Massimiliano Allegri is set to rotate his squad for tomorrow`s Coppa Italia encounter against Lecce. Frenchman Maignan returns to goal to test his calf in preparation for the Napoli match, while Modric will be rested, allowing Ricci to feature.
On August 16, Massimiliano Allegri declared that the Coppa Italia was “one of the three seasonal objectives,” speaking on the eve of his second stint at Milan, specifically before their thirty-second round match against Bari. Barely forty days later, the Rossoneri`s form has improved so significantly that fans are now openly discussing a Scudetto challenge. Allegri, true to his cautious nature, prefers a game-by-game approach. The immediate focus isn`t on the blockbuster clash against Napoli, scheduled for Sunday evening in a sold-out stadium, but rather on the Coppa Italia tie with Lecce. This is a crucial fixture that Milan cannot afford to lose, and it also presents an opportunity to assess players who have had limited playing time so far. Without European commitments, squad rotation is largely confined to domestic competitions.
Opportunities and Returns
Tomorrow`s match could mark the first start for several new acquisitions. Leading this group is Christopher Nkunku. The French forward, having already made brief appearances against Bologna at San Siro and for half an hour against Udinese, will be eager to score his first goal for Milan, likely alongside Santi Gimenez. Christian Pulisic is expected to rest on the bench, as is young Balentien, who might get another chance if the game progresses favorably, following his unexpected outing on August 29. Rafa Leao remains unavailable; the Portuguese winger trained separately at Milanello yesterday and is aiming for a return against Napoli. Conversely, Mike Maignan has completed a full training session with the other goalkeepers and is ready to return between the posts, as Allegri had previously announced. “Magic Mike” will use the Lecce game to test his right calf ahead of the pivotal clash with Napoli.
Squad Changes
Compared to the team that defeated Udinese, a change in the defensive trio is certain: Koni De Winter will step in, allowing one of Tomori, Gabbia, or Pavlovic to rest, with the Serb being the primary candidate to be excluded from the starting eleven. On the flanks, at least one of Athekame, who made his Milan debut in Friuli in the closing stages, and Bartesaghi will be given playing time, leading to the exclusion of either Saelemaekers or Estupinan. Luka Modric is also set to start on the bench, with Ricci slated to begin as the playmaker. Loftus-Cheek will be seen again as a central midfielder, though it remains to be decided whether he replaces Fofana or Rabiot (the latter being more probable). With five substitutions available, Allegri hopes to give a partial rest to many of his regular starters. This, of course, will depend on how the match against Lecce unfolds. However, it`s crucial not to underestimate the opponent.
“We`re only thinking about Lecce,” Marco Landucci, acting as Allegri`s stand-in, rightly cautioned his team. The Rossoneri assistant coach will once again be on the bench tomorrow, serving the final match of Allegri`s Coppa Italia ban. Landucci light-heartedly remarked, “I hope the boss returns soon; he experiences the game in his own way,” a sentiment that was evident in the stands at Udine.
