Week 11: Monza – Milan

The season is threatening to go ‘off the rails’ as controversy and losses mount. Fonseca looks to start Leao on the bench for the third successive Serie A game and the controversy is brewing. The relationship between the two Portuguese, one new coach and one presumed super star, has propelled the team into a crisis and losses versus Napoli and Fiorentina – either side of wins versus Udinese and Club Brugge in the Champions League – have left Milan with a distance to climb in the standing. The atmosphere soured further when the week 9 Bologna game was postponed due to floods in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Images showed that the Renato Dall’Ara pitch was playable and the game could on, if necessary behind closed doors. It meant that Milan’s suspended players, Reijnders and Theo, would miss the midweek Napoli clash instead of the Bologna game. In the end Milan lost at home to Conte’s men and fell 11 points behind the league leaders.

As Mentioned Leao looks to be on the bench with Okafor getting the start. The Swiss player’s form has not made this justifiable tactically. Pulisic more centrally and Chukwueze on the right will support Morata up front. Fofana and Reijnders will play as pivots, It is rather evident that Reijnders is more suited to playing further up but Pulisic centrally in that spot is a no brainer. Defending has remained a concern with most at the back somewhat error prone. Gabbia’s absence due to injury does not help the cause as he has shown more than most of his team mates. Thiaw and Pavlovic will start with Tomori on the bench. Emerson Royale and Terracciano are ahead of contract expiring Calabria and Theo returns to the line up. Maignan remains in goal of course, he is not excluded from the dip in form affecting the team.

Monza feature familiar names, not least of all Daniel Maldini. The now 23 year old playmaker debuted for the Azzurri last month.

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