The joy of finding the training ground again, the regret of losing the Champions League. All in a few hours, for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, without half measures. After 8 months, the Swedish striker has returned to training at Milanello, a few hours after being excluded from the Champions League squad list. At 41 years of age and following knee surgery (after the Scudetto victory), Ibrahimovic did part of the training with the group in the morning. A small but also a big step on the road to effective return, with times that will now be monitored by the medical and technical staff: Turin and Monza are the first useful windows to see him at least on the bench. Where, however, he won’t be able to end up in the double challenge against Tottenham: for him no more international stage, waiting for time and the recovery from the long stop to say something more about his future for the coming season. A distant horizon, first of all for a Milan who has gone head to toe in preparation for Sunday evening’s derby. In the morning, he’s in the gym and then athletic exercises with hurdles and bulls, with a tactical part and a practice match.
Stefano Pioli against Inter should clear the announced change of form, for a probable 4-3-3 with Pobega or Messias from inside, in a midfield with Tonali and Krunic to complete the line. In defense of Tatarusanu, Kalulu and Kjaer designated couple (also by virtue of the forced absence of Tomori), with Theo Hernandez and Calabria on the outside lanes. The Rossoneri captain himself received a medal from the director of the technical area, Paolo Maldini during the day: for Calabria, 200 appearances for the Rossoneri, one token from Van Basten, Rijkaard, Battistini and Bonera. Up front, Pioli seems willing to deploy Saelemaekers close to Giroud, with Leao who, after the tensions over the contract renewal, should regain possession of the starting shirt. After all, in the 3-2 first leg, for him 2 goals and an assist, in a derby more similar to the one that turned the tide of the championship last year, compared to the more recent 0-3 in Riyadh. Cornerstone, on the contrary, of Simone Inzaghi and his Inter, determined to confirm himself behind leaders Napoli and to widen the gap from his cousins, now two points away. The Inter coach should entrust the starting shirt but not the captain’s armband to Milan Skriniar, after the announced separation at the end of the season. Lautaro designated captain, it remains to be seen whether with Dzeko or Lukaku by his side. Brozovic is also back on the bench.
Source: Ansa
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
