Milan are playing the lunchtime fixture away to Cremonese, the team who defeated them on day one of the Serie A season. With all of the recent referee incidents, injuries, and players who have simply not been fully fit, this is not likely to be a fixture for the faint of heart. Allegri had to increase the fear by pointing out how long it has been since Milan have won vs. Cremonese. To make matters worse, Cremonese are now hovering just above the relegation zone, which is the most dangerous place for Allegri's Milan to face a team, and the place on the table where coach Davide Nicola does his best work, too. So no one can begrudge Milan fans who are going into this one feeling kind of shaky.
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| The team were booed for losing their first match... can they overcome the mentality issues to win? |
Typically, Davide Nicola comes into team during the middle of a season to help them stave off relegation, but this season, he was tasked with guiding Cremonese through the entire season. As might be expected from a small club with a smaller wagebill, they have struggled and slid down the table, despite their surprisingly strong start. Their most recent match was a brutal 3-0 defeat to Roma last week. For that match, Nicola lined up a 3-5-2 with Audero; our on loan-with-obligation Filippo Terrracciano, Folino, Luperto; Zerbin Thorsby, Maleh, Payero, Pezzella; Bonazzoli, and Sanabria. Nicola will be missing Collocolo, Baschirotto, and Moumbagna to injury. Certainly, given their position on the table, Cremonese have everything to play for and nothing to lose, the most dangerous kind of enemy.
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| No one was really thrilled to greet Filippo Terracciano last time after his little team took all 3 points. |
Allegri pronounced that Santi Gimenez could potentially return to training this week. If that goes as well as last time, Santi will be in surgery again soon (but seriously, I hope it is true and we see him soon!) Milan will also be without the Loftus-Cheek of recently re-arranged face, as well as Gabbia, who, although he did train on Saturday, is not yet match fit and still has some inflammation. Earlier in the week, it was reported that Füllkrug was ready to start again, but more recent reports claim Allegri will be starting Pulisic and Leão up front again. He will also want to be wary of the fact that four players are at risk of suspension for the Derby next week: Rabiot, Fofana, Saelemaekers, and Athekame.
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| Can Pavlović score again vs. Cremonese? |
The Serie A referee drama continued on Saturday, as Parma's Valenti was whistled for a foul for doing exactly the same thing the AIA told us was not a foul on Sunday, overturning Piccinini's original call and gifting Parma the win. Allegri spoke in his press conference about the team being "good at managing the unexpected" things, as "there are so many of them." I suppose that is as much of a pep talk as any manager could give after all the injustices that have happened to this team this season. Or even just in the past two weeks. So, considering the lunchtime fixture, and including recent injuries, Cremonese being desperate for points, and the track record Milan has against this team, don't be surprised if they are a bit shaky.
This post inspired by the music of X Ambassadors' "Unsteady"