AC Milan are preparing to face Torino on Saturday evening, and Sergio Conceicao is looking to continue with nearly the same team that drew to Feyenoord.
There has been a lot of talk since the draw in midweek, and not a lot of it, if any, has been positive. However, Conceicao wants to continue with a similar team, after all, he has had few chances to trial much different tactical-wise, so it would not make sense to change the personnel much.
That being said, according to Milan News, there will be a few differences from the team in the game against Feyenoord.
In goal, Mike Maignan will remain, as will Strahinja Pavlovic and surprisingly Theo Hernandez – the Frenchman trained as a starter this morning, so his position is quite solid it seems, especially after the recent support. However, Fikayo Tomori and Alex Jimenez will come in for Malick Thiaw and Kyle Walker, the latter will miss the game through injury.
Yunus Musah will also return to the bench, as Youssouf Fofana slots back into the side alongside Tijjani Reijnders.
Then, the front four will once again continue, with Conceicao hoping for a breakthrough – despite not being fully fit, Christian Pulisic starts on the right, Joao Felix in the centre, Rafael Leao on the left and then Santiago Gimenez leads the line.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Jimenez, Tomori, Pavlovic, Theo; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Felix, Leao; Gimenez.
Nothing against Theo but I have an issue with the message it sends that you field a player who’s decision making cost this team Europe.
It’s another in a series of decisions that seems to reward players’ inconsistencies and detrimental performances while other players who train and play hard and don’t put the team in precarious positions have to witness this.
No wonder there are disciplinary issues at Milan because there is no leadership. No one to pull a Theo aside and give it to him honestly without sugar coating anything. We don’t know what Ibra does or if anything at all because the problems persist throughout the season, and in Theo and Leao’s cases longer than a season…
Remember that after the cooling break, neither Théo or Leão were reprimanded or fined by the management.
After the penalty incident and his red card against La Viola, Théo only missed the game in which he was suspended, again no fine or sanction whatsoever.
And it his case, it seems that the management decided that what happened was an unfortunate mistake and that no one should be sanctioned.
It would be nice if Conceição decides to bench Théo tomorrow as a sanction, but in these situations it’s actually the management who should step up and instruct the coach not to field the player.
This!!!
Too late now to punish, fine or reprimand players.
The management acted weak after the cooling break which let other players know that you can do anything you want without being held responsible.
That’s why, not only Theo, but Tomori as well thought he can undermine the pecking order when it comes to penalties and take the ball away from Pulisic to gives it to his buddy Abraham.
The cooling break incident ruined Milan season and it was caused by 2 captains, 2 supposed leaders and 2 supposed best players on the team.
No leaders on the team. No leaders in management either.
Same exact penalty situation in the Lecce- Udinese game today. Look at up on YouTube.
Udinese earned a penalty kick.
Lucca stole the penalty from the team captain Thauvin.
Thauvin attempts to block him from shooting.
The entire team tries to stop him from taking the penalty.
Lucca scores the penalty.
No one celebrates the goal with him.
Lucca gets subbed off in the 36th minute of the game.
Even at lowly Udinese hierarchies are respected and those that don’t follow them immediately punished, but at Milan people were too busy blaming Fonseca for everything while defending all of Theo stupidity.
The Udinese coach handled it perfectly. Immediate substitution of arguably their most talented and unique player (hardest to replace with like for like).
Had Fonseca done the same thing to Theo in the Fiorentina game. Then the second Tomori/Abraham incident never happens.
Interesting to see the two approaches with dealing with the situation. Fonseca was seething but didn’t want to risk the current game and wanted to deal with it post game. They pampered Theo as acting captain and birthday boy.
Then more players do it in the 2nd half and we lose 2:1 instead of at least 2:2.
The Udinese coach deals with it on the spot. The players on the field continue as a group without their most talented player and they win the game.
And a real line in the sand is drawn.
In saying all that. Agree Management should have stepped up in all these early season issues and supported Fonseca more. Potentially applied suspensions and taken the decision out of his hands.
But you see we came to such a position of playing that extra match only because of yunus mousa.
No one blames him, why? Cuz the team is backed by Americans?
If you take leao and Theo, then there is no good player to replace him.
What they lag is motivation and confidence, and that will never come until this management quit.
Mostly hoghlited a Benacer exit. Money money
Money
Time for ConCeiCao to get angry again 🤡
Just another example of why Conceicao is not a serious coach. I thought this “mentality monster” was going to bring discipline to this team. He wasn’t going to put up with any nonsense…
Truth is Conceicao probably doesn’t see anything wrong with what Theo did. He encourages his players to grab the opposing players and constantly pick up yellow cards. And he has no problem with diving either as his favorite player Felix does it more than anyone. This is the style of football he wants.
It’s an embarrassment. What other big club would put up with this sh!t from Theo? I can’t think of one. Meanwhile they got rid of the one coach who was actually trying to discipline these babies.
Maybe they should make you coach. You would not last a week. Most comments we make are emotional.
Small d ick energy
I agree. It shouldn’t be emotional
thiaw should start over tomori. the dude is making passes like pirlo. tomori is shaky
So ok, Theo is bulletproof. Just remember dude, the art of gamesmanship is, getting away with it.
We just need the points. Forza Milan
Let’s see how flexible Hernandez is when in comes to renewal of his contract…… Will he recognise how well he’s been treated considering hes lost ACM eleven million Euros…..?!
Yeah sure, at least Conceçao has the moves ! 😅
Theo have already apologized. Give him some space. This might well be a great humbling moment for him and if Milan can capitalize it we’ll, you get a player to renew on easier terms. He is still a gem that can go further.
I prefer Milan to let Leao go. Leao workrate is too light. Milan is often half a man down. It is evident in the last match, leao commitment is lacking even with the team 1 man down. Milan can ill afford such a luxury player on the wings.
Keep Theo, sell LEAO, switch to 442 or 4312.
I will be very disappointed if Theo starts.
I guess Conceicao is between a rock and a hard place. Supposedly must finish 4th to keep his job.
But I’d rather see him make a statement and bench him for at least 1 match. Despite the situation with Walker.
There are other options.
why acmilan did not sell teao and leao if milan leave leao nd teao so we shoul never win every match .because thier a nt a good a player
Apparently Felix is starting every game!!!
Forza com as favelas?
The coach here is not to blame. This Milan has been loosing all its game because of individual error. Musah red card, Gabbia slip, Theo red card.
Leao only plays good as a Substitute and our midfielders are like a Roulette sometimes good and other times completely terrible.
If i was bartesaghi i would be wanting to leave in the summer. Even if its just a loan move. We should be giving him more game time. He has had a few injury issues but he should be playing more and replacing Hernandez for next season. Hernandez shouldn’t be playing against torino. Weakest link in our defense now. Agree leao is only effective as a super sub. Cant do more than 45 mins.