Hey everyone! The international break has been long and Lisi and I have had life step up and fill in the football-less void, but we’re back and ready to get this thing going again!
Lisi will be back with his weekly Serie A Whip Around on Friday before the games start but we decided to sit down and have a chat about where Milan are after 12 rounds in the league and 4 group stage games in Champions League. Or, as the name at the top of the post suggests: a Milan Wellness Check.
So, below is a lightly edited transcription of our chat. Enjoy!
The After International Break Restart
gillis15: So, it’s been 2 weeks and mostly quiet all things Milan…quiet except for the stack of injuries at the moment. With Milan playing Fiorentina on Saturday, they are slated to be without Leão, Pulisic, and Calabria while RLC and Kjær are iffy (excluding Bennacer, Kalulu, and Sportiello who are all due back later). Did I mention Giroud got a 2 game ban for his red card vs Lecce? Well throw that in too. So…how are you feeling about the restart?
Michael Lisi: For the most part I am feeling pretty good. We’ve got some big league games coming and also some crucial CL matches. Giroud missing a couple games is certainly an issue. I hope it’s an opportunity for Okafor and Chukwueze to get significant minutes up top and really settle in. As far as I am concerned we can send Jovic back to wherever. He has been a complete waste.
gillis15: You’re way more optimistic than I am. I’m nervous about the next month or so. Leão should be back for CL vs Dortmund and Milan will need all hands on deck. I don’t know, still quality with who’s coming in for the players mentioned, but not a lot of playing time nor playing time together and I suppose that’s what is giving me doubts
Michael Lisi: I will admit that while our starting XI has been fantastic the results from the ‘next XI’ have not been as good. I’m hoping with larger opportunities they will shine. They need to. Otherwise any time we rest folks it will be a shit show. Guys like Okafor, Chuk, Adli especially need to stake their claim to playing time. It would also help if the backline was more consistent. Conceding 14 in 12 matches isn’t great. We’ve either been even or ahead in every league match except one this season. Somehow 2 of those we lost and and 2 games we were leading 2-0 became draws. That’s not good
gillis15: Pioli really is going to have to get the lineup/player combinations right with so many preferred starters out. Play Adli? Cool, make sure whoever is in the DM role stays back and destroys because we don’t need Adli making any last ditch efforts to defend like we’ve seen
Michael Lisi: Adli is a tough one. You’d almost have to have him out there with Krunic and Pobega just to get some size and defending. But is that too defensive and we find it hard to score? It’s a tough balance. While I can imagine him playing long counter attacking through balls to guys like Chuk and Okafor I’m not quite sure the whole thing works. It doesn’t mean we won’t see it though.
Ultimately I really think Adli needs a year on loan. Him staying here most likely means he’s been offered and no one is interested in a deep lying playmaker anymore.
gillis15: He’s a uniquely talented guy but who definitely needs protection and a whole game plan around him being on the pitch…both in attack and defense
Upcoming Slate of Games and a Packed Schedule
gillis15: Ok, next question: there have been lots of stops and starts so far since the start of the season, yes the international breaks, and I’m unsure how much they’ve helped or hurt Milan. Regardless, things are not going to be that way over the next 3 months as the games are coming in hot and heavy. Between now and the next international break – which is not until March 18, 2024 – Milan has 20 games in 113 days and that doesn’t count any additional Champions League or Coppa Italia games. That’s about a game every 5 days. Does this fact change or put a damper on your optimism?
Michael Lisi: The more games the merrier. Selfishly I love a weekend game and a midweek game every week. Unless it’s the Coppa. I hate it. Please lose the first game. The stupid 2-legged semis of that tournament are the stupidest things in the world and are always terribly timed. Fuck it. Play the primavera for all I care. Otherwise give me a s many league games and CL games as possible. Which by the way… enter segue music here… WE ARE ADVANCING
gillis15: BUT THE MUSCLE INJURIES
Michael Lisi: I don’t care if you and I are playing CB I’m gonna tune in. I’m gonna tune in and watch every match we get. International breaks are really just the worst
gillis15: Oh, I’m going to be watching! That’s not the issue. I’m just worried about what we’re going to be watching. The packed schedule does concern me particular because two of the most impactful new pieces so far have been Pulisic and RLC, two guys who miss their share of games. This means any missed time can result in a lot of games. If playing one game a week, missing a month can mean 4 missed games. Playing every 5 days means you can miss 6 games. With how tight things are, this can really impact how the season goes
The Formational Change to the 4-2-3-1 and Prospects of Making it Out of the Group in Champions League
gillis15: This leads to my next question: does switching to the 4-2-3-1 help or hurt the current injury crisis and packed schedule?
Michael Lisi: That’s a tough one. I think you would normally do something like that if you weren’t scoring, but we are scoring just fine. I think what it really does is clearly define some roles. The previous system was a little more open and free flowing. Guys were all over the place. The game away to PSG was the perfect example of that. Players were all over the park out of position. This clearly defines who sits and who attacks more. I think it’s also telling Theo to chill a bit and stay home. He’s not having the greatest season and historically when he plays good defense he also seems to do well going forward. When he just fancies himself an attacker that’s a problem. Also I think it helps because we have 2 good CAMs in Reijnders and RLC and a bevy of DMs that will be bolstered when Bennacer returns.
As far as fixture congestion goes and injuries, that’s part of the game when you are in Europe. Also we are never gonna be able to buy the shiniest newest toys. We shop at the fancy end of the used car lot but that means they still might havea history of some dings.
Michael Lisi: BY THE WAY WE ARE ADVANCING. BET YOUR LIFE ON US WINNING AT HOME AGAINST DORTMUND.
I fully expect a rested and fit Giroud and Leão to be ready and go beat the daylights out of them.
gillis15: I’m on the record for wanting Pioli to stick to the 4-2-3-1 so I’m really glad he switched back. I disagree about the part with Theo, as he has 2 assists in the 2 games since Milan switched, but I agree everyone’s job has been simplified. The midfield seems to be the biggest beneficiary. They look night and day better, which I’ve been critical about in previous posts. Reijnders even fell into a goal like Saelemaekers used to!
Michael Lisi: How dare you! I miss Salad. We are getting to the busy time of the year when he was most useful
gillis15: I kid, I kid about Saladona. Love the little goober. As to the advancing, I think they definitely can but they need to drop this Jekyll and Hyde nonsense. Leão is supposed to be good by the Dortmund match next week and yes, Giroud should be rested and ready to go. The win vs PSG was massive. Opens up a few possible lanes to advance and I think it’s between Milan, PSG, and Dortmund mostly but with everyone so close clearly Newcastle can find their way through as well. That being said, I think Milan get through but whether it’s by the skin of their teeth or with flying colors…that Dortmund game next week will go a long way towards determining that
The Scudetto Race
gillis15: Ok, last question and it comes with a thought. First the thought then the question: It sure is looking like it’s going to be between Inter and Juventus for the Scudetto, with Inter flying high and Juve only having to worry about the league because of…reasons. But, but! Milan aren’t out of it. They sit 8 points back of Inter in first and 6 points back of Juve in second but both Inter and Juve have more difficult schedules at least on paper. With 6 league matches between now and the new year, do you think Milan is closer or further away in the Scudetto race by the time the calendar flips over?
Michael Lisi: We have a relatively light stretch here in the next few weeks especially right before the end of the year. Those last 3 are Monza, Salernitana and Sassuolo. Those have to all be wins. I think we will stay with hailing distance of those top 2 all year but I think those are the favorites. Inter are in the best form. Juve will remiain because they are not in Europe and of course have the best coach in the league in Allegri. He is a master of rotation and motivation. It will remain Inter and Juve down the stretch with Juve ultimately pulling away late. My final top 4 would be Juve, Inter, Milan and Bologna
gillis15: So…will Milan be closer than 8 points to Inter or further away by January 1st?
Michael Lisi: Hmmm. If I were a betting man I’d say we advance in CL and finish more than 8 points off the pace in the league but still top 4
gillis15: Yeah…I’m not convinced they will keep up either. But wait, Bologna?! Top 4?!
Michael Lisi: I had to throw some kind of curveball in there. I think the top 3 are set in stone. Beyond that it could be any of a bunch of teams. My best bets are either Lazio or Bologna
gillis15: Yeah, I can see Lazio jumping into the top 4 race. They’ve definitely righted the ship, at least to the extent that they’ll be in contention for a top 4 spot. Bologna though…tough team. A balanced team. I’m not the betting type but probably worth a flyer! As to Milan, I actually think they make up a little bit a ground in the league but I don’t know that it’ll be a lot. Either way, I’m not optimistic they contend for the Scudetto UNLESS they crap out of Europe. Then that door opens back up. Too much talent with only one competition to worry about
Wrap Up
Alright, that about wraps it up. Lots of pieces up in the air and Lisi and I tried to capture some of it. But we want to hear from you! Drop us a comment below and let us know what you’re thinking about as the games restart. Is it the injury crisis, player form or selection, schedule, Pioli, something else?! You’re the ones that make this place the best Milan site around and the diverse perspectives and insights are a big reason why.
Lisi’s Serie A Whip Around on Friday, big game vs Fiorentina on Saturday, Dortmund in Champions League on Tuesday. Going to be a busy and fun upcoming week. Cheers to those in the states celebrating Thanksgiving and a few days off!
Forza Milan
gillis