Week 18: Milan – Sassuolo

Milan in the midst of an incredibly perplexing and continuing injury crisis have reached the point where Pioli’s job is on the line. The scudetto race is all but beyond the team and the European places – is it even still the Serie A top four with the upcoming new Champion League format? – is in threat.

The underperforming team is searching for bodies as soon as the January window opens. Gabbia’s Villarreal loan could be shortened to alleviate the defensive issues but what else could be done to slow the decline? A forward ready for Serie A in January? As much as the defensive options are depleted Giroud needs a backup, a long term one. Jovic has scored recently but can’s be more than short term option so can ready made player(s) be brought in in the next month?

Beating Berardi and Sassuolo might go a small way into reassuring all that the team has not lost it all this season. Theo is forced to return to the middle with only the aging and slowing Kjaer available as a partner. Calabria and Florenzi will complete the back four. Reijnders, Bennacer and Loftus-Cheek will line up in a relatively stable middle. Giroud, Pulisic and Leao need to show much more commitment, interest and finish up front to help the team. Francesco Camarda – along with seemingly the whole primavera squad – should be on the bench for further support and to fill the need subs numbers. The likes of Jan-Carlo Simic, Alex Jimenez and Davide Bartesaghi could be at the San Siro.

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