Stefano Pioli is concerned that ‘strategy’ will be crucial against Jose Mourinho’s Roma and wants Milan to ‘win back’ the jeering fans.
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
The Rossoneri crashed out of the Coppa Italia midweek with a 2-1 home defeat to Atalanta, but are eager to consolidate third place in Serie A and perhaps even stay in the Scudetto race.
“What I want to see is determination and focus to win an important and difficult game. We want to get the second half of the season off to the best possible start,” Pioli told DAZN.
The injury list remains extensive, with Alessandro Florenzi also ruled out, but Theo Hernandez returns to his traditional left-back role after a month playing in central defence.
“Clearly, it is a resource for the squad to have players with so much technique and pace. A lot will also depend on the opponents, as Roma have always tended to sit back and defend against us, so we need to find a way through them. The strategy is going to be crucial in this match.”
Fiorentina were held 2-2 by Udinese and Bologna lost in Cagliari, so a win here would put Milan eight points clear of fourth place.
Nonetheless, the crowd was furious after the midweek Coppa Italia quarter-final exit to Atalanta and put more pressure on the club to potentially fire Pioli.
“Clearly, going out of the Coppa Italia was a disappointment for everyone, but those jeers have to act as motivation for us to win them back tonight.”
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