Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan

SM: Predicted Milan XI to face Feyenoord – Conceicao opts for strongest attack

Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images

AC Milan are preparing to face Feyenoord in the Champions League in what was an ideally avoidable game. However, Sergio Conceicao is preparing to go all guns blazing.

It is frustrating that Milan find themselves waiting for a Champions League playoff game, especially considering they went into the final league phase game very confident of a large financial boost. However, it was not to be.

Instead, they lost in Zagreb and face a two-legged tie against Feyenoord for a spot in the final 16, and as Luca Maninetti – our colleague at SempreMilan.it – reports, Conceicao is expecting success based on his lineup choices.

Mike Maignan starts in goal, and in front of him, there are no shocks expected. Conceicao, for this reason, should start with a back four of Kyle Walker, Fikayo Tomori, Strahijna Pavlovic and Theo Hernandez.

Then in midfield, it is much of the same story. Christian Pulisic will be deployed on the right, with Rafael Leao on the opposite flank. Centrally, Youssouf Fofana is expected to sit alongside Tijjani Reijnders – who spoke in this evening’s press conference.

Leading the line will be a staggered duo – Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez – the Portuguese will play slightly off the Mexican striker who returns to his former club just a week after leaving.

Predicted Milan XI (4-4-1-1): Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Theo; Pulisic, Fofana, Reijnders, Leao; Joao Felix; Gimenez.

Tags AC Milan Feyenoord Milan

31 Comments

  1. Risky lineup, especially away. BUT, they are indeed our best 11 available. Terracciano is our only other midfield available. He isnt ready for this.

  2. Only lineup that makes sense. Lack of midfield signings means we’ve only got Terra now, unless we finally call up Vos and Zeroli. We’ve gotta attack this team. We’ve seen how fragile that defense can be last game, we have to pressure it. Felix puli leao and Jimenez have more than enough to put a few away, but can’t afford to waste chances

    1. Zeroli is gone to Monza, Bennacer to Marseille, Bondo not on the list, Musah suspended and RLC injured.

      It boggles the mind after all the signings summer/winter that we still have no midfield. Anything goes wrong and it will cost us

      1. Blame the poorly constructed team and the UCL rules that don’t allow us more than 3 changes to our UCL list.
        Would never have let Zeroli go out on loan if our first choice CM sub was going to be Terricciano.

    1. People quick to forget that Gabbia cost us the Zagreb game? That was an awful mistake by him and we wouldn’t be playing these two games against Feyenoord if it weren’t for him.

      1. He slipped and deserved to be dropped? How many mistakes have Theo made? Tomori got sent off for a needless tackle on Colombo but getting all the praises. He is just performing better now because Walker is covering him.

      2. He got a bad pass from Bennacer, and tripped while trying to control it. You can’t blame a defender for one error, and keep him permanently on the bench. Tomori is my favourite, but, even he, struggles to deal with aerial balls, which is not good for us. Gabbia, IMO, should be paired with Tomori or Thiaw. Pavlovic needs a rest, before he’ll start making blunders, himself.

  3. There is no other option but to play this lineup. Leao ends up defending a little bit in champions league crucial games atleast and so will Felix . I think a big win is coming 😉

  4. Fofana is going to have to provide cover on the left as I don’t expect much defensive support from Leao. Pulisic and Walker on the other hand are a strong defensive right side.

    I’m hoping we’ll actually put 1-2 goals in the net during the first half and make it an easier game. Without the 4 attackers on the field, and without Musah, there’s really no midfielder that can comfortably drop back and make it a 5-man backfield. Fofana has to be a destroyer and play in front of the CBs.

  5. With Pulisic starting there will be goals. And with that attacking minded set up, even more goals.. well some for Feyenoord too.

    2-4

  6. Milan fans must complain no matter what the coach does. If he doesn’t start the strogest Xi y’all will complain that the coash isn’t using his strongest XI. If he starts the strongest Xi you will still complain that the formation is too attacking minded! Must you compalin? Why not stay positive and support the team! Always complaining.. By now If you don’t understand that 4411, 442, 4231 are all the same formations, numbers do not matter its the positioning of the players that matters and how they defend as a team! If you are still struggling to understand this, you should stop watching football.

    1. The problem is that most people here don’t know football.or what wining a game entails. They just magine and fantazize how a lineup and formation should be and start posting comments.

  7. I really can’t see the difference between calling this 4411 with Felix as a 2nd striker.
    Or 4231 we have been using for ages and Felix as the CAM.

    It’s the same players operating in the same spaces either way.
    Maybe i am missing something

  8. Acmilan must not Feyenoord to hold on ball we will attack them, playing our attacking and pressing system with that Feyenoord is finished.

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