CorSport: ‘Everything has changed’ – decimated Milan aim to rescue difficult week in Udine

AC Milan make the 200-mile trip to Udine tonight battling an emergency in pursuit of a second away win of the campaign.

As Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) write this morning, this seemed like it could be a week where Milan proved that they are making great strides under Ruben Amorim. However it quickly turned into a dangerous obstacle course.

After last Sunday’s match against Atalanta, Samuel Chukwueze got injured. The heavy 3-0 defeat in Bournemouth saw Mario Gila, Adrien Rabiot and Diego Moreira sustain issues too. Amorim therefore arrives at the Bluenergy Stadium with a decimated squad, but still needing a result.

Emergencies bring opportunities

The main problem concerns the defence. Gila has been sidelined with inflammation in his left ankle and is aiming to at least make the derby. Fikayo Tomori will replace him, alongside Koni De Winter and Strahinja Pavlovic, the latter not at his best but ready to grit his teeth.

Even more significant is the absence of Rabiot, arguably the Rossoneri’s best player so far with four goals and three assists in seven games. The Frenchman has suffered a strained left calf and will be replaced by Ardon Jashari. Luke Modric and Yunus Musah complete the department.

In attack, Amorim is expected to once again rely on his number nine, Gonçalo Ramos, with Christian Pulisic on the left and Omari Hutchinson making his first league start on the right. Moreira is out with a hamstring strain, while Alphadjo Cisse is expected to start on the bench to ensure at least one attacking option during the game.

Loftus-Cheek took a blow to the knee on Thursday but will be available. Milan arrive in Udine in a state of emergency and with very little margin for error. The priority now is only one: to break the string of bad news and arrive at the derby week with a positive result.