Francesco Guidolin is not convinced that Milan are weak going into their Week 23 clash with Udinese” data-scaytid=”2″>Udinese on Saturday night.
Francesco Guidolin is not convinced that Milan are weak going into their Week 23 clash with Udinese on Saturday night.
This weekend sees the Rossoneri certainly without eight first-team members through injury, with a further three players’ involvement only up for last-minute evaluation. Added to this starting XI of absentees are the suspended duo Mark Van Bommel and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Even with the unenviable list of unavailable at Milan and their recent three-game winless run in League and Cup, opposition Coach on Saturday night Guidolin remains unconvinced that Massimiliano Allegri’s men will be that affected.
“Milan deservedly won the League last season and wherever they play they try to control the game immediately,” he said on Friday.
“I think they are a team that can compete with the biggest in Europe, while we express good football but can improve more and more.
“We are taking part this season as protagonists, but to remain on top and try to move forward in Europe is hard and expensive. You say that Milan are not themselves with their absences? I tell you that I expect the real Milan tomorrow.
“I care about tomorrow and I know that that if we are not focused, attentive and good, it will be very tough because I do not trust this ‘uncertain’ Milan.
“In fact, I think it is a team of pride and quality and you can say whatever you want but I will not fall for it. I expect a tough and difficult match. Everything else is just talk.”
Such talk was from Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini, who this week stated that where his team need to react to their recent poor form, that Udinese do concern him.
“In preparing for the game I will mention Ambrosini’s interview,” revealed Guidolin.
“He is a guy I had the chance to train as a boy and that was smart. What you see are the words of a leader at Milan, a man of great charisma in Allegri’s dressing room.
“Since it is also not just Ambrosini [saying this], I am expecting a competitive [Milan] team [instead].”