Amid all of the news about transfers and the Champions League draw, there is a derby to be played on Sunday which Sergio Conceicao is preparing for.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write how Milan approach the derby in a ‘whirlwind’ of sorts amid the European disappointment in Zagreb, injuries and the transfer window. Conceicao must get his team ready to show maximum focus, something he has arguably failed to do so far.
Back to Milanello
Yesterday afternoon the squad met at training complex after returning from the trip to Zagreb. Malick Thiaw and Ruben Loftus-Cheek trained on their own are unlikely to recover for the derby.
In defence there is a red alert, because in addition to the German, Matteo Gabbia is also not feeling too great. In the first half of the match against Dinamo, in fact, he suffered a calf problem and his presence on Sunday is in serious doubt.
If he were not to make it, the central defensive pairing would be Fikayo Tomori and Strahinka Pavlovic as the only two healthy options. Kyle Walker should make his first start, with Theo Hernandez the other full-back.
Midfield issues
Problems also in midfield, where after 30 consecutive games Youssouf Fofana will be missing. The Frenchman was given a yellow card when he stopped Mihaila’s counter-attack against Parma, which triggered his suspension.
So, against Inter, barring any surprises, it will be Ismael Bennacer – who remained on the bench for 90 minutes in Zagreb – who will play, with Yunus Musah and Tijjani Reijnders as mezzali. It will be the first derby of the season for the Algerian, after being sidelined in August and an unused sub in Riyadh
The American, on the other hand, will have to make up for his naive red card against Dinamo, which greatly complicated Milan’s path in Europe. The untouchable Reijnders is the most used outfield player in the squad (2,552′ on the pitch in 2024-25) and is looking for his first goal in a derby.
Unknowns
Pulisic and Leao are certain of their places on the wings in attack , although Chukwueze has returned well from injury, scoring the winning goal against Parma and showing some positive signs during the Champions League match.
The real doubt is linked to the centre-forward. With Alvaro Morata seemingly going to Galatasaray and without the arrival of a new striker in time, it will most likely be up to Tammy Abraham to position himself at the centre of the Rossoneri attack.
The Englishman also started from the first minute in the first leg against Inter, but paired with Morata. However, he scored the most important goal of the season against the Nerazzurri, the one that gave the Supercoppa to Milan. Conceiçao hopes he can repeat that.
