Stefano Pioli explains his tactical choices against Atletico Madrid and wants Milan to ‘prove we are up to the standard’ of this Champions League test.
It kicks off at 20.00 GMT, you can follow the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The odds of qualifying for the Round of 16 are extremely slim, as they have just one point from four games so far, but the coach wants them to prove a point.
“This is a big opportunity for us to prove our growth and show that experiences, even ones that are not positive, have still helped us to develop and be up to the standard of a very strong opponent,” Pioli told Amazon Prime Italia.
He has chosen Olivier Giroud to lead the line rather than Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Wanda Metropolitano.
“Olivier is playing because he is in very good shape and didn’t play much in Florence. Zlatan can give us a hand during the game. He is an important player and we can’t tire him out.”
There are several absentees again in defence for the Rossoneri this evening, including Davide Calabria and Fikayo Tomori.
“We have to go beyond the absences by working as a team. Defenders must be helped by the hard work of the other players when cutting off the channels and service towards their strikers. If we do that, then the defenders will see the ball less.”
Pioli a Prime: “Oggi grande occasione. Gioca Giroud perché Ibra va gestito” https://t.co/wgEQo8460Q
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) November 24, 2021