Gennaro Gattuso admits Milan have a crisis against Sassuolo, as Gonzalo Higuain, Patrick Cutrone and Fabio Borini are all injured. “We’ll figure something out.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.30 UK time (18.30 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Higuain missed the 1-1 draw with Empoli on Thursday evening because of a muscular issue that has still not been fully resolved.
Gennaro Gattuso admits Milan have a crisis against Sassuolo, as Gonzalo Higuain, Patrick Cutrone and Fabio Borini are all injured. “We’ll figure something out.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.30 UK time (18.30 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Higuain missed the 1-1 draw with Empoli on Thursday evening because of a muscular issue that has still not been fully resolved.
With Cutrone still nursing a sprained ankle he sustained on international duty earlier this month, Borini had taken the centre-forward role at the Stadio Castellani.
“Borini also has a problem with his ankle,” confessed Gattuso in today’s Press conference.
“He had tests this morning. We’ll figure something out, so either way there will be 11 players stepping out on to that pitch. We'll invent something.
“Higuain tried in training yesterday and felt a twinge. Risking a player and then potentially losing him for one or two months isn’t wide. The last word goes to him, but if he’s not 100 per cent, there’s no point doing fitness tests.
“The same goes for Patrick. It’s admirable that he wants to play at all costs, as he spends three or four hours at Milanello every day having treatment. We’ve got to all work with his mentality and it’s something I really appreciate, but we also need to protect him.”
This leaves the Coach with practically no forwards, as Suso and Hakan Calhanoglu are more accustomed to wider roles. An option is to have Samu Castillejo partner Suso.
“We’ll see. Those are the ones we’ve got. If people are injured, there’s no point risking losing them for two or three months.
“Suso has to continue doing what he’s doing. He has great quality and was only stopped from scoring against Cagliari and Empoli by incredible saves from Alessio Cragno and Pietro Terracciano.
“If he plays like this, the goals will come. We need him for his quality above all, but if the goal comes too, that’s even better.”
Considering the situation, does Gattuso regret sending Andre Silva on loan to Sevilla with option to buy?
“You all know the situation with Andre Silva. When a player wants to leave, you can’t keep hold of him. We did all we could. The same goes for Carlos Bacca, as he wanted Villarreal at all costs.”
Milan go into the Mapei Stadium as underdogs, because Sassuolo are flying high in third place and only narrowly lost to Juventus.
“We are playing against a team in spectacular shape that is playing very good football. It’s going to be very difficult, as they are playing so well.”
This morning the Italian papers had more reports of Antonio Conte’s shadow hovering over Gattuso.
“I can’t think about Conte’s shadow. I am an employee of Milan and I have to do my job. If the results don’t come, then naturally the club has to take action.
“The club makes me feel at ease and I just wish I could repay them with a few more victories. The performances are there, so we just have to continue along this path and whittle down some of the errors.
“We must remain concentrated for 95 minutes without conceding a goal. All the goals we’ve conceded have been avoidable and a victory could be the ice-breaker we need. Our problem so far is that we haven’t finished games off, but it’s not a total disaster.”