Milan face a tricky encounter against relegation-threatened Parma on Saturday and Stefano Pioli knows they can ill-afford to drop points.
The Rossoneri have stuttered in recent weeks as we’ve won two, drawn two and lost one in our last five Serie A games, thus allowing those behind us to close the gap in the battle for Champions League qualification.
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In turn, with fifth-placed Napoli now just four points behind us, we must not slip up and make any further mistakes between now and the end of the season with just nine games remaining.
With that in mind, it’s a major boost that several players are starting to return to the squad and make themselves available for selection, with Ismael Bennacer starting last week.
As reported by MilanNews, Stefano Pioli will also get Rafael Leao, Brahim Diaz and Mario Mandzukic back this weekend, and that in itself is good news as it gives the Milan boss options if he needs to change his tactics to unlock the Parma defence.
However, it’s only a boost if those in question can produce if called upon and they have struggled to make a decisive impact this season, and so more will be needed of them and the entire starting XI if we are to come away with all three points.
Elsewhere, Alexis Saelemaekers will likely move further up the field after struggling at right-back last week as he was replaced at half-time. That could open the door for Diogo Dalot to come back into the side with Davide Calabria still sidelined by injury.
That in turn could mean Samu Castillejo drops out of the starting line-up after failing to impress last time out with a minimal influence on our attacking play down the right flank, while Rade Krunic could make way for Ante Rebic, if the Croatian forward is fit enough to start after coming off the bench last week.
Those are three important changes for Milan as it gives us more pace, movement and tempo in the starting XI, and it’s hoped that it leads to the desired impact whereby we secure a valuable win.
With Champions League football next season on the line, Pioli and the players know that they can’t get this wrong. While it may be an overused adage in football, these really are nine Finals for Milan, as a seat at Europe’s top table next year opens the door for significant progress on and off the pitch.
