Week 26: Milan – Genoa, Boban – Gazidis
The world is in the midst of nothing short of a COVID-19 pandemic and many large events are getting cancelled. Football matches in the heavily affected regions of Northern Italy are among those. This week 26 match was initially postponed to May 13th but the season was effectively pushed back one week to play this match when the week 27 match at Lecce was supposed to be played. The games could yet get postponed or even cancelled but for now the matches will happen behind closed doors.
Milan’s management has been busy behind closed doors. The rumoured arrival of Ralf Rangnick to take over at various roles has simmered for a while and it boiled over when Boban publicly accused Gazidis of going behind his and Maldini’s back and change the team’s plans and guarantees. The outburst has now cost Boban his Milan job and could yet affect Maldini’s job as well. The Croatian looks to return to his FIFA job. This will likely happen as the aforementioned German gets confirmed in the coming weeks and start another revolution at Milan. Whether the future holds a strict and deep cost cutting or just a re-creation of a young team remains to be seen. More unstable times ahead.
This match will not feature Donnarumma in goal, Begovic will start in place of the still injured Italian. The young goalkeeper is due back soon however. The healed Kjaer is likely getting another start over Mucasshio. The Dane will play with Conti, Romagnoli and Hernandez. Kessie, Bennacer, Castillejo, Calhanoglu and Rebic will line up behind Ibra. All hopes are that the team are not affected by the various worries. Pioli has a big job maintaining discipline and concentration levels as the team still has European hopes and needs.
Follow the instability and the match as they happen, on the forum.