Lecce – Milan Serie A Week 2

Milan travel to Lecce amidst the chaos of the final days of the summer transfer window and following the week 1 home loss to Cremonese. The season opener exposed mostly obvious weaknesses at the back where a back three had been tried at least partially due to the lack of bodies available to Allegri. The front two and the attack in general were poor and Leao’s early exit injury hampered the team with very limited options.

Leao injured a muscle and is set to miss this match as well. Late in the week had Jashari injured in training and the midfielder could miss a few weeks. The squad remains very thin and at 22 players misses options and variations. A lot more movement is set to happen before the Monday September 1 deadline and window closure. The team might not look much different but the squad size surely needs to increase. Several names are rumoured with all positions in flux and time will tell if the likes of Chukwueze, Musah and Jimenez will be Milan players next week. Gimenez’s agent, at least, shut down the Mexican forward’s exit talk.

For now however it is somewhat difficult to predict a starting 11. Even with the relative few options Allegri could move players around. The 3-5-2 might be seen for the last time at Lecce depending on the players that arrive, and leave too. Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic will start in front of Maignan. De Winter is one back up option. The mid five should be Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Fofana and Estupinan but as mentioned Allegri might make changes. Pulisic and Gimenez are likely starters up front.

Leece of course feature Camarda. It is the opinion of this writer that the 17 year old, being so highly touted, belongs at Milan and has to grow with the team and not loaned out, with or without various options and buy backs. Eusebio Di Francesco may or not give the youngster many minutes and his growth will take a different trajectory in another environment regardless of those minutes.

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