GdS: All-in on the derby – Amorim’s plan to manage Milan’s challenging week
AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim will line his side up tonight against Bologna with one eye on Saturday’s derby versus Inter.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write that in a week that culminates in the Derby della Madonnina on Halloween night, Amorim is having to balance two important commitments for his side.
Consequently, Luka Modrić and Christian Pulisic will begin this evening’s match at San Siro on the bench, while Amorim has opted not to rush the return of Mario Gila and Diego Moreira, both of whom also missed the game in Udine.
The situation with Adrien Rabiot is somewhat more delicate, and whether he will be back in time for the derby remains an open question.
Rotation and forced choices
The former Sporting CP manager isn’t exactly implementing a standard rotation strategy, simply because having eight players in the treatment room makes rotating the squad quite difficult. Wherever possible, however, Amorim will look to give his key players a breather.
It’s no secret that, for 41-year-old Modrić, three matches in a single week represent an overly demanding schedule. Similarly, Pulisic – who has been managing his return from an injury sustained at the World Cup – is yet to start two consecutive matches when a European fixture falls in between.
With a clash against Inter on the horizon, this logic becomes even more compelling. Furthermore, Amorim is still weighing his options at centre-forward: Gonçalo Ramos exerted a great deal of energy in physical duels against the Udinese defense, so Francesco Camarda might start.
As mentioned, Amorim does not exactly have an abundance of options at the moment. Managing the workload and allowing the squad’s two most prominent players to catch their breath is a ‘risky’ luxury, especially given the recent resurgence of Palladino’s Bologna.
Ardon Jashari will step in for Modrić, finally earning two consecutive starts for the Rossoneri. He will be joined in midfield by Yunus Musah, marking the first time the pair has started a Serie A match together since the opening round against Torino.
There is one change in the attacking midfield position, with Alphadjo Cissé returning to the starting line-up in place of Pulisic. The Italian talent is still searching for his first goal at San Siro, having already netted five times on the road this season.
Amorim expects a strong performance from him, following his omission from the starting XI against Udinese. The wingers remain the same as those seen in Udine: Omari Hutchinson on the right, fresh off his first goal for Milan, and Davide Bartesaghi on the left.
This tactical tweak for Bartesaghi impressed the Portuguese manager so much that he has opted to stick with it. Behind him, Estupinan is expected to return, while young Sankhoun Diawara will likely move to the bench or slot in for Strahinja Pavlović in the heart of the defence.
Finally, Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori, and Koni De Winter are all set for another full shift, which means there will be some consistency to the rearguard.
Inter currently hold a four-point lead, but this Halloween, Milan hope to cast a spell on their city rivals once again. Perhaps with the return of Rabiot, alongside Moreira and Gila, and crucially with Modrić and Pulišić well-rested and ready to go.
