AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has made some changes to the team that beat Newcastle United in midweek for today’s game against Monza at San Siro.
Pioli has named a back four of Alessandro Florenzi, Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez in front of Mike Maignan, with the Dane making his first start in over five weeks.
In midfield it is Tommaso Pobega who has won the battle to start in the three over Ismael Bennacer, with Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek completing the trident.
In attack it will be Christian Pulisic back on the right wing, with Rafael Leao on the left side and Olivier Giroud leading the line.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo; Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Pobega; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.
Bench: Nava, Mirante, Bennacer, Adli, Jovic, Okafor, Romero, Chukwueze, Krunic, Jimenez, Simic, Nsiala, Bartesaghi.
Official Monza XI (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; D’Ambrosio, Caldirola, A. Carboni; Pedro Pereira, Pessina, Gagliardini, Kyriakopoulos; Colpani, Mota; Colombo.
Bench: Sorrentino, Gori, Donati, Machin, Akpa Akpro, Carboni, Bettella, Birindelli, Carboni, Maric, Bondo, Cittadini, Vignato, Ciurria.
Poor Reinjders. No rest for him again.
Poili just deliberately give him injury by playing him every match before his mind will settle down.
He just scored. Please stfu.
That should form a 3-4-3 in build up, with Pobega dropping back.
I like.
I am really surprised that none of okafor, Jovic or Chucky are getting a start given they have showed some good form.
Also Leao is just back from injury!
He got injured playing after the psg game!
Okafor deserves a start.
Not to mention Jovic who has been improving steadily and Giroud is 37.
If they don’t start today when will they ever?
Definitely need some start same games without Giroud.
Ultimately I think we will play better.
And Pioli still hasn’t managed to use this defence crisis to expose the young players.
He will only do so when absolutely forced to.
good point ! but, its pioli you are talking about ….
he plays same players until they get injured so then he has an excuse ….
same thing for 3 years now …
Monza is a dangerous team. This is not the time to experiment. We need our best 11. We can not afford to drop any single point now if we are to catch up with Inter and Juve.
Monza will dominate this team and their coach. May be lucky to win but I’m seeing another match were Milan won’t press high, letting the opponent all over them.
Guess reijnders can get a break at half time then 😀
Sorry bro the post wasn’t meant to be a reply to you
Omg. And the one meant to be a reply Gbenga wasting posted as a reply lol I’m being clumsy like Piolis tactics !!
Tijani is quality. He just needs a quality coach to show how good he is.
Well deserved goal by reinders. The guy has played every game so far.
Reijnders just scored, probably the fastest goal for this season. I’m glad Pioli didn’t bench him based on the suggestion from people around here.
Bro calm down. The suggestions were valid. The fact he scored does not change the fact he could still get injured in the game or muscle fatigue due to the fact he plays too much. The people suggesting resting Tijani are not wrong.
I agree but with one BUT though and that was the suggestions to field primavera players instead.
😀 now simic is on but what the hell is he gonna play in pobegas position.
I personally think that if someone comes for Leao, it will be very stupid for Milan not to sell him. He is just annoying to watch most time (note: most) like some choices are basic. Milan should be 2-3 goals up and the so-called star man is making some amateur mistake.
Leao has been pretty poor so far, still regaining his rhythm.
Don’t understand why okafor didn’t start this one
Looks like Pobega is playing on the left of a back 3. Hes started well
What a shame he has to come off.
Good chance for simic
Back to Pioli’s regular genius idea of when we’re up by only 1 goal, slow the ball down, kill your counter attacks and just pass the ball back to the defense/goalie and players are now allowed to walk around until the opponents score and then we start running again.
Also, since Pioli could bring on Simic why didn’t he just start the kid ???????? Smh
Well deserved goal by reinders. The guy has played every game so far.
How Great is that to see SIMIC SCORE!!!!
Delighted for the young man!
Holy sh1t Simic
OMMMMMMGGGGG SIMIC scored
What a debut from him
That was beautiful to see!!!! Congrats to our own Simic!! Things I love to see. Confidence builder right there.
Great first half and we are unlucky that Monza has gregorio in goal and that we hit the crossbar otherwise we would be up 5-0 and florenzi not denied two goals.
Their goalkeeper man… just too good
Old inter keeper if i remember correctly but since he joined them he has been pretty great for them
Great half!
Good setup by Pioli.
Good control in midfield and lots of movement and options in attack.
Kjaer is really marshaling the defence, we miss leaders like him.
Good performance by Pobega before he was taken off
Incredible debut so far for Simic!!!
This is the right kind of game to introduce a young player
👏
I hope we see Bennacer for Reijnders.
Think he should switch out our attack now that Monza are leaving space.
Okafor, Jovic and Chucky need the minutes and confidence
Okafor scored lessgoooo
I was about to write how I think Okafor is the most talented player we signed in summer and he has just gone off injured, what a shame.
He was only on the pitch a short time. He was denied a goal by a great save, scored a great team goal and made some beautiful passes.
Its not the first time he has done more in 10-15 mins than Leao in 70.
He may be the management replacement for Leao, though id love to see them both in attack together.
Get well soon Noah
Poor miss by Giroud, hes tired.
Why Jovic wasn’t on the pitch by now, who knows, id have fancied him to score there.
Our players look really tired. They’re usually out of steam by the 75th minute, and only running on fumes by the 80th. Another two injuries.
Good (not great) performance, but looking at the fitness issues, something ain’t right