With barely enough time to maybe squeeze in a quick training before checking into the team hotel for this match after the victorious trip to Salzburg on Thursday, Milan players will be relying heavily on the medical and coaching staff to help them recover in time for the 18:00 local time kickoff on Sunday. But it's okay, because Atalanta also played in the Conference League on Thursday, even if they played at home. They will have to make the short drive from Bergamo and play in what should be a packed San Siro with Milan fans who are likely to be pretty hyped. So, Sarri, not sorry. No apologies.
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| Milan have dangerous players of all ages. |
The last time we faced Atalanta, Palladino was their manager. That meeting did not go as planned, but to be fair, we had a lot going on at the time. As part of the manager merry go round this summer, Sarri landed at Atalanta. His results thus far have been slightly underwhelming, they come into this match in tenth place in Serie A, with three wins and three losses. However, part of the reason for those results could be all the injuries Sarri is having to deal with.
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| I always wonder what Sarri is writing on his tiny notes. |
He is currently missing seven players to injury as of this writing: Sulemana, Scalvini, Kossounou, Raspadori, Bellanova, Hien, and our ex-Presidente, Franck Kessié has a low-grade calf strain, and will be unable to face his former club. On Monday, Atalanta beat Venezia 3-1 at home, but they finished on 10 men, so Sarri will also be missing Elmas to suspension. That's eight players out for this match for him.
Sarri was ranting about the "absurd" fixture congestion and lodging official complaints with UEFA and FIFA because they have so many injuries due to too many matches (and he's not wrong.) Still, they were able to defeat Cyprus's Pafos FC on Thursday 3-1 in spite of their crisis. For that match, Sarri lined up a 4-2-3-1 with Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Kristensen, Kolašinac, Bernasconi; Gaetano, our former on loan Pašalić; and Elmas, Raspadori, Zalewski; with Scamacca up front. Now we will face them as they just had their best week of their season thus far, with back to back convincing wins in both the league and in Europe.
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| Atalanta could be introduced to Milan's favorite bromance, who knows? |
Obviously, Milan should mentally be feeling in good spirits after their dominant performance vs. Salzburg on Thursday, particularly with the level of rotation Amorim utilized. With performances of players like Bartesaghi on the left and Hutchinson on the right and knowing we did not even play Moreira, the loss of Saelemaekers for many months may feel a little less worrying, but it is in defense that we were already stretched, so Gabbia's loss may hit us much harder.
Amorim finally freeing Tomori from exile was great, but we could easily see more of Filippo Terracciano, and that is terrifying. Though he will be suspended on Thursday after his red card, he will be available for this match, which is actually bloodcurdling. I suspect that Pietro Terracciano may still be out with his shoulder injury, but Amorim is not holding a press conference ahead of this match, so I have not heard definitively.
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| Yes, Comotto, we are all confused as to why Filippo keeps getting playing time and you don't. |
I also have no idea who or how he will line up on Sunday, nor can I imagine wasting time trying to guess. His lineups are like those old fashioned wind up Jack-in-the-box toys. One second, you're being delighted by music, the next second, there is a horrible clown jumpscare. Kind of like seeing Filippo Terracciano in the starting 11, for example. (How did those toys not terrify children?)
We know that La Dea has often cast a spell on us. But even the worst defeats to Atalanta have also inspired longterm success. Both teams have new managers and their own sets of problems they are dealing with. And while Sarri's current injury plague is perhaps the most immediately impactful, that has never stopped Milan from shooting themselves in the foot. However, should a packed San Siro with loud, devoted fans propel our quality players to victory, it's not like I am going to say sorry, Sarri. If we win this one, there will be no apologies.
Milan Futuro vs. Piacenza
Chievo Verona vs. Milan Futuro
Sunday, October 18 • 15:00 CEST (9am EDT)
Sunday, October 18 • 18:00 CEST (12noon EDT)
Reviewed by Elaine
on
Rating:
