Vincenzo Montella warned Milan not to “underestimate” Sassuolo amid their injury crisis. “They are direct competitors for Europe.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT),
“Even if Sassuolo have seven injured players, we’ve got four or five,” noted the Coach in his Press conference.
“The Neroverdi are in their first Europa League campaign and that can create some fatigue, but also bring more experience. They don’t need a week to prepare for a game.
“This will be an extremely difficult and delicate match for us, especially as we are up against a direct competitor. My squad should not think they have an advantage because Sassuolo played on Thursday evening.
“Sassuolo are a very organised side who do very well on the wings. They know the attacking moves to perfection, because they have a consistency that makes them almost automatic.”
These teams were direct rivals for a Europa League spot last season and Sassuolo got through, so is that the case again?
“At this moment, I certainly say yes. Milan miss Europe and that should make us even more motivated. We need more sporting hunger.”
Montella is also facing his former Roma teammate Eusebio Di Francesco.
“How do we compare? I’m more handsome,” joked the Milan boss. “I am happy for his success and I think we have certain similarities as Coaches.
“I think all tacticians must have foundations to build on and belief that grows organically. The next match is always decisive for me. I don’t know how far along in the project we are, but the team is growing in terms of cohesion, enthusiasm, harmony and joy.
“Looking back over the last outing with Fiorentina, they had one and a half shots on goal, while we wasted our opportunities. I am seeing in training that the level is growing there too.
“Am I building the future of Milan? I have a two-year contract and that is enough. I focus on the present, because I know how unstable this profession can be.
“It is a fact that in the last three games we have entered the field timorous and static. We analysed the situation and it’s true the team has always picked up to finish better than the opposition.”
Montella has struggled to get some of the new signings into his squad and explained the reasons.
“Lionel Vangioni arrived already injured and hasn’t had pre-season training. He is improving a great deal, but there’s a lot of competition in his role. The same goes for Gianluca Lapadula, as he didn’t train consistently for six months.
“Jose Sosa arrived and played, now a little less. Gustavo Gomez has featured and we know how important it is for a defender to adapt to a new League.”
The Coach confirmed he has tested out Luiz Adriano in a wider role in training, while Jack Bonaventura “is growing into his new position. He struggled at first because he needed rest after international duty and we were in an emergency situation, but his physical fitness is improving and he’s regaining his mental sharpness too.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT),
“Even if Sassuolo have seven injured players, we’ve got four or five,” noted the Coach in his Press conference.
“The Neroverdi are in their first Europa League campaign and that can create some fatigue, but also bring more experience. They don’t need a week to prepare for a game.
“This will be an extremely difficult and delicate match for us, especially as we are up against a direct competitor. My squad should not think they have an advantage because Sassuolo played on Thursday evening.
“Sassuolo are a very organised side who do very well on the wings. They know the attacking moves to perfection, because they have a consistency that makes them almost automatic.”
These teams were direct rivals for a Europa League spot last season and Sassuolo got through, so is that the case again?
“At this moment, I certainly say yes. Milan miss Europe and that should make us even more motivated. We need more sporting hunger.”
Montella is also facing his former Roma teammate Eusebio Di Francesco.
“How do we compare? I’m more handsome,” joked the Milan boss. “I am happy for his success and I think we have certain similarities as Coaches.
“I think all tacticians must have foundations to build on and belief that grows organically. The next match is always decisive for me. I don’t know how far along in the project we are, but the team is growing in terms of cohesion, enthusiasm, harmony and joy.
“Looking back over the last outing with Fiorentina, they had one and a half shots on goal, while we wasted our opportunities. I am seeing in training that the level is growing there too.
“Am I building the future of Milan? I have a two-year contract and that is enough. I focus on the present, because I know how unstable this profession can be.
“It is a fact that in the last three games we have entered the field timorous and static. We analysed the situation and it’s true the team has always picked up to finish better than the opposition.”
Montella has struggled to get some of the new signings into his squad and explained the reasons.
“Lionel Vangioni arrived already injured and hasn’t had pre-season training. He is improving a great deal, but there’s a lot of competition in his role. The same goes for Gianluca Lapadula, as he didn’t train consistently for six months.
“Jose Sosa arrived and played, now a little less. Gustavo Gomez has featured and we know how important it is for a defender to adapt to a new League.”
The Coach confirmed he has tested out Luiz Adriano in a wider role in training, while Jack Bonaventura “is growing into his new position. He struggled at first because he needed rest after international duty and we were in an emergency situation, but his physical fitness is improving and he’s regaining his mental sharpness too.”
Line-ups: Milan-Sassuolo
Milan make surprising changes as they host injury-ravaged Sassuolo at San Siro in a head-to-head for Europe.
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT),
Last season these two sides did battle for a place in Europe and the Neroverdi came out on top, securing sixth place.
The Rossoneri want revenge under new Coach Vincenzo Montella and this may well be their best chance, as Sassuolo are decimated by injury problems.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s men are also tired after Thursday’s 3-1 Europa League defeat away to Genk.
Vincenzo Montella makes some surprising changes, but is without Luca Antonelli, Andrea Bertolacci, Cristian Zapata and Mati Fernandez, while Davide Calabria is also carrying an injury.
Alessio Romagnoli suffered a nasty knock in training and is not even on the bench, so Gustavo Gomez starts.
M’Baye Niang is dropped in favour of Luiz Adriano in a 4-3-3 formation, flanking Carlos Bacca and Suso.
Sassuolo are forced to do without Domenico Berardi – whose favourite targets are Milan – Stefano Sensi, Alfred Duncan, Simone Missiroli, Marcello Gazzola and not 100 per cent fit Paolo Cannavaro.
Gregoire Defrel can’t stop scoring at the moment and he’ll be the danger man with support from Matteo Politano and first time starter Adjapong.
The last three games between these sides at San Siro all had Over 2.5 goals.
Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Gomez, De Sciglio; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Suso, Bacca, Luiz Adriano
Milan bench: Gabriel, Calabria, Ely, Plizzari, Vangioni, Poli, Sosa, Locatelli, Pasalic, Honda, Lapadula, Niang
Sassuolo: Consigli; Lirola, Antei, Acerbi, Letschert; Pellegrini, Magnanelli, Mazzitelli; Politano, Defrel, Adjapong
Sassuolo bench: Pomini, Pegolo, Terranova, Peluso, Cannavaro, Dell’Orco, Biondini, Ragusa, Ricci, Iemmello, Matri
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT),
Last season these two sides did battle for a place in Europe and the Neroverdi came out on top, securing sixth place.
The Rossoneri want revenge under new Coach Vincenzo Montella and this may well be their best chance, as Sassuolo are decimated by injury problems.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s men are also tired after Thursday’s 3-1 Europa League defeat away to Genk.
Vincenzo Montella makes some surprising changes, but is without Luca Antonelli, Andrea Bertolacci, Cristian Zapata and Mati Fernandez, while Davide Calabria is also carrying an injury.
Alessio Romagnoli suffered a nasty knock in training and is not even on the bench, so Gustavo Gomez starts.
M’Baye Niang is dropped in favour of Luiz Adriano in a 4-3-3 formation, flanking Carlos Bacca and Suso.
Sassuolo are forced to do without Domenico Berardi – whose favourite targets are Milan – Stefano Sensi, Alfred Duncan, Simone Missiroli, Marcello Gazzola and not 100 per cent fit Paolo Cannavaro.
Gregoire Defrel can’t stop scoring at the moment and he’ll be the danger man with support from Matteo Politano and first time starter Adjapong.
The last three games between these sides at San Siro all had Over 2.5 goals.
Milan: Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Gomez, De Sciglio; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Suso, Bacca, Luiz Adriano
Milan bench: Gabriel, Calabria, Ely, Plizzari, Vangioni, Poli, Sosa, Locatelli, Pasalic, Honda, Lapadula, Niang
Sassuolo: Consigli; Lirola, Antei, Acerbi, Letschert; Pellegrini, Magnanelli, Mazzitelli; Politano, Defrel, Adjapong
Sassuolo bench: Pomini, Pegolo, Terranova, Peluso, Cannavaro, Dell’Orco, Biondini, Ragusa, Ricci, Iemmello, Matri
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