In addition to changing the formation to a 4-4-2, Paulo Fonseca has made three player changes to the starting XI for AC Milan’s clash against Inter. A bold decision by the Portuguese manager, while Simone Inzaghi has gone for the usual players.
Fonseca is in desperate need of a win tonight to save his career and while many expected him to continue with his principles, few predicted the formation change. Indeed, with Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao on the flanks in midfield, it is almost a 4-2-4 formation.
Emerson Royal is also replacing the injured Davide Calabria at right-back, while Matteo Gabbia is giving Strahinja Pavlovic some much-needed rest. Other than that, the XI is exactly what you would expect and it’s nice to see that Mike Maignan has fully recovered from the blow he received against Liverpool.
As for Inter, there are absolutely no surprises in the starting XI. Federico Dimarco has made it back in time for the game and starts, while Lautaro Martinez is looking to get off the market this season as he starts next to Marcus Thuram.
Official Milan XI (4-4-2): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Pulisic, Fofana, Reijnders, Leao; Morata, Abraham.
Bench: Raveyre, Torriani; Jiménez, Pavlović, Terracciano, Thiaw; Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Zeroli; Chukwueze, Jović, Okafor.
Official Inter XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro, Thuram.
Bench: Di Gennaro, J. Martinez; Bisseck, C. Augusto, Darmian, de Vrij, Palacios; Asllani, Frattesi, Zieliński; Arnautović, Correa, Taremi.
❗ OFFICIAL: #ACMilan‘s starting XI for #InterMilan
🤔 Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/4fA4RFzi37
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) September 22, 2024
Bold.
I would have liked to see Camarda and Liberali on the bench as more of a plan b
how are two nobodies plan B?
The fascination with youth players must stop. Camarda and Liberali are NOT ready to be thrown to the wolves in the Derby della Madonnina, no less!!! That would have been suicide.
Leave the youth players alone! They need a lot of muscle mass development and time to hon their skills instead of throwing them to be devoured by big grown men in the most important domestic game of the season.
It’s fine for them to get a few minutes with the first team when a victory has been secured already when playing against bottom feeders. NOT against freaking Internazionale Milano!!!
Well put. 100% Agreed. None of those players are used to anything similar to serie a, not to mention f’ing inter
I hope we show something in this game.
I don’t think taking a body out of midfield and put in attack is wise, fingers crossed
A 4-4-2 formation….
This could actually work, we will see
Forza Milan!
AC milan 2
Inter 1
Who is Raverye
Well here we go boys – Fonzy’s Last Stand. Let’s see how this works out… and a big shout out to all the Inter fans in the house, hoping we lose. What jerseys you lot wearing tonight? Thuram? Hakan?
Maldini
This is a bit too bold from the looks of it. Giving up the midfield entirely against inter doesn’t sound like a good idea. Not too mention this is the fifth formation in five games.
Well, let’s hope for the best …
So this is it. Historic match. Lets all just come to this comment after the game. Im calling it now: 4-0(in Inters favor ofc)
Jimenez on the bench. Can come on after royal lets in the same goals as usual lol
How is this diffrent from 4231? He’ll just use the same de@d pivots and Morata or Abe as AM, probs both interchanging and ofc the fullbacks up at the inters corner flags.. That is if we even get out of our side and on inter side..
Heart: This will be our turnaround match! We’ll finally be the movie’s protagonist.
Brain: Wtf are we doing dismantling our mid when we already have that big hole in our defense. This is like watching a movie while knowing hot it’ll end.
Unfortunately I’m prepared to bet that your brain is right and your heart is wrong. Kudos for having a good heart, though.
Me, I’m not optimistic at all. Of course I’d love to be wrong on this, but I think we’ll lose by 3 goals at least.
I just want to see some grinta from the players for the first time in a couple years
Primevera – Milan 3 – 1 Inter
Women – Milan 1 – 1 Inter
Men – Milan 1 – 3 Inter
A lot of fans here are complaining for the trimmed up midfield and i get it. However, he has tried that 3 men midfield so far and it has been a disaster. This is his last shot might as well go for broke. And honestly, we have no dm and no am, this might be a better option. Our midfield is a joke regardless.
I think Milan will start strong trying to show their worth, maybe even score first. Same as Liverpool match. Let’s just hope they don’t crumble under their weak mentality and medicority as we’re used to seeing for the last two seasons.
I like this. If your job is on the line, do something different. At least this has a chance of working. The midfield three hasn’t been working with the players we have. Forza Milan!
I think this 442 will work I really do!! And this is a combination of my heart and mind lol … forza milan!!!!
WOW.
Fonseca is in the gambling phase…
I hope we won’t pay dearly.
I love Pulisic!!
Much brighter start by Milan, though Inter have been asleep, lets see.
What can you say, Pulisic is heading for Legend status.
Love his attitude and ability
Goooooo puli. Gooooaaaallll
Hakan’s Insta post got us fired up.
Good start but I wont get carried away yet but lets hope this is the turning point for us.
Royal again. Why did he have to rush lauturo when he had 2 defenders on him. What a player.
Emerson might be the worst purchase ever.
Would love to look at the stats on goals conceded – pretty sure 90% have come down that right side.
stupid emerson! gabbia and tomori already marked lautaro,he shouldve stayed on his position smh!
Idk what Fonseca meant about we having possession but the only time we have possesion is when we have a goal kick. Emerson Royal would be struggling for minutes even in the Indian super league. Every game we start 15-20 mins full power and then we slowly die in the game – 0 fitness. And if it isn’t for some wonder from Puli or Leao we can’t even beat the midfield of Inter. Shame
Is Leao injured?
Need replace leao, never seen a player make less effort
And what’s up with that 4-4-2 when it’s clearly 4-2-3-1 – Morata playing as a number 10 = added value 0