A couple of bits of bad news have arrived regarding two important players in view of the trip to face Bologna.
Tuesday night’s match at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara against Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna is approaching, with the Rossoblu coming off a resounding 3-0 Europa League victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
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Massimiliano Allegri’s team are heading into the trip to Emilia with a few uncertainties, according to today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below).
Double injury blow
Alexis Saelemaekers, who was substituted at halftime against Roma due to a recurrence of the adductor problem he suffered late in the match against Lecce, hasn’t recovered and will therefore be out of action against his old club.
Christian Pulisic showed up at Milanello on Friday – a day off granted by Allegri – for treatment. Saelemaekers and Niclas Füllkrug were also with him, but it’s not yet clear whether the American will be available for the match: Allegri and his staff hope to at least have him on the bench.
Füllkrug meanwhile is still struggling with a broken toe. Caution led to him being fielded only for a portion of the match and not from the start against Roma, and the same could happen this time.
So the starting attacking pairing currently appears to be the same one Allegri used at the Olimpico against Gasperini: Christopher Nkunku and Rafael Leao. Even Rafa is still struggling with groin pain but will make himself available to the coach, despite not yet being physically at his best.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is currently the frontrunner as a possible replacement for Saelemaekers on the right flank, while Zachary Athekame could be called upon from the start if Loftus-Cheek were to be deployed in attack.
Strahinja Pavlovic is better and could return in defence, but it is uncertain who Allegri would drop if the Serbian were back. In midfield, a battle is underway for the spot on the right of the three, with Samuele Ricci and Youssouf Fofana the leading candidates.
And inTeR fan was trying to pretend Milan aren’t affected by injuries this season…
well thats false since this whole campaign i think leao has been running at 60% and alwasy 1 attacker inujred
What is the story with the physios? Laeo cannot run yet he keeps playing, Saelemaekers is clearly breaking down, and Pulisic can’t get healthy despite not playing. Why do I feel that Laeo should have been rested longer, Saelemaekers rs should have been forced to sit a few matches, and Pulisic should have had the been rested for several weeks. And now none of the 3 are healthy despite playing a totally light schedule
It mostly a management problem. We have such a small squad that injuries derail the system and formation, not to mention we barely have enough subs for the bench. Hopefully we do get another attacker to help lessen the load but poor planning from the higher ups.
Every time a match comes along milan news seem as if coming from a geriatric ward!!!!! Only justified excuse this time round is salemakers who has played his heart out in every match so far.
This year pulisic seems to be kaput all the time. Leao …. better not wake him up at all!!!! And remember please …… all this disaster with only serie A matches!!!!