SS Lazio - AC Milan 24/01/2023 20:45 CET

joyrider

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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Stefano Pioli could use two different systems in the next few games, hoping to end Milan‘s bad run of form.

The Rossoneri return to training tomorrow after a 3-0 loss in a Supercoppa clash against Inter on Wednesday.

Milan’s start of the year has been terrible, regardless of their derby defeat. They have won just one game, drawing against Roma and Lecce and facing Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of Torino.

The defending Serie A champions look more vulnerable than last year, so Pioli is reportedly considering changing system for the next matches.

According to Gazzetta, Pioli could switch to a 4-3-3 system against Lazio on Tuesday. On paper, this new formation would allow the Rossoneri to be more covered in central midfield.

Rade Krunic will return to training tomorrow, so he will be available against Lazio next week and could start in the middle of the park along with SandroTonali and Ismael Bennacer, who struggled against Inter.

Another option for Pioli is a 4-4-2 formation which would offer more support to Olivier Giroud. Charles De Ketelaere, Brahim Diaz, Ante Rebic, Divock Origi and even Rafael Leao are among the potential attacking partners of the France striker, who has scored nine goals in 24 matches this season but hasn’t yet found the net in 2023.

AC Milan are aiming to bounce back from their heavy 3-0 defeat in the Supercoppa Italiana by beating Lazio next week. In addition, the Rossoneri want to have a certain midfielder back for the clash, a report claims.
The injury situation is looking better for Stefano Pioli’s side but the absence of Mike Maignan is still painfully clear. In addition to the Frenchman, Rade Krunic is also injured but his return is getting closer.

According to MilanNews, Milan are hoping to have the Bosnian available for the game against Lazio. It will take place on Tuesday next week and as such, the team has been given two days off (training will resume on Saturday).

The injured players, including Krunic, will continue to work at Milanello during the days off and it looks like there will be at least one return. He’s unlikely to start, but we all know that Pioli likes the versatility of Krunic off the bench.


Let’s end this dark period!!
 
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Jivara

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I believe in a big performance from our champions. The Olympico is a great setting to get back on track. Our potential is scary and in fact we are the strongest team in Italy. We need a big moment and a lot of personality from our players during the match and I have faith in the team to pull off a big performance.
 

Jivara

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Best possible formation 4-3-3

Leao, Giroud, Brahim
Tonali, Bennacer, Krunic/Pobega/Alexis
Theo, Tomori, Kjaer, Kalulu/Calabria
Tatarusanu

Also a good option is 4-4-2
Giroud, Brahim
Leao, Tonali, Bennacer, Alexis
Theo, Tomori, Kjaer, Kalulu/Calabria
Tatarusanu
 

dvl19i

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I think that a 4-3-3 option is the one that uses the best "ballers" we have in every position, when we see the absents.
In my opinion, things that caused misery lately, without screaming "Injuries!" were:

1 - Having Tata as GK.
2 - Not having a real second line defense.
3 - Putting in field players with low passing technique/accuracy (since we play a direct style we need to be surgical)

The last one is obvious to anyone comparing today to last season.

I also have a hypothesis about the absence of fans for quite a good part of the scudetto season, something that put more pressure on players this season (whom I doubt mental strength.)
 

Godfather

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Best possible formation 4-3-3

Leao, Giroud, Brahim
Tonali, Bennacer, Krunic/Pobega/Alexis
Theo, Tomori, Kjaer, Kalulu/Calabria
Tatarusanu

Also a good option is 4-4-2
Giroud, Brahim
Leao, Tonali, Bennacer, Alexis
Theo, Tomori, Kjaer, Kalulu/Calabria
Tatarusanu
Any formation where we don't field our supposed RWs will help.

4-2-3-1 with Vranckx or Krunic as the third midfielder and one of CDK or Diaz on the right flank could help.
 

brk

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Also a good option is 4-4-2
Giroud, Brahim
Leao, Tonali, Bennacer, Alexis
Theo, Tomori, Kjaer, Kalulu/Calabria
Tatarusanu
This doesn't solve the problem and is basically the same as our typical 4231, with Brahim leaning right more. We need a midfielder in place of one of the 4 attackers (Leao, Giroud, Brahim, Messias).

Ideally, i'd even go one further and play CDK up front as a false nine and keep Giroud on the bench as a plan B for later in the game. CDK at least can run in behind, and do something outside of the box. Front three of Leao, CDK and Brahim for me, with Krunic behind them breaking into the box for headers.
 

brk

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I also have a hypothesis about the absence of fans for quite a good part of the scudetto season, something that put more pressure on players this season (whom I doubt mental strength.)
Bullshit. We played better when fans where there. This theory was destroyed last season. There is zero evidence to support this, and in fact there's more evidence that we play better with fans, not worse.
 

Raghav

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Pioli needs to sit down alone with leao and talk in length to him that this is not his personal platform which he is using to get better and then leave us for free while getting rich.

He is talented but needs to start playing for the team again otherwise we are truly fucked this season. Coz obv he is our main weapon and without him top 4 chances also look bleak.

Drop Giroud this game and start CDK

Leao CDK Brahim saele imo. Mid and defence pick themselves.
 

dvl19i

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Bullshit. We played better when fans where there. This theory was destroyed last season. There is zero evidence to support this, and in fact there's more evidence that we play better with fans, not worse.
Thats why I called it a hypothesis:)
 

brk

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yuck, looks like it's going to be Pobega in midfield trio, with Leao Giroud and Messias up front.
 

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just gonna get behind Pioli for the rest of the season and hope we can find ourselves back in the title fight, match by match, inch by inch. This match can reinvigorate our campaign. I’m confident we’ll see a reaction.

Nice to see him going back to the drawing board to diagnose the issues in the squad instead of trying to coast through the remainder of the season. We are better than what we have shown this month. Let’s finish January with a bang.
 

kevin_dk

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Giroud is a fucking burden when he is out of breath, like he is RIGHT NOW.

Drop him and start CDK, not that CDK is a better option, he is just 15 years younger than Giroud. Giroud can enter at a later stage of the game when the opponent has been worn off.
 

fray

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Not Saturday, Sunday or Monday, but Tuesday! We should be thankful to Serie A who have given us some time off to get our shit together.
 

SecondStar

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This is pretty much a six pointer. If we win we maintain the 9 point gap behind napoli, further consolidate a top 4 position and deny Lazio moving into the top 4. If they beat us, they move into 4th and will be only a point behind us. Bring the same intensity as second half of last season.
 
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