Sergio Conceicao is planning to field another attacking AC Milan side against Feyenoord in the second leg, this time looking for a different result.
As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, the attack will be let by Santiago Gimenez who netted five goals in five games in the current edition with Feyenoord, only failing to score against Leverkusen.
He also didn’t score in his European debut with Milan: at the home of his former team he was overcome by emotion. Tomorrow night he does not intend to have this same issue again, because he has a new home and new fans to impress.
The other attacking ace is Joao Felix. He has played in the Champions League with Atletico Madrid (27 games, seven goals), Barcelona (nine appearances and three goals), Chelsea (four games), Benfica (one game) and Milan.
He is clearly an experienced player despite being 25, accustomed to big challenges and tomorrow’s one at San Siro will be. Since his debut with a goal in the Coppa Italia he has been a starter in two league matches and in the Champions League.
Finally, there is Leao. Conceiçao left him on the bench in the last two Serie A matches against Empoli (when he came on and scored) and two nights ago against Verona, when he got an assist for his 100th goal contribution in the ‘top five’ leagues (60 goals and 40 assists).
In the Champions League he is less prolific (six goals and as many assists in 29 matches) but the potential impact he can offer remains heavy. When Leao is at his best, there are few who can stop him.
Full steam ahead
To hope to qualify for the round of 16, the Rossoneri have the obligation to score, and the aforementioned trio will be the group of attackers that, in all likelihood, the coach will deploy from the start.
This is without forgetting Pulisic, who was prudently rested two days ago, so he could also be in the game. Using the ‘Fantastic Four’ at De Kuip did not work as they were thwarted by the Feyenoord defence.
Tomorrow, the temptation is there to field all four from minute one again, starting with the need to score a couple of goals to go through without extra time. Thus, Leao is expected to start on the left again, as Conceicao’s game-breaker, with responsibility on his shoulders to lead.
The new men
The expectations weigh on the new signings too, Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez, who in a short time have already impressed at Milan. Joao did so with the lobbed goal against Roma and with his ability to roam all over the pitch. He plays like a veteran: he calls for the ball and dictates the tempo of the build-up.
Santiago has shown his instinct for scoring and not only that: “The coach has given me a lot of confidence. He really likes how I attack the spaces.” In Empoli, Santiago scored with a curling shot, two nights ago he was in the right place at the right time.
With his first Rossoneri goal in the Champions League he would equal Alvaro Morata, who scored in Real Madrid vs. Milan and then didn’t net again.
Gimenez even became the third player to score in each of his first two Serie A appearances for Milan in the era of three points for a win after Andriy Shevchenko and Christian Pulisic.
Since the Mexican arrived, he has been decisive with Roma (assist for Joao Felix), Empoli and Verona. He only failed against Feyenoord, but he will be given a second chance.
