After the loss to Napoli, AC Milan will imaginably be in desperation mode at San Siro tonight against Lazio, and five battles could be pivotal in the game.
Milan’s future, both this season and beyond, rests on every game. This, in itself, is a worrying position to be in, but yet the Rossoneri find themselves trapped within it. The Coppa Italia serves as an opportunity to slightly better a campaign that has been near-dreadful, but their Serie A games cannot be overlooked.
So, tonight against Lazio, the Diavolo must begin to show that they can still fire themselves forwards with results, with a matching performance, rather than drag themselves through games, as has been a motif of the season.
Based on the latest lineup suggestions, here are the five key battles that could decide the game.
The five key battles
Perhaps a slightly controversial start, but the first key battle of this game for us is Theo Hernandez against Nuno Tavares – but they play on different sides?! Theo’s situation is clear now, if he improves his performances significantly, only then would there be a minuscule chance of him getting a renewal. However, even with this, a departure still seems overwhelmingly more likely.
Who are Milan considering to replace him? Tavares, who has been a standout player for the Laziali this season. In many ways, the Portuguese represents everything that Theo once was. So in that respect, it might be old vs new for the left-backs.
Following that, Matteo Guendouzi and Youssouf Fofana will be decisive in this game, you feel. Both midfielders have often been pivotal to their teams, not in the way of output contributions – though both have helped to a very slight degree – but to the actual engine room.
Fofana, despite being criticised a little, has been tireless in the midfield this season, and whilst Guendouzi is, perhaps, a slightly different player, his importance to Lazio, in a way, is reminiscent of the Frenchman’s to the Diavolo. In that sense, them both being near the 3,000 minute mark this season is not really a shock.
Strahinja Pavlovic and Malick Thiaw, as things stand, are set to be the central partnership for Sergio Conceicao once again, and they will face a big task in locking down Boulaye Dia and Loum Tchaouna.
Both pairings are slightly hit and miss, and very unpredictable in that sense. However, if the defensive partnership can put their stamp on things in the early stages of the game, you would imagine it will bode well for the Rossoneri.
Furthermore, with their own situations being somewhat criticised in recent weeks, they are also needing to show a little bit more, though this perhaps relates more to Thiaw than his Serbian partner. Matteo Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori have been tossed aside, and any further mistakes could be the chance for change.
Number four is slightly abstract, but nevertheless, holds a significant weight. It’s Conceicao against himself. The Portuguese coach, like the club he leads, is in a situation of peril. After the game against Bologna, he victimised himself and his situation, which is questionable in itself, considering it is a complete change of character.
We still saw the abrasive figure of the Portuguese, but rather than going on the charge, he seemed vulnerable after the defeat and was abrasive to himself and his situation, if anything, even if he tried to be somewhat nonchalant about his position.
Milan want to see a coach that cares, but the balance has to be right, and Conceicao has teetered across the line too much. If he can find balance, he could find the solution, and in turn, the future.
Without a doubt, the biggest battle of the game is happening off the pitch, though it involves everyone on it. It’s the San Siro against itself – two against themselves points, slightly rogue, however, this is the situation that the club is in, and it needs highlighting.
Curva Sud announced yet another protest last night, and their message was rather clear. At fault members were named, and it was cold, and calculated. Nevertheless, it represents the viewpoint of an alienated portion of the fanbase.
In the 15th minute against Lazio, the group will leave the stadium, whilst hoping that others will follow. If others follow, in their masses or not, it starts the risk of a threatening spiral, one which Gerry Cardinale must avoid at all costs.
