Week 29: Milan – Como

The news cycle has been concentrating on who could be a possible replacement for Conceicao with calls for an ‘Italian revolution’ featuring Allegri perhaps. This of course says a lot about how the team has performed under its second coach of the season. The hope, at least, is that now Conceicao has more time to train with the team and a cohesive and more solid team will finish the season on a high. Top four is eight points and five teams away, a Champions League place looks impossible with expected financial implications but the team has enough talent to grow further and do better.

Week 28’s win at Lecce featured two tight offside goals and a come back. Pulisic had a great hand in the win and is surely the player of the season. With Lecce struggling to score goals for most of the season their two goals allowed highlighted the problems at the back more than most other games. Midweek brought on the idea that a three at the back formation would be tried to find some solidity plus balance but it seems unlikely that any Milan coach would abandon a back four for long, if at all.

Maignan returns from a one game suspension and as mentioned it remains likely that Walker, Thiaw, Gabbia and Theo will be the back four. Tomori is available and Pavlovic is available after his one game red card suspension. Bondo had a positive debut and looks to start with Musah in the middle. The latter American has been another struggling player and his position could be at risk. The initial pseudo-euphoria at the Joao Felix loan deal has mostly soured as the Portuguese has been underwhelming at times. Reijnders, with a recent contract extension, is likely to retain the spot behind Gimenez. Leao, not a regular starter under a second consecutive Portuguese coach, should be back to the first 11. Pulisic should surely start every remaining game this season.

Como are the current it team in the Serie A attracting the rich and the famous to their games. As with Venezia in previous seasons the team looks to capitalize on their location at least. Cesc Fabregas’ reputation as coach is growing and the team may be able to avoid Venezia’s fate and find a more consistent stay in the Serie A.

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