AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has opted to go with Tommaso Pobega in the midfield for this evening’s game against Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare.
After the rotation carried out in the Coppa Italia against Torino and the defeat that followed in extra time, Milan absolutely cannot make any mistakes against Lecce and Pioli has gone back to the 4-2-3-1 formation.
In defence Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez have been chosen to start in front of Ciprian Tatarusanu. In midfield, Tommaso Pobega has won the battle against Aster Vranckx to accompany Ismael Bennacer, given Sandro Tonali is suspended.
In attack Olivier Giroud will be supported by Rafael Leao on the left, Alexis Saelemaekers on the right and Brahim Diaz in the centre, who won his battle with Charles De Ketelaere.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Tătăruşanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernández; Pobega, Bennacer; Saelemaekers, Díaz, Leão; Giroud.
Bench: Mirante , Vásquez; Bozzolan, Dest, Gabbia, Kjær, Thiaw; Adli, Bakayoko, Vranckx; De Ketelaere, Messias, Origi.
Official Lecce XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Gallo; Blin, Hjulmand, Gonzalez; Strefezza, Colombo, Di Francesco.
Bench: Bleve, Brancolini; Lemmens, Pezzella, Thuja; Askildsen, Bistrović, Helgason, Maleh; Banda, Ceesay, Listkowski, Oudin, Rodríguez, Voelkerling.
Would rather play CDK instead of Giroud.
Like him way better as a striker than as a n10
Ok, haven’t bashed pioli until now, but some of the shit form that we are in is on him. Our defense has been getting exposed from day 1of the season. Complete contrast from last year. Yet pioli keeps playing pobega, krunic up front, instead of having some one to destroy in the back. Or find a solution to not freaking concede so easily. Shame.
Pioli lost the plot. Havent bashed him until now, but he messed this up. Defense has been exposed from day 1 and yet he keeps playing players with 0 creativity up front. Pobega, krunic etc instead of playing them in a more defensive midfielder role. Also, managment-owners also responsible for the situation. Tonali out or 1 starting 11 player out we get lost. Good bye top 4 spot.
Playing with zero confidence, poor attitude no clue – Tonali looking a huge loss in midfield – interesting second half ahead..
After 12 mins i was thinking Pioli needs to bring vranckx on for diaz to get some control.
Pobega is dangerous in the final third but it leaves a huge hole in midfield.
Also at the same time i thought bring thiaw on for kalulu (who i love) as he was having a nightmare.
There was no reason to wait and stick with a lineup that was being annihilated!!
By 25 mins we were down by 2 and it should have been 4.
If he doesn’t make changes at the break then his head is on the chopping block