The week of the crossroads will end this afternoon in Cesena (15 pm). If Milan take the right path (i.e. the three points), then the season could be channeled towards a future of victories. In case of bankruptcy, however, everything would come back into question. Six days after the direct clash with Juve, the Italian champions find the Cesena trap, a team in difficulty and in need of points. There's no match on paper, but the pitch is something else. The risk is that after a game like the one against Arsenal, someone could have a voltage drop and take a lower-ranking opponent under the wing.
If that were the case, there would be trouble, which is why Allegri didn't even want to consider the idea: "The motivations for the Cesena match must be the same or more than those for the Arsenal match – said the coach in press conference – it will be the match that anticipates the direct confrontation, if we don't concentrate we will find difficulties”. The Romagnoli have already shown that they can be dangerous, especially since Arrigoni has the Mutu – Iaquinta attack tandem at his disposal, who could easily play in a medium-high ranking team. “It's a team that creates many problems, they are good at counterattacks and have quality up front – continued Allegri – at home they attack and don't let you play. I repeat, to win you need to play a great match”.
The technician from Livorno will have to invent something, because the infirmary has betrayed once again. After the tiles Seedorf (one month's stop) and Mexes (one week), the unexpected ones of Boateng and Pato also fell on Milanello. Yes, just them, back in the Champions League match and back in the pits, as well as Nesta, still unavailable. “Pato has muscle fatigue, it's useless to risk it in Cesena, the same goes for Boateng – admitted the Rossoneri coach – when we forced recovery time we knew we were going to face this. Now the doctors are evaluating them, I hope to have them available with Juventus. Nesta has a knee that's acting up, but he'll be there next Saturday."
Also considering Ibrahimovic's prolonged absence, it won't be easy to present a competitive formation, but Allegri can console himself with the rediscovered Robinho, who could start from the first minute alongside Maxi Lopez. The Argentine will play 100%, while the Brazilian will compete for a jersey with El Shaarawy. In midfield there will be the debut from the first minute of the former Inter player Sulley Muntari.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Cesena (3-5-2): Antonioli; Comotto, Benalouane, Rodriguez; Ceccarelli, Santana, Colucci, Parolo, Pudil; Iaquinta, Mutu. Coach: Daniele Arrigoni.
On the bench: Ravaglia, Lauro, Rossi, Guana, Martinho, Martinez, Malonga.
Unavailable: Djokovic, Moras, Von Bergen.
Disqualified: nobody
AC Milan (4-3-1-2): Have you; Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Mesbah; Nocerino, Ambrosini, Muntari; Emmanuelson; Robinho, Maxi López. Coach: Massimiliano Allegri.
On the bench: Amelia, Yepes, Antonini, Van Bommel, Flamini, El Shaarawy, Inzaghi.
Unavailable: Cassano, Aquilani, Gattuso, Merkel, Strasser, Flamini, Seedorf, Mexes, Boateng, Nesta, Pato.
Disqualified: Ibrahimovic.
Referee: Paul Valeri Assistants: Giordano – Jays. Fourth official: Rocchi
