Time for answers. Milan and Rome are called to shake up their respective rankings, otherwise they risk finding themselves in water down their throats as early as September. Fate of the big teams, forced to travel fast right from the start, in defiance of the tactical needs of coaches who have recently arrived and are still grappling with the so-called "work in progress". Giampaolo and Fonseca closed the first two days with 3 and 2 points: there is worse, mind you, but also better. Today, however, they will be awaited by insidious commitments, those impossible to fail in order not to end up at the center of inevitable (and deserved) controversies. For Milan, then, the away match in Verona never evokes good memories: the fault of history, of course, which always returns punctually to remind us of 1973 (there the combination between the adjective 'fatal' and the city of Verona was born) and 1990 (another scudetto lost on the last day), but also from the recent past, given that the last visit with Gattuso on the bench ended in a noisy 3-0 defeat.
“I don't care that Verona is a difficult field for Milan, I don't believe in these things – said Giampaolo in the press conference. – The team has to fight to win against anyone, it's the attitude that makes the difference and I'm convinced of that. Everyone worked well during the week, that's why I have great confidence". The coach knows how much these 3 points weigh especially because next Saturday, in a San Siro that is already almost sold out, there will be the derby against Conte's Inter and a false step, evidently, would make the week a real hell. In short, a victory is needed and given that those usually depend on the forwards, it is inevitable to expect a lot from Piatek, still dry and at the center of the first real crisis of his career.
“He mustn't just think about playing in the last 20 metres, in Milan it's also necessary to come out and dribble – continued Giampaolo. – The goal must not be an obsession, he must think about playing well, the goal then comes as a consequence. If he plays badly, it's more difficult for you to score… ”. The system first of all: even in this, the Rossoneri coach doesn't seem to want to take any steps backwards. We will see if confirmations will arrive at the Bentegodi from the 4-3-2-1 chosen, therefore Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defense, Kessie, Bennacer and Calhanoglu in midfield, Suso and Castillejo on the trocar, Piatek in attack. Juric will attempt the feat with a 3-4-2-1 that will see Silvestri in goal, Rrahmani, Kumbulla and Gunter in the back, Faraoni, Amrabat, Veloso and Lazovic in the midfield, Zaccagni and Verre in support of the lone striker Stepinski .
Before the postponement of the Bentegodi, however, it will be time to go to the Olimpico, where Fonseca's Roma will face Sassuolo (18 pm). The speeches made for Milan are valid here too, indeed if possible the need to win is even higher given that the Giallorossi are still at zero after two matches. The draw in the derby calmed things down a bit but it is clear that, in the event of a lack of success today, they would get back into arrogance, significantly undermining the credibility of the Portuguese coach, seen by many as a mysterious object. “I'm not the type of person who likes to find excuses, pretexts or alibis but it is clear that the injuries are penalizing us a lot – replied the person concerned. – With Lazio I didn't like the pressing and recovering the ball, at a certain point we became passive, but I want a team that presses high and with greater courage. With Sassuolo I am confident that we will see a better performance, with our concepts put into practice on the pitch."
Lots of expectations, although the absences are actually starting to be rather invasive: in fact, the new signing Smalling has also joined the already known Zappacosta, Perotti and Under, who will thus have to postpone his Serie A debut. so Fonseca will not give up on the classic 4-2-3-1 with Pau Lopez in goal, Florenzi, Mancini, Fazio and Kolarov in defense, Veretout and Cristante in midfield, Zaniolo, Pellegrini and Mkhitaryan (he is ready to debut) on the trocar, Dzeko in attack. Usual 4-3-3 also for De Zerbi, who will try to conquer the Capital by relying on Consigli between the posts, Muldur, Marlon, Ferrari and Peluso in the back department, Traoré, Obiang and Duncan in the midfield, Berardi, Capuano and Boga in the trident offensive.
