Serie A: at 6pm, Frosinone-Milan
LIVE.
The day before.
"It doesn't bother me at all. It bores me a little. But I think that's how it is in modern football": Stefano Pioli, on the eve of the match against Frosinone, comments on the insistent rumors regarding his future and the rumors about the possible arrival of Antonio Conte on the Milan bench.
"What matters is that I and the players want to do our best until the end. We are only focused on our present, we have the possibility of making our season positive. The rest doesn't interest me", concludes the Rossoneri coach.
"The defender didn't arrive because the opportunities that arose didn't meet our needs. We needed a capable and ready defender, not that he came from another league or that he had to learn the language. I'll move forward with the players I have."
Pioli explains the reasons behind the lack of arrival of a defensive reinforcement, in a transfer session in which the purchases were Matteo Gabbia - returning from loan - and Filippo Terracciano - on a permanent basis.
Krunic, Romero, Vasquez, Traoré and Pellegrino have been sold.
"Pellegrino? He needs to play and he would have struggled with us."
"We have to be more determined and have greater continuity throughout the match. We have to stay in the game for the entire 90 minutes otherwise we won't compete with the big teams."
On the eve of the long-awaited home match against Milan, Eusebio Di Francesco shows the main path for his Frosinone.
The coach is aware of the strength of his opponents competing for the top places but does not lose faith.
"If we look at the 2 teams there would be no story but we have to raise the bar and play for it. The motivations are the same as in the other matches because for me we must always try to win even if sometimes a draw is the right thing - observes Di Francesco - I will make choices based on the characteristics of the players available, also thinking about the opponents. Milan have great legs, especially on the left."
Di Francesco does not believe in a decline in the Rossoneri despite the draw with Bologna.
"They have had problems and defections. They are still in Europe - adds Di Francesco - I thank Pioli for the compliments, I appreciate it because he has always come out of difficulties in a great way. I don't think they are in crisis, in Udine they dominated for half an hour" In a sold out stadium and enthusiasm skyrocketing, Frosinone aims to give continuity to the victory against Cagliari and like Verona.
And therefore move the ranking.
Di Francesco sets the survival quota.
"It should be 38 to be safe - says the coach - Then in past years, they have been even lower. We have to replicate the same points as the first leg".
The emergency doesn't let go.
Nine absent, Ghedjemis also stopped.
Lirola and Ibrahimovic recover.
The latest arrival Valeri is available but he should start from the bench.
Caso and Bidaoui were not called up as they were put on the market but ultimately remained.
Probable lineups
Frosinone (4-3-3):
80 Turati;
30 Monterisi, 5 Okoli, 6 Romagnoli, 20 Lirola;
36 Mazzitelli, 45 Barrenechea, 21 Harroui;
18 Soulé, 9 Kaio Jorge, 12 Reinier (31 Cerofolini, 1 Frattali, 32 Valeri, 24 Bourabia, 14 Gelli, 16 Garritano, 12 Reinier, 27 Ibrahimovic, 17 Kvernadze, 8 Seck, 70 Cheddira).
Coach: Di Francesco Suspended: none Notified of a booking: Oyono, Romagnoli Unavailable: Kalaj, Marchizza, Oyono, Baez, Lusuardi, Bonifazi, Ghedjemis.
Milan (4-2-3-1):
16 Maignan;
2 Calabria, 24 Kjaer, 46 Gabbia, 19 Hernandez;
7 Adli, 14 Reijnders;
11 Pulisic, 8 Loftus-Cheek, 10 Leao;
9 Giroud (57 Sportiello, 38 Terracciano, 24 Florenzi, 95 Bartesaghi, 82 Simic, 74 Jimenez, 4 Bennacer, 17 Okafor, 15 Jovic).
Coach Pioli Suspended: none Booked without warning: Musah, Reijnders Unavailable: Kalulu, Tomori, Thiaw, Mirante, Chukwueze, Caldara
Referee: Pairetto di Nichelino
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