AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has confirmed a fitness boost as Brahim Diaz is available for our encounter with Empoli on Friday night.
The 23-year-old played a pivotal role in our big win over Napoli last weekend, as he scored and provided an assist in the 4-0 victory while having an important influence throughout.
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However, there was concern after he was replaced in 56th minute with a knock, and so doubts arose this week over his ability to build on that display and help us to start putting a good run of form together to end the season.
Fortunately, Pioli has confirmed that although Diaz was limited to individual work this week, he is available for selection against Empoli, and so it remains to be seen if he’s fit enough to start, or is perhaps limited to being an option off the bench.
“Brahim Diaz had two personalised training sessions but he’s doing well and is available for tomorrow,” Pioli told the media, as per Antonio Vitiello. “He did very well on the right side [vs Napoli], he can be an extra weapon. He’s a very important player for us.”
That win over Napoli lifted Milan up to third place in the Serie A table, but we remain just a point above fifth-placed Roma in the ongoing battle for Champions League qualification.
In turn, we can ill-afford to drop any more points between now and the end of the season, and coupled with our Champions League quarter-final tie against Napoli this month, it’s going to be a decisive period in the campaign that determines what we can salvage and how successful it can turn out to be.
With a busy schedule ahead, it’s imperative that Pioli has as close to a fully-fit squad as possible at his disposal, and so it’s good news that Diaz is available, and he’ll hopefully be in confident mood after his last performance as we look for the same level of quality from our attacking players moving forward.
