AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has a thin squad at his disposal for the game against Spezia tomorrow evening, with news of more injuries arriving today.
Sky (via MilanNews) are reporting that Pioli seems to have made his choices ahead of the game in Liguria, starting with Mike Maignan in goal, Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori as the centre-backs and Theo Hernandez on the left. Davide Calabria has the edge over Pierre Kalulu at right-back.
In the midfield – with Ismael Bennacer and Rade Krunic out due to injury – Sandro Tonali will be forced to work overtime, with Tommaso Pobega at his side in the double pivot.
In attack, Alexis Saelemaekers, Ante Rebic and Divock Origi are all guaranteed a starting spot, while Charles De Ketelaere is currently tipped to be the starting attacking midfield.
However, it is also possible that Pioli could play Aster Vranckx in the midfield alongside Tonali and move Pobega into the role of attacking midfielder.
Probable Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Kalulu, Theo; Vranckx, Pobega; Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere, Origi; Rebic.
Let’s hope for a 0-0.
Definitely will draw again and for sure misses next UCL season…
Stop being a pessimist. Pray for the team instead.
Thank you. No point saying it’s over before it has even started. That’s a loser mentally and I know Milan players are not like that.
Yeah, stop this pathetic babbling, you’re acting like sissies and crybabies. Let’s cheer the team, for Chrissake…
Those changes all make sense to me — I think i’d prefer Vranckx alongside Tonali and Pobega as the attacking mid rather than starting CDK at attacking mid. I know he has talent; but he clearly has no confidence and we need the 3 points in this match.
Hopefully the boys can get it done and collect the 3 points we need to stay in the top 4 chase. The rotated “2nd squad” came very close vs Bologna and really deserved the win and we should’ve had a PK late to get the 2-1 win there. It would be nice to have Krunic/Leao rested v Spezia and still get the win and some momentum into Inter match and get Leao back for that one.
House of bet: Don’t let them know your next score.
He can’t put a team like that out to play when you are going for the top four the bloke is bloody mad all them players are crap I think the writing is on the wall for pioli I think he lost the plot this job is to big for him.
It’s amazing people constantly complain about Pioli. Do I always agree with all of his decisions? Of course not; but look at what he’s done with the choices of players he has! We have NOWHERE NEAR the depth/talent of Juve or Inter yet we won the Scudetto last year and are in CL semifinals this year. You people are so clueless. If you want to complain about anything, complain about owners not spending more money on players (and even those complaints are usually silly because while maybe they could’ve tried to spend a bit more, we are limited).
Pioli’s results — he took over a team that hadn’t even made champions league in 6 years and what has he done since he’s come:
1st season: 5th place and 1 point behind teams tied for 3rd/4th — so close to champions league qualification in his first season.
2nd season: 2nd place behind Inter and did well in Europa League, got out of group stage and only eliminated by poor officiating giving Man U the win w/ BS taking away Kessie winning goal.
3rd season: wins Scudetto
4th season: leads team to CL semifinals.
we have NO BUSINESS doing those things with the talent we have, yet he’s produced those results and people think he’s terrible. SMH.
💯 Facts @DB
Correction!* Milan finished 6th the season Pioli took over.
Don’t forget to remind them that he was 3-3-4 in his first ten games, which also included the 5-0 drubbing from Atalanta. It would’ve been enough to get him fired hadn’t for getting rid of Gianpoalo earlier, who was 3-4 in the first seven.
Please also mention that Zlatan and Kjaer were brought in to help guide the young players. There was an immediate positive impact after their arrivals, that simply can’t be disputed.
Oh!! And not to forget that this is his best record as a manager coaching a Serie A team. He’d never won a league prior to Milan, with his highest position being a third place.
This is unbelievable. What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
I know injuries are forcing his hand this time but seriously? CDK? Pobega?
Look at the record of Milan this season when Pobega starts.
Giroud and Diaz should play the first half and Vranckx should start alongside Tonali. Also Kalulu should start at RB over the disaster that is Calabria.
The coach is not a consistent coach always changing the squad
coaches MUST change the squad. players need to rotate. when you have starters that get hurt (which always happens to every team), then it’s best if the bench players got some time/experience on the pitch earlier in the season. Ancelotti and all of the best managers in the world rotate their squads. If you don’t understand that, then you don’t understand football.