is Fofana as a true 6 / destroyer? Milan desperately need one. Maybe Fofana will be defense first today. The back line needs help, especially if Theo is going to be driving forward.
I’m interested to know what Fonseca sees in Musah on the right. He clearly crosses better than Chuku. He’s due for a goal as well.
Morata needs to be burying those chances!
Fog so heavy the ref can’t see a thing.
This are way more extreme conditions to play than that one time at bologna when the match was cancelled
Empoli are already trying to exchange shirts…
Pulisic getting a big head. Should have passed instead of taking the shot on two consecutive occasions.
Three corners for Pulisic, three times he floats it too far to the back post for no outcome.
Puli is having a disappointing first half.
Tijji!
our #10 was performing too much ninjitsu while our #7 was trying to get those shaky legs straight.
Funny players
Missed first half – nice to join 2-0 up for a change.
I must give Matteo a applause, he is the brain we need at the back.
Tijji
Last season we said tijji needs to improve his shooting and he did. This season we’re saying he needs to improve his defending.
Wonder what he’ll look like next year…hopefully a complete CM
P.S now would be a good time for fonseca to close the game and put on some fresh legs
Reijnders NEEDS to be tried at AM. Maybe it is that Fonseca doesn’t trust any of the other CMs to play next to Fofana. Hopefully when Benny is fit, we’ll see more of Reijnders at AM, with Benny next to Fofana.
Could happen as soon as we get reinforcement
I hope so
That would be a nice balance.
Wouldn’t mind 433 with Benny and Tiji either side of fofana
6g 3a 16gp great start to the season 9g/a 16gp. Not a bad return so far
Good subs by Fonseca. Another good performance by Thiaw-Gabbia. I think this might be our first choice CB pair, and Fonseca should stick with them going forward until proven otherwise.
Any of them with Gabbia, Gabbia can lead the line, his football IQ far exceeds the other defenders where they might be better physically on a skill based level he’s better than all of them