A Milan side with many injured players, never so many since the start of the season, is pulling together even more, and tonight in Udine Gerry Cardinale will also be there to stand alongside coach Amorim and the players. Thursday’s blow in Bournemouth was a heavy one and left its marks both mentally and physically. Considering that another five matches are scheduled before the next break, the Rossoneri cannot afford to give an inch and, faced with difficulties, are called upon to react immediately.
The trip to Italy by RedBird’s number one, a “trip” that had been planned before the 3-0 defeat across the English Channel and that will be useful for attending the shareholders’ meeting and the presentation of the new San Siro, will therefore help the group recharge its batteries: with the owner in the stands this season, Maignan and his teammates have never been defeated. One more ally for the former Sporting coach, who has once again come under fire from critics, but who is supported without the slightest hesitation by Cardinale, who chose him in June and who has built with him a multi-year project that he intends to carry forward. If the positive tradition with the American in the stands is confirmed at the Bluenergy Stadium, the build-up to the match against Bologna (Wednesday) and the derby (Saturday) will be less full of tension.
AC Milan's injury crisis, and the derby...
Saelemaekers, Gabbia, Pietro Terracciano and Chukwueze were already out before the trip to Bournemouth and all remain unavailable. Amorim has recovered Gonçalo Ramos, but in return has lost three starters in Gila, Rabiot and Moreira. The first was already carrying a knock against Atalanta, when he was forced to be substituted (Tomori came on), and this is also why he was not used in England. The hope was to have him back for tonight, but instead the discomfort in his left ankle, which he has been dealing with for some time, led the player, in agreement with the technical and medical staff, to decide not to take any risks. The former Lazio player will be available again against Bologna.
For Rabiot and Moreira, on the other hand, their absences are due to muscle fatigue: the Belgian in his left hamstring, the Frenchman in his right calf. The examinations they underwent yesterday morning (they were still feeling pain after Thursday) revealed the presence of swelling in both cases, but no injuries. In other words: if tonight’s match had been a decisive one, they would have taken the field while risking an injury. With such a congested schedule, however, the decision was to protect them and reassess their conditions day by day, as pointed out via La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Moreira could return against Bologna, or at the latest in the derby, while for Rabiot the target is the city derby or one of the two matches before the break against Ferencvaros and Genoa. Adrien clearly does not want to miss the clash with the city rivals, but the calf is a delicate muscle and the risk of a more serious injury, if he were to take the field without being 100% fit, would be real. That is why his presence on Saturday depends on his response to treatment.
Modric and the turning point
Tonight Amorim will rely on Luka Modric’s experience and leadership to maintain the unbeaten record in the league, but above all to end a run of three consecutive draws in Serie A. After the 1-1 in Turin against Juventus, the 2-2 at the Olimpico against Lazio and the 1-1 in Reggio Emilia against Sassuolo, the Rossoneri need a victory away from San Siro to remain in the top four in the standings.
The Croatian will be “protected” by two central midfielders to allow his class to shine in the playmaking role. Whether the former United coach will choose the 4-3-2-1 or the 4-3-3 remains to be seen: what is certain is that yesterday he also held his breath because of the less-than-perfect physical conditions of Pavlovic and Loftus-Cheek, respectively dealing with a blow to the shoulder and a contusion behind the knee suffered during the match at the Vitality Stadium.
Both have travelled with their teammates, but while the Serbian’s presence is indispensable in the heart of the defence (he will grit his teeth), the Englishman is competing for a place with Jashari, who is slightly favoured. Just as Hutchinson is favoured over Cisse and Bartesaghi over Estupinan.
Amorim would have liked to make more changes compared to Thursday, but the injuries will force him to make at most four. He will ask for a sacrifice from all the available players, and Cardinale will “push” the team with his presence.
