The international break did not do Milan any favors, as the team lost two key players for several matches: Adrien Rabiot in midfield and Christian Pulisic in attack. The Frenchman suffered a lesion to the soleus muscle in his left leg, while the American is sidelined with a low-grade injury to his right hamstring.
The question now is how Massimiliano Allegri will replace these two starters against Fiorentina.
In which role?
One player who could find space on Sunday night at San Siro is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. His chances of starting are high, but it remains to be seen where Allegri will deploy him, as relayed via Milan News. Will he replace Rabiot as a mezzala, or will he be placed a few meters higher up the pitch behind the main striker, as happened earlier this season against Bologna?
What is Allegri thinking of?
These are hours of reflection for Massimiliano Allegri, who might also be without Christopher Nkunku due to a toe knock suffered on international duty. At best, he might make the bench. This means only two forwards might be available: Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez. The coach could decide to start only one of them, with Leao currently favored, to keep an attacking option for later in the match.
If Allegri chooses that path, Loftus-Cheek could partner the Portuguese in attack. In that case, Samuele Ricci would replace Rabiot in midfield. If Allegri instead decides to start both Leao and Gimenez, Ruben would play as a mezzala, with Ricci on the bench.
The Englishman is in good form, both physically and mentally, having returned to the England national team during this break after several years. Loftus-Cheek has not started a Serie A match since mid-September against Bologna, when he began as a second striker. Will that be his role again against Fiorentina?
