A Younger Milan: not because there is a desire to snub the Europa League, but because there is a need to give some of the players who were on the pitch in Saturday’s derby a breather.
Bearing in mind that less than three days after the clash with Ferencvaros, there will be an away trip to Genoa on the schedule, the last of nine fixtures in twenty-seven days following the September-October international break.
Yesterday, Amorim did not conduct any tactical rehearsals: he postponed them until this morning’s session, before the players are dismissed and gather again in the evening for the pre-match training camp. Certainly, however, some elements will be different compared to the match against Chivu’s men, and the team’s identity cards will be... less worn.
Milan Four Years Younger
Let’s start with the numerical figure: the lineup that took the field against Inter had an average age of 28 years and one month, with 41-year-old Modric in midfield and Moreira the youngest of all at 22 years and 11 months.
And the one against Ferencvaros? There are a couple of doubts, but let’s say that the average age will be at least four years lower, which, with “extreme” choices (and we will shortly explain which ones), could become more than five, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
The certainty is the change between the posts because Maignan has been suspended for one match following his red card at Bournemouth: in place of the Frenchman will be Torriani, almost 10 years younger than Magic Mike.
The other move that will freshen up the team is the change in midfield between Modric and Jashari, who is almost 17 years younger than the Croatian star.
Among the youngsters who will start tomorrow are also Bartesaghi, at 20 years and 10 months, and Cisse, who recently turned 20. By comparison, 23-year-old Hutchinson looks like a veteran: the Englishman will also have another chance from the first minute and will try to repeat the convincing performance he delivered against Bologna.
Possible but not certain, however, is the use of Diawara, not as a left-back (as in the derby), but as a central defender alongside De Winter. The confirmation of the former Troyes Frenchman (20 years and 9 months) could allow Pavlovic, who has started all 13 official matches played by the Rossoneri, to catch his breath.
The conditional tense, however, is necessary in this case because the Serbian is... a lion and would never want to rest. And Amorim, for his part, is reluctant to do without the two central defenders he has left.
The defensive line will be completed by the almost 23-year-old Estupinan and perhaps Filippo Terracciano (23 years and 7 months), although having Gila on the right would make it possible not to completely overhaul the department.
Milan's Eighteen-Year-Olds
The young Milan imagined so far could become very young indeed if Amorim made even more... extreme choices, namely if he used both Camarda and Comotto from the start.
The striker, who started in Salzburg, will compete for a starting shirt with Pulisic, Ramos and Moreira and, depending on who is chosen, Cisse and Hutchinson will change their positions on the pitch.
Comotto, who has never been fielded from the start so far, would instead play alongside Jashari and would be preferred over Musah and Rabiot. The latter is ahead of the American, who started the last two matches.
Camarda and Comotto are both 18 years and a few months old. It is more likely that only one of the two will be in the starting eleven, but if the match requires it or allows it, the idea is to use them. Because Milan, already tested by injuries, must rotate their players so as not to take the field with their batteries drained.
