Make it or brake it. This afternoon in Udine, Massimiliano Allegri is playing a large part of his future on the Milan bench. According to the latest rumors, the coach would not risk his place even in the event of a defeat, but patience is running out and with it also the bonuses. Such a turbulent week at the Rossoneri hasn't been seen for years: first the defeat against Atalanta, then the bad draw against Anderlecht, finally the sensational quarrel between Allegri and Inzaghi, which ended with a "peace" that was good above all for cameras and photographers. There was a lot of expectation yesterday at Milanello for the Livorno coach's press conference, who decided to anticipate the reporters' questions to make some clarifications: “I never thought about resigning. When I left for the third season with Milan and especially after the sales of Ibra and Thiago, I accepted the challenge with great enthusiasm and we'll come out of it with all possible serenity. What the team has done so far is not to be thrown away and the results help to grow. There's nothing to say about Inzaghi, like every Wednesday for two years now I was at Vismara and spoke to the boys' coaches as I always do. As already mentioned, there was only a normal exchange of ideas and opinions with Inzaghi, but no disagreements: seeing that we are colleagues now, he can no longer get angry because I'm putting him on the bench…".
The joke would also be nice, if it weren't for the fact that nobody laughs at Milan these days. The match in Udine is deeply felt and perhaps for this reason Allegri has tried to defuse the tension: “The one in Friuli will be an important match, but not a turning point. It's a game of passage and growth. We worked well, we will take the field with the aim of improving our game and scoring goals”. However, the form will not change, because Allegri wants to play it all by following his ideas: “We won't change the game system, but we will have to be more daring. I arrived at Milan thanks to my instincts, now I'll try to find the wing strike”.
No tactical revolution therefore, but something will change in the interpreters. In defense there will be the debut of Zapata, who will play alongside Mexes, on the left it will be the turn of one between De Sciglio (favourite) and Mesbah. In midfield, the ballot concerns Ambrosini and De Jong, while the other two shirts have already been assigned to Montolivo and Nocerino. Up front instead it's full tussle: apart from Pazzini (the only one who is sure of the place) there are no certainties. Boateng should be the attacking midfielder, but Allegri is tempted by the Emanuelson card, while in attack the doubt is between Bojan and El Shaarawy.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Udinese (3-5-2): Brkic; Benatia, Danilo, Coda; Basta, Pereyra, Pinzi, Allan, Pasquale; Barreto, DiNatale.
On the bench: Padelli, Pawlowski, Badu, Angella, Faraoni, Willians, Hertaux, Armero, GabrielSilva, Fabbrini, Maicosuel, Ragenie.
Trainer: Francesco Guidolin.
Unavailable: Muriel, Domizzi.
Disqualified: Lazarus (1).
Milan (4-3-1-2): Have you; Abate, Zapata, Mexes, De Sciglio; Montolivo, Ambrosini, Nocerino; Emanuelson; Pazzini, El Shaarawy.
On the bench: Amelia, Gabriel, Acerbi, Bonera, Mesbah, Antonini, Constant, Traore, De Jong, Boateng, Bojan, Niang.
Trainer: Massimiliano Allegri.
Unavailable: Robinho, Pato, Strasser, Didac Vila, Muntari, Flamini.
Disqualified: nobody.
Referee: Dominic Celi (Bari). Line assistants: Priests – Marzaloni. Port Assistants: Tagliavento – Tommasi. Fourth official: Sparrows.
