A matriculation exam. Pioli's AC Milan is preparing to travel Bologna (20.45) with the aim of erasing the disappointment of Oporto and taking the lead in the standings, albeit awaiting Spalletti's response.
The match is delicate and not only due to the unknown rossoblu, capable of alternating great trials with sensational collapses, but also due to a calendar to be exploited at all costs, in the light of direct clashes Rome-Naples and Inter-Juventus.
Conquering the Dall'Ara would therefore have a decidedly high weight, because it would mean gaining points over some opponents, but the same argument also applies in the opposite direction, especially after Wednesday's defeat. Pioli's main problem concerns absences, given that he did not recover anyone during the week: indeed, the already numerous list of absentees last Saturday was joined by Kessie and Pellegri, for an emergency that really doesn't seem to end.
“It's not a difficult moment, in a long and busy season like ours it's normal to have periods like this – the coach glossed over -. I have a competitive squad, we are ready to face a difficult match, against a very concentrated and quality opponent. I know Mihajlovic well, against Lazio he won by closing and restarting, we are prepared for any type of attitude but it will count to get the ball moving quickly, we will have to get them to move".
“I would have preferred to face them in full, I always hope that the best play – Sinisa thought -. But we look at our home, I'm sure we'll play a great game even if it will be very difficult. Milan are second in the standings and it must be said that they have often been punished by episodes, play well, even in the last match against Verona they overturned the result. But we play at home and we have the public on our side, I am convinced that we will play a great game”. In short, the match promises to be very interesting but it is clear that the Rossoneri are playing the most, even more so now that the Champions League is almost compromised.
"We are aware that we played a bad game, but we understood our mistakes and now we have to try not to repeat them against an opponent who will put us in difficulty - continued Pioli at the 100th on the Devil's bench -. I didn't know about this finish line, it's normal that it makes me happy but I'm staying focused only on the match: there's a lot of talk about the future, the championship, the Champions League, but we have to think about doing well first of all in Bologna".
Pioli needs his leaders, in particular Ibrahimovic and Giroud, which appeared rather tarnished in Porto, but too important in the economy of the squad. “Ibra needs to play and train, it's been a fair week since he returned to work with us – explained the coach-. The playing time will increase, I still have to decide who will start between him and Giroud. Their condition doesn't allow us to play with both strikers, when they're better we'll also be able to see them together".
The choice of attacker is the only real doubt of training, also because with nine players unavailable there isn't much room for choice. The Milanello rumors see Zlatan ahead for the role of central forward, in a 4-2-3-1 with Tatarusanu in goal, Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori and Ballo-Touré in defense, Bennacer and Tonali in midfield, Castillejo, Krunic and Leao on the trocar.
Still 3-man defense instead for Mihajlovic, who will respond by confirming the 3-4-2-1 of the last few games with Skorupski between the posts, Soumaoro, Binks and Theate in the back, De Silvestri, Medel, Svanberg and Hickey in the midfield, Soriano and Barrow behind the lone striker Arnautovic.
