On the eve of AC Milan’s Europa League Quarter Final fixture against AS Roma, a report has offered some insight into the eleven that Stefano Pioli is set to pick.
Whilst the outcome of Thursday’s fixture will not change anything immediately, it could be the first domino in a positive or negative line, given the result for either side. It has been widely reported in the lead-up to this game how important European progression could be for Stefano Pioli’s future, so with this in mind, it is vital he gets his team selection right.
As MilanNews writes, in defence, there are no doubts about Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Matteo Gabbia and Theo Hernandez, who will start as usual in their favoured positions. However, due to Fikayo Tomori’s suspension, Gabbia will be partnered by Malick Thiaw.
In the midfield, there is only one change with Ismael Bennacer returning to the starting eleven after being a substitute against Lecce due to fitness concerns in the lead-up to the game, and he will partner Tijjani Reijnders.
With the importance of this game, Pioli will look to his strongest attacking quartet, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao will play on the flanks, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will return as the Trequartista – after missing the game against Lecce through suspension – and Olivier Giroud leads the line.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Gabbia, Theo; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud.