AC Milan trained this afternoon and preparations continued for the game against Sassuolo at San Siro on Saturday, with some clues arriving regarding the defensive department.
The situation at the back has reached full crisis point given that Fikayo Tomori will be out for some time with a serious muscle injury, joining Malick Thiaw, Pierre Kalulu and Mattia Caldara in the treatment room.
Simon Kjaer is the only remaining fit centre-back option and even he has been physically unreliable since his ligament injury, and that has left some questions needing to be answered in view of the next game given the lack of alternatives.
The reporter Peppe Di Stefano spoke on Sky (via Radio Rossonera) directly from Milanello. The correspondent took stock of things at the end of Milan’s training session in view of the match against Sassuolo next Saturday, the last match of 2023 for the Rossoneri.
“Training finished a few moments ago. We work by looking for solutions. The situation in defence has always been complicated at least in recent weeks. Extremely complicated now due to the simultaneous absence of Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, who is the pillar of Milan’s defense and has been the constant in this first phase of the season, and obviously Pierre Kalulu,” he began.
“The only central defenders available are the very young Jan-Carlo Simic, who did very well against Monza, also scoring a goal, he played a good second half against Salernitana and we could see him from the first minute against Sassuolo, probably with Simon Kjaer.
“I say probably because he also came off at half-time against Salernitana because his head was spinning a bit after suffering a blow. If he is well he will obviously play at the centre of the rearguard.
“The alternative solution, and perhaps more probable today, is the use of Theo Hernandez in the centre with Kjaer and Alessandro Florenzi on the left, who has done very, very well at this stage of the season. He could have a new chance from the first minute. This would mean that the young Simic would start, at least initially, from the bench.”
Theo just can’t play CB, his positioning is awful, and his defensive awareness is non existent.
“But but… He’s a leader.” Just like Leao, right? 🙂
Dude, you don’t like anyone in the team but Pulisic who runs away from opposition players. Maybe it fits your character or whatever, but it is ridiculous…
Puli, Giroud, Kjaer, MM16, Calabria, Pobega, Adli, Benny, Reijnders, Okafor, RLC, Theo. I like those. Sportiello & Mirante too. And Florenzi. Probably forgot about one or two too.
Simic & Bartesaghi look promising too. Do loanees count? I could list those as well – starting with Colombo.
Yep. Forgot about Tomori FFS!
And Thiaw! I knew I’d forget 1-2. At least.
Won’t be surprising if Simic doesn’t start tbh. It’s Pioli who are talking about.
Unrelated, but looks like Jovic is also injured.
Leaders Leao and Theo lol
It’s going to be Theo in center and Florenzi on the right. Not Simic and not Bartesaghi. Pioli’s life depends on this game.
Florenzi-Theo-Kjaer-Calabria
So we’re back to Theo out of position VS Simic in preferred role huh? Worked out so well for us last time?
OKay Stefano 🙂 Let’s see how that plays out this time.
Kjaer is probably injured
And I just read Jovic has some problems and is training separately.
Ooof 🤦♂️
Pioli KO coming up! Get ready. Come Sunday we’ll be out of the top 4 and Pioli will be out.
Is that your wish or are you going to support your team?