Stefano Pioli explains why he has chosen to start Yacine Adli in the Milan midfield against Borussia Dortmund and warns to expect another ‘wide open’ Champions League match.
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT.
“We want qualification with all our strength. This game feels like the turning point, we must play it with great strength and positivity,” Pioli told Mediaset Infinity.
While Rafael Leao, Noah Okafor, Simon Kjaer, Pierre Kalulu and more are out injured, the coach opted to use Adli in midfield rather than Rade Krunic.
“We want to build out from midfield in a certain way this evening, he has the characteristics most suited to that style of football.”
It ended goalless in the first meeting last month in Germany, when the Rossoneri continued their remarkable failure to score a single goal in the opening three Champions League games.
“Borussia Dortmund left spaces, but so did we, and it is likely we will see a repeat of that open match tonight,” noted Pioli.
“Their football is very attacking, so they leave quite a few spaces and we must strike at the right moment.”
It is an extraordinarily tight group, as Borussia Dortmund are the leaders on seven points, followed by Paris Saint-Germain with six, Milan five and Newcastle United four.