"An open match" between two teams "that look alike": Stefano Pioli outlines the match of his leaders Milan tomorrow against Roma.
An uncertain match between two teams that have a similar history and the same goals.
Both have laboriously sought the square, facing moments of difficulty and now firmly claim their own identity.
The two coaches have long been on the brink of the exemption only to be still sitting on the bench, even if Pioli perhaps more firmly than Fonseca.
Finally, both for Milan and Rome, the declared goal is the return to the Champions League and the Monday night at San Siro could make the difference in the balance, with a certainty for Milan: even in the event of a defeat, first place he will still be Rossoneri.
"We face a strong opponent who has won five of the last six away matches - analyzes Pioli - and then drew one.
They confirmed the coach and created a strong group by inserting strong young players. A team with quality and physical strength. If it's a litmus test for I think every match is for us.
We have to think about our path, keep thinking of every single match as the most important one. Tomorrow it will be important also for the classification. "
Once again Milan will have to deal with heavy absences.
Ante Rebic, who remedied a dislocated elbow on September 27, is still in the pits, Hakan Calhanoglu has not completed the lightning recovery and, according to Pioli, he will probably not be on the bench against Roma: "We were good at not doing weigh important absences from the team, from Romagnoli to Ibrahimovic, Rebic etc. This is why we thought it was important to have more players available. Rebic is better but he will not be available. For Calhanoglu we still have two training sessions but it will be difficult to recover him ... ".
In place of the Turkish attacking midfielder, Brahim Diaz, already a starter and scoring against Celtic, should be confirmed.
The 21-year-old Spaniard was not afraid to show off and Pioli appreciated.
Diaz, as well as Romagnoli, Leao and Donnarumma, terrible young people able to collect 21 consecutive positive results, guided by the experience of the eternal Ibrahimovic.
"Mine are young but mature. Inside such youth there are strong personalities", assures Pioli.
That same personality that allows Donnarumma to professionally manage a contract renewal that makes people discuss.
"As an opponent you appreciate his technical qualities, as a coach you discover a boy older than his age. His growth has been constant and continuous. I'm not worried about his future, when I see my players so peaceful I feel calm and the company is working towards a direction. "
Five years have passed since the Rossoneri goalkeeper made his Serie A debut and the goal is to celebrate the anniversary with yet another useful result.
The challenge against Roma is yet another exam for Milan to pass, to demonstrate that what has been collected so far is not the result of fate but of quality, planning and ability.
(HANDLE).