After a "particular" stop in which many players "went to the national team", Milan began a very delicate tour de force in which - as Stefano Pioli recalled at the press conference - they will play "12 games in 44 days, but without changing their mentality. I don't like it when I hear that we have to manage resources. We must always go out on the pitch and give everything. "
It starts with Empoli, the first test prelude to the thrilling triptych with Chelsea and Juventus.
There will be no Maignan and Theo Hernandez but recovers Rebic.
"In the last two days I liked the team - says the Rossoneri coach - he's fine. Rebic will be called up. Origi is better, but he won't be called yet. The others are all available, apart from the injured players that everyone knows."
Yes, because the real difficulties of this challenge are in replacing two pillars like Theo and Maignan and perhaps even Calabria not one hundred percent.
In goal there will be Tatarusanu, while on the wing confidence in Ballo-Touré.
Second lines almost never called into question and now thrown into the fray in very delicate games.
Probable formations of Empoli-Milan.
Empoli (4-3-1-2): 13 Vicario, 30 Stojanovic, 6 De Winter, 33 Luperto, 65 Parisi, 32 Haas, 18 Marin, 25 Bandinelli, 14 Pjaca, 7 Lammers, 9 Satriano.
(1 Perisan, 22 Ujkani, 3 Cacace, 24 Ebuhei, 5 Grassi, 21 Fazzini, 20 Degl'Innocenti, 36 Guarino, 8 Henderson, 17 Ekong, 10 Bajrami, 4 Walukiewicz, 28 Cambiaghi, 35 Baldanzi, 23 Destro).
Coach: Zanetti.
Disqualified: none.
Be wary: none.
Unavailable: Ismajli, Akpa Akpro, Tonelli.
Milan (4-2-3-1): 1 Tatarusanu;
2 Calabria, 20 Kalulu, 23 Tomori, 5 Ballo-Touré;
32 Pobega, 8 Tonali;
56 Saelemaekers, 90 De Ketelaere, 17 Leao;
9 Giorud.
(83 Mirante, 21 Dest, 24 Kjaer, 28 Thiaw, 46 Gabbia, 40 Vranckx, 4 Bennacer, 41 Bakayoko, 30 Messias, 10 Diaz, 7 Adli, 33 Krunic, 22 Lazetic, 12 Rebic) All.Pioli.
Disqualified: none Distrustful: none.
Unavailable: Ibrahimovic, Florenzi, Origi, Hernandez, Maignan.
Referee: Aureliano di Bologna Snai odds: 5.50;
4.00;
1.60
