AC Milan have decided not to risk any of their stars at the weekend against Udinese, with the clash against Paris Saint-Germain up after that. Therefore, the starting XI in the first game will be a makeshift one.
The many injuries have not made life easy for Stefano Pioli, who was forced to bring off two centre-backs in the 2-2 draw against Napoli. Against Udinese, the head coach will not risk any of his stars amid the upcoming UCL clash.
According to Tuttosport (see photo below), Simon Kjaer should be back for the game and it remains to be seen if he or Malick Thiaw team up with Fikayo Tomori in the heart of the defence. In midfield, Yacine Adli is battling with Rade Krunic and Tijjani Reijnders could also get some rest.
In attack, Luka Romero is set to replace Christian Pulisic, who should be back for the game against PSG. Olivier Giroud is not injured but could be rested, making way for Luka Jovic who needs to step up in the No.9 role. Rafael Leao is sure of his spot to the left.
Probable Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer/Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez (Florenzi); Musah, Adli/Krunic, Reijnders (Pobega), Romero, Giroud/Jovic, Leao.
Reijnders really could do with some rest. He’s been in almost every game of this season.
Agreed. He could also do with seeing he’s not a guaranteed starter.
Really, it has been showing he needs ample rest, I would prefer Okafor as 9, second half, Leao can rest and Okafor moves to his position for jovic to come in.
Also Calabria should rest for Florenzi, while Theo should also play only 1st half and replaced by bartesaghi, anyway, I would want Adli over krunic, my thoughts
The Udinese game is as important as any and we should do everything for the 3 points, try and kill the game in 60 minutes and then rest the players rather then bring them on late and risk both injuries and 3 points!
Agreed.
Alas we have a supermassive squad so we’re probably going to see a fair bit of rotation over the next few games.,
We’ll see how it goes….
Oops.. the sooner pioli is sacked the better for milan.
We are in the domestic top 3 and unlikely can get through champs league group stage
A draw will be fair with that line up..
If it is a draw, then i hope for 0-0 as it will iron out how clueless pioli’s attacking pattern is (and leao ffs)
But if it is a lose, then 0-1 is enough
Thanks for the 19th anyway, and see ya!
Let’s just find a way to win udinese game, no matter who plays.
So sad we have this terrible injury situation
Rafa needs to be benched, to rest and let Okafor play, but also to snap back to reality
We saw Romero play against Napoli – there’s a definite drop off in quality. Why not field Okafor there? Yea, he’d be out of position, but likely still better than Romero.
Reijnders definitely needs a break. I’d play Adli there.
They are 2 good solutions, it would be nice if Pioli was less rigid and tried those kind of things.
We either give Luka a proper chance or write him off already. He was great pre season, looked looked lively in the 20 mins or so against Cagliari, then he gets thrown to the lions against Napoli who – to be fair, stepped it up massively in the second half. If Leao had put him though and he scores, it’s a completely different complexion.
I’m looking forward to seeing him start against a team he should be able to run at.
Agreed with giving Adli a chance half a line higher. He’s more suited to that.
Better go out and win against Udinese. Milan ain’t going nowhere in Champions League. Not with two points and no goals in three games. Does anyone honestly believe that Pioli can transmit self believe to the players that they can win all the remaining games, starting with PSG?