Chances on the right and coaches under pressure: The five key battles in Udinese vs. Milan
A wounded AC Milan will make the trip to face Udinese tonight, hoping to bounce back from the midweek loss to Bournemouth.
With Milan comprehensively beaten by a team at the bottom end of the Premier League table in a game where the captain Mike Maignan saw red, things have taken a more negative turn in the past few days it would be fair to say.
What hasn’t helped matters ahead of this evening’s visit to Udine was the news that came on Saturday. It was confirmed by Milan that Mario Gila, Adrien Rabiot and Diego Moreira will all miss out with various physical problems, adding to the list of absentees.
Udinese vs. AC Milan: The five key battles
So, it will be a case of Ruben Amorim getting the best out of what he has available, given that Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers and Samuel Chukwueze are also injured and will not take part.
Udinese have only four points from seven games, but this is always a testing trip historically for Milan. Their main shining light so far this season has been midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, who has racked up three goals and one assist playing mainly in the two behind the striker.
One of the surprise packages for the Rossoneri thus far has been the revitalised Yunus Musah, who has made a deeper-lying midfield role his own. Tonight, he will have to be diligent in both phases and provide support to Luka Modric, allowing him to direct from the regista role.
The theme on Milan’s right side is opportunities. Gila’s injury means that Fikayo Tomori will get the nod as the right-back, then Omari Hutchinson is expected to get his first Serie A start in the right wing position. The two Englishmen have a chance to perhaps demonstrate they can be more than mere fringe players.
Udinese’s right wing-back Hassana Kamara has already scored twice this season and he is a real threat in transition with his pace and power. The young German centre-back Matteo Palma should replace Oumar Solet on Hutchinson’s side, and he has started only once this season, so it will be a test for him too.
Christian Pulisic has a very favourable record against the Friulian club, having won four of his five games against them. The American has also racked up five goal contributions (two goals, three assists) in that span, so he will be hoping to continue the positive streak.
It looks like James Abankwah will be his opponent, playing on the right of Udinese’s back three. The 22-year-old Irishman has been an almost immovable fixture in Kosta Runjaic’s side, having started six of seven in the league, and he bagged a goal at San Siro against Inter too.
Finally, we end with something a bit different: the managerial battle. It is well known that Kosta Runjaic is under pressure given the poor points return so far, which has the Bianconeri hovering above the relegation places. He seems to have been given until the November break, but there is pressure on to turn things around.
His opposite number Ruben Amorim is also feeling the heat a bit. Paradoxically he remains unbeaten in Serie A with four wins and three draws, which is far from a bad record. Yet, the near-collapse against Atalanta, plus the European defeats to Benfica and Bournemouth have left many fans and pundits feeling that this team is far away from seriously competing for any trophy.
