The moment of truth. The time has come for Milan to decide what they want to be when they grow up: after the super performance of the first part and the highs (few) and lows (many) of the second, in fact, it's time to average and aim for the real goal of the season, i.e. qualifying for the Champions League. In this sense, the next three matches, starting with today's match in Parma (18 pm), represent a step not to be missed, otherwise you risk being sucked down by the fiercest pursuers. After all, the standings are too short to bask in an important, yet still unstable second place: in fact, there are only 4 points from the silver place to fifth place for Napoli, without forgetting the two Romans, slightly further back but still in the running . Parma, Genoa and Sassuolo could represent an almost decisive leap towards the Champions League, but also a sensational setback that would then make the final days (Lazio, Juventus and Atalanta, just to mention the direct matches) so delicate as to make you lose sleep, as well as many certainties for the future.
AC Milan in 2020 would have already closed all discussions, that of 2021, on the other hand, would not even be in the first four: it is urgent to get back to racing, otherwise the joke of not going to the Champions League after being in the lead for 22 days could become reality. “Only the match in Parma counts, which must be faced in the best possible way – Pioli glossed over -. We have to do better than the match against Sampdoria, aware of the mistakes we've made but also of our qualities. Parma are a physical and fast team, difficult to face, but we have prepared ourselves. I appreciated the team's concentration in achieving the goal, as well as the fact that I was disappointed by the poor performance. But we need to go further, we understood the mistakes we made and we don't want to repeat them again." The coach is well aware that, having reached this point, the mental aspect becomes almost more important than the physical one, which is why he is trying to protect the group from all external controversies, especially daughters of transfer market events. Donnarumma's renewal has held sway for days on the sports pages of TV, websites and newspapers, as well as those of Calhanoglu, Romagnoli (during the week there was talk of an exchange with Bernardeschi), Kessié and Calabria, without forgetting Ibrahimovic (here the white smoke is really close) and Mandzukic.
It's difficult, in cases like these, to keep your mind clear and think only of the pitch, but Milan must succeed: conquering the Champions League can also come in handy during negotiations. “I see the expiring players serene, we're all thinking about the pitch and nothing else – explained Pioli -. We know that the path is not easy, we are not winners yet but we are fighting to become one soon". In short, first the results on the field and then, possibly, the economic demands. To comfort the Rossoneri's eve the almost impeccable away roster (12 wins, 1 draw and only 1 defeat in 14 games), which allows you to face with an extra pinch of serenity the match in Parma, against a team that is penultimate, but which appeared to be growing rapidly and is still alive in terms of salvation. Pioli has to do without Romagnoli and Calabria, for the rest however, after months of emergency, he can finally count on an almost complete squad, which allows him to choose based on the state of form and not on necessity alone. The Rossoneri 4-2-3-1 will thus see Donnarumma in goal, Dalot, Kjaer, Tomori and Hernandez in defence, Bennacer and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Rebic behind the lone striker Ibrahimovic, he is very close to the renewal of contract.
D'Aversa, fresh from the draw in Benevento, will instead look for very heavy points in terms of salvation with a 4-3-3 with Sepe between the posts, Conti, Bani, Gagliolo and Pezzella in the back department, Kucka, Hernani and Kurtic in the midfield, Man , Pellé and Gervinho in attack.
