Week 18: Milan – Roma

Milan close out the calendar year amidst a crisis. Sitting in eighth place and some 13 points behind surprise league leaders Atalanta is not what any fan would want. Management and ownership exacerbate the poor season with business like statements. Claims that the aim is to return Milan to the top are interspersed with the need for prudent spending and taking opportunities to make 70 million (from a Tonali sale). The 70 million is apparently well reinvested and of course there are bright spots in the likes of Pulisic, Reijnders and arguably more but the position of the team and the quality on the pitch don’t show it.

Fonseca has hardly convinced as well. His appointment was of course not the most popular and his chosen 11s often perplex as well. As is customary with Milan injuries don’t help the cause either. As it stands at the end of 2024 Bennacer is back for the bench after a lengthy absence but Leao, Pulisic, Okafor, Musah, Loftus- Cheek join Florenzi as absentees. Indications are that all short term and most could be back as early as the next Serie A game vs Cagliari – which comes after the January 3rd Supercoppa Italiana match against Juventus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The predicted starting 11 for this week 18 match versus Roma doesn’t deviate from the recent norm too much. Earlier in the week indications were that Theo would be left out again but he looks to start. The back four in front of Maignan should be Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw and the Frenchman. The absences might push Terracciano to the midfield alongside Fofana. This will push Reijnders further forward allowing him to be more of the goal threat that he has been so far this season. Chukwueze will be the right winger and Jiminez looks to use his skills on the left. Morata should start as the center forward.

Claudio Ranieri re-took over the reins of Roma in November after the capital team underperformed under Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric. I Giallorossi are nevertheless still struggling.

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