A boxing day to save the bench. Up until a couple of years ago Gattuso and Di Francesco could have postponed any concern until Epiphany, but now, thanks to the new course adopted by the League, the bar has moved a few days. It's not a detail, on the contrary: between now and the end of 2018 there are still two games and this, for those who have their place hanging by a thread, can be a huge problem. Milan and Rome will thus experience a Boxing Day of great tension, with the awareness that making a mistake against Frosinone (12.30) and Sassuolo (18) could upset all the work done so far.
The situation most at risk is that of Gattuso, who has returned overwhelmingly in the balance after the latest results (defeats in Athens, with Fiorentina and a draw in Bologna) which have called all his work into question. The excuses of injuries and suspensions are evident, as is the silence of the club, which has left him alone both in terms of the media (no statement in favor of him) and physically (the sensational absence of Leonardo and Maldini in Sunday's training) .
Only two successes with Frosinone and Spal would restore some calm, thus chasing away the ghost of Wenger by virtue of a newfound, so to speak, confidence in Gattuso. The coach plays all out and will go to Frosinone with the absolute need to win, which is why he will leave aside any turnover logic by virtue of the best possible 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defense, Kessié, Bakayoko and Calhanoglu in midfield, Castillejo, Higuain and Cutrone in attack.
Baroni, after the happy debut in Udine, will try to repeat himself with a 3-5-2 that will see Sportiello in goal, Goldaniga, Ariaudo and Krajnc in the back, Zampano, Chibsah, Maiello, Cassata and Beghetto in the midfield to support the pair Ciano-Ciofani offensive.
Slightly more serene situation for Di Francesco, but only because the defeat against Juve was considered sufficiently dignified by the club. Against Sassuolo, however, the stakes will be much more rigid, also because failing could be harmful in terms of the Champions League, the last remaining objective for this season (in the league, of course).
"We are late but we have the opportunity to make up ground – explained the Giallorossi coach – We can no longer afford mistakes, we must end the year with two victories". This with Sassuolo, then, ironically, passes from a challenge all in the family with his son Federico, "forced" to spoil the party by virtue of the European ambitions of his club, relaunched by the draw with Turin.
“I will send my family to retreat so my wife can threaten him properly – joked Eusebio – Seriously, we feel the pressure but the difficulties can also act as a stimulus”. The injured situation, although improving, remains delicate so much so that today's 4-2-3-1 will still lack fundamental elements such as De Rossi, Dzeko and El Shaarawy, the last two able only for the bench.
Today's line-up will thus see Olsen in goal, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov in defence, Cristante and Nzonzi in midfield, Under, Zaniolo and Perotti behind the lone striker Schick. Some problems also for De Zerbi, who however will be able to line up a respectable 3-5-2 with Consigli in goal, Magnani, Marlon and Ferrari in the back, Lirola, Sensi, Locatelli, Bourabia and Di Francesco in the midfield, Babacar and Berardi in attack.
