AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has strongly hinted that Brahim Diaz will not start the derby against Inter tomorrow night, and even gave a reason.
The No.10 role is one that has been a source of frustration over the course of the season, as Brahim started well with four goals in his first nine games including three match-winners, but he then suffered a sharp decline after Covid. Franck Kessie has been tried in that role with varying degrees of success, while Rade Krunic is also an alternative.
Pioli spoke to the reporters who gathered early on Monday morning for the pre-match press conference on the eve of the game against Inter and spoke about a number of topics, including who will start in the playmaker role.
“Against Inter it is important to shield Brozovic, for this reason it is more likely that one of either Krunic and Kessie will play rather than Brahim Diaz,” he said.
Pioli went on to talk about how he will approach the game against the Nerazzurri and in particular whether the away goal rule might help Milan, given a score draw – 1-1 or 2-2 for example – would secure progress to the final.
“Our attitude and our way of playing against Inter have always been pretty similar. Inter are difficult to face, they have positions that will force us to run a lot. We have our strategy, we need quality with and without the ball in between our feet.”
