High, very high, tension. Lazio v AC Milan represents a sort of in or out both for second place and for the Champions League zone: not winning it would complicate the scenarios a lot and the discussion, evidently, applies to both sides. The 27th day will thus begin with a strong dish, to be enjoyed with caution given the risk of indigestion. Sarri must win to erase Florence's fool, Pioli must win to avoid the risk of being sucked in by the pursuers, all with the attacks of Lotito and Cardinale in the background, which make the challenge even more delicate.
Lazio – Milan (20.45 pm, Dazn)
Lazio and Milan have gone through better periods, there's no doubt about that. The Biancocelesti seemed to have found the right pace to take fourth place, then came the defeats against Bologna and Fiorentina, but above all Sarri's harsh outburst towards the team and club. Heavy words used by the coach in the Franchi belly, both towards the players ("to play on multiple fronts you need a mentally strong group") and towards Lotito and Fabiani ("if I ask for A and they make me choose between C and D, I don't let them say that I made the market”), capable of dividing an angry and disillusioned fan base. The president replied in his own way ("no more alibis, it's not the market's fault") and the rumors of a divorce at the end of the season became even more insistent. The results, however, can change everything at any moment, which is why these two matches with Milan and Bayern have the flavor of the finals. Better climate on the Rossoneri front, but the idyllic times are still a distant memory. The fluctuating results mean that Pioli is perpetually in question, as confirmed by the patron Cardinale himself in the words we will see shortly. To help him, in addition to the essential path in the Europa League, there would also be the championship, but only in the case of a "quiet" Champions League, even better if with second place. Winning in Rome, in short, would be the best way to regain that confidence that was broken after Monza and only partially re-established by the draw with Atalanta, for him and for the team.
Pioli warns his team: "We will find a motivated Lazio"
“We face a team with great qualities, fresh from an unsatisfactory performance, but which plays well and can only be put into difficulty with intensity and determination – underlined Pioli in the press conference -. We played well against Atalanta and we want to put that level of performance back on the field, but obtaining a different result. In recent days we have tried to understand the reasons why we were unable to score an extra goal, despite the opportunities we had. Is there a risk of having your mind on the Europa League? No, we studied Slavia but now there is only Lazio. There will be no changes with the aim of resting anyone, the team is focused and motivated and in any case there is still a week to go. We need to improve our numbers away from home, this is clear, we have always tried to control the matches regardless of where we play, we will have to try to do it in Rome too. We will need attention and continuity, we have a strategy, we will have to implement it continuously within the match. The championship? The championship is closed, Inter are making an incredible journey: they had a difficult calendar, they managed to overcome the toughest moment clearly. Now I really think it's over."
Cardinal scares Pioli: “We need a change”
The Rossoneri coach, at the time of the press conference, could not have known that a few hours later, directly from the stage of the Business of Football Summit in London (organised by the Financial Times), the owner Jerry Cardinale, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at his side, would have reserved for him decidedly unrewarding words, even without naming it. “We always need to evolve, we are not satisfied with not being first – the analysis of RedBird's number one -. We are a young team with many new players, not doing badly does not mean we are doing well. There have been many injuries, the players are constantly under stress from too many games, you can't blame the medical staff alone. Ibra? It allows me to be in the United States and at the same time in Milan, ha the authority to be my voice at Milan with players, staff and everyone else." Pioli, as previously mentioned, is never mentioned, but references to results and injuries can only directly affect him. A year ago, after all, the target was Maldini and everyone knows how it ended between the two...
Lazio-Milan, here are the lineups
Both Sarri and Pioli have to deal with European commitments, but the importance of the match will lead them to field the best teams, limiting turnover to a minimum. The Lazio coach seems oriented towards relaunching Zaccagni from the first minute after the "service" (to be honest, quite poor) in Florence, for the rest he will focus on the classic 4-3-3, with the exception of Immobile, who could rest in view of Monk. His Lazio will take the field with Provedel in goal, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli and Hysaj in defense, Guendouzi, Cataldi and Luis Alberto in midfield, Felipe Anderson, Castellanos and Zaccagni in attack. Pioli's doubts concern the right back (Calabria or Florenzi) and the central midfielder (Adli favored over Reijnders), for the rest it will be 4-2-3-1 confirmed with Maignan between the posts, Calabria, Gabbia, Thiaw and Theo Hernandez in the defensive department, Bennacer and Adli in midfield, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Leao behind the lone striker Giroud.
