Fikayo Tomori is predicted to return to the starting lineup for AC Milan tomorrow night when they face Pisa at the Arena Garibaldi.
Massimiliano Allegri has had to deal with a pretty slim squad all season, partially due to his own squad choices. However, with the recent injuries, he has had most of his teams picked for him, but this may change.
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With a few players available in each position, the Italian has a bit more freedom with his squad and it is expected to show.
The predicted XI
Mike Maignan, as MilanNews reports, will start in goal again, whilst Fikayo Tomori should return to the backline in the place of Koni De Winter. Taking the final two spots, Strahinja Pavlovic and Matteo Gabbia will retain their starting roles.
In the midfield, it is completely unchanged for Allegri, who will once again rely on the core of Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and Youssouf Fofana. Even on the flanks, there are no changes with Alexis Saelemaekers still unavailable. So, Davide Bartesaghi will sit on the left, with Zachary Athekame making a second consecutive start.
Up front, it seemed Rafael Leao was back to optimal condition, but Massimiliano Allegri will keep the front two unchanged, preferring the Portuguese as an option off the bench.
Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Athekame, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Nkunku, Loftus-Cheek.
Hate that Saelemakers is still injured but glad to see Athekame get a second start in a row. If we discover we have a solid backup then we don’t need to spend there in the summer.
More money with less positions to spend on means higher potential quality of each acquisition.
That, in turn, translates to more roster stability.
That, in turn, means better results year of year.
And we have a virtuous (if grossly oversimplified) cycle.
Athekame hopefully continues to grow as a player. This is the perfect game to do it. I do hope Saelasmaekers does make a return soon though.
Please, PLEASE don’t start Fik Tomori and Loftus-Cheek. De Winter has been reliable, and is growing. Tomori was born out of position. Surely we brought in Fulkrug for a reason, he has to be better than an out of position has been.
It will be interesting to see if RLC still starts in a front 2. It did help having a physical presence high up the field to receive and distribute the ball. With he and Nkunku occasionally swapping roles. E.g. the first chance RLC ran through and goal and couldn’t round the keeper.
Earlier in the season when Leao & Nkunku played together it looked to me that Leao wanted to do everything on his own. He missed multiple opportunities to pass it to his strike partner. Whilst as combo in the last game RLC & Nkunku had great chemistry. I was not expecting that all.
I still think starting Fullkrug plus whomever is most fit of Nkunku, Leao & Pulisic is the best option. Even if Fullkrug can’t play a whole game I think his presence is better at the start than at the end of a match.
Please, play Fullkrug & Nkunku upfront
Nah, why play people in their actual positions when you can put Loftus-Cheek up front? Tomori should be in goal. Would still always be out of position, but in a smaller, defined space.