Milan-Fiorentina, which will be played tomorrow evening at the "Meazza" stadium in San Siro, does not seem to be the priority on the agenda. Fans, the environment, and sports media are focused on the club's internal matters, namely the (likely) negative outcome for Paratici, and the discussions regarding the next coach of the Rossoneri.
The team, however, continues to prepare for the evening challenge against the Tuscan side. Even Conceicao, strong in his combative nature, does not want to give up and keeps the focus high, right up until the final inch of the race, despite the fact that, in the league, the Rossoneri will not be able to compete for the most coveted goals.
Reijnders out after 6 months?
According to reports from Milanello, Tijjani Reijnders, due to an indisposition, left the training session early today. The Dutch midfielder might therefore not make it for tomorrow’s match, with Conceicao likely not risking him, given the upcoming fixtures.
Reijnders’ last absence was 158 days ago, due to a suspension following a direct red card received in the home game against Udinese. Going even further back, his last absence due to a physical issue dates to January 2022, when the 1998-born player was still playing in the Netherlands for AZ Alkmaar. Tijji is an incredibly valuable player for Milan, due to what he brings on the pitch, his attitude, quality, and personality, which in the last two seasons have made him consistently one of the best. This is why his potential absence tomorrow evening would be a significant problem for both Conceicao and his teammates, who would lose an important reference point on the field.
Conceicao studies the alternative plan
Reijnders' position has always been a topic of discussion this season. First Fonseca and then Conceicao have preferred to position him higher up the field, rather than between two defensive midfielders, as Pioli used to do, for example. The Dutchman has certainly benefitted in terms of goal-scoring, having reached 13 goals and 4 assists this season. This is quite a decent tally, especially when considering the 2023/24 season, where he was often criticized for his low goal count and lack of impact.
Milan's coach, in order to compensate for the absence of number 14, could set up a balanced midfield, with Musah/Bondo and Fofana, who comes from a strong performance against Inter in the Coppa Italia. However, Joao Felix could be the one most “pleased” by Tijji's absence. The Portuguese player could return to a starting role in the attacking midfield (as number 10), a position more suited to his characteristics, with Pulisic – if he is fielded – on the outside, given his disappointment as a pure number 10 against Inter.
Another solution for Conceicao could be a three-man midfield, with Bondo, Musah, and Fofana together, to provide more coverage against a highly offensive and "terrible" team like Fiorentina. The four forwards would be inserted later, depending on how the match unfolds. This option would be useful for testing a new formation in preparation for the final stretch of the season, serving as a sort of preparation for the return match against Inter, which, let’s be honest, is seen as the most important game until the end of this season.
Source: MilanPress.it
