Ahead of the Europa League fixture against Bournemouth, Amorim is drawing up a new Milan side, with both tactical choices and necessity playing a part given the absences of Gonçalo and Chukwueze (here is our focus on tomorrow’s match). The attack will be the most closely scrutinised department and, inevitably, the one to undergo the most changes: with Ramos out, Camarda, his natural deputy, will not come in. The young Italian had started against Salzburg (without scoring): it was a modest performance, but there is an explanation. It is not easy to come in after a long run of games spent on the bench, and even the physical condition of a young centre-forward can be affected. This is also behind the decision to rely on the smaller attackers: the coach’s idea is to deploy Cisse as the number 9, with Moreira and Hutchinson supporting him on either side.
Milan need a new number 9 against Bournemouth. Cisse to start...
Alphadjo Cisse will therefore lead the line. After his hat-trick against Salzburg and ninety minutes on the bench against Atalanta, Alpha returns to the starting line-up to try to be a protagonist once again. It will be a new role for him, but only in part. It is new at Milan, not in his young career: he played as the focal point of the attack for Baldini’s Under-21 side. And in that case, too, he won the battle for a place against Camarda. "Yes, I can play as a striker," Cisse had said after scoring those three goals (from a wide position) in the most recent international match. Here we go again: tomorrow evening, it will be his turn once more, alongside unfamiliar attacking partners.
Amorim's other choices
The players expected to supply him with balls will be the wide men Hutchinson and Moreira. The former already started against Benfica, although he was substituted at half-time, as relayed via La Gazzetta dello Sport's website. In recent matches, he has improved in terms of dynamism and confidence. On the other side is Moreira: no longer playing as a full-back covering the entire flank, as he did against Atalanta, but further forward to make the most of his attacking dribbling and avoid burdening him with defensive marking duties and the associated pressure.
In midfield, the big names will rest, probably both Modric and Rabiot. Jashari, Musah and Loftus-Cheek will come in. In defence, Tomori will get another chance at right-back, replacing Gila, followed by De Winter, Pavlovic and Estupiñán.
