Sassuolo-Milan, 4 cards to stay ahead

Is it more exhausting to flee or to chase? Dilemma long debated in football, Milan knows something, which in the golden years has had long undefeated moments. With Pioli he returned to the levels of the nineties, in a statistical sense, but the latest setbacks have brought Inter very close again. Has the first escape attempt finished? There are some clues, Milan are heavily penalized for injuries. But there is also reason to hope that the championship dream that both Maldini and Ibrahimovic have talked about is not yet destined to disappear. Here are the cards that leaders can play to stay ahead.

Milan have already shown that they can do without their totem, although in recent games it has become increasingly difficult. But he knew how to do it and Pioli ensures that there will be no psychological repercussions despite the latest unexpected event. “The team is solid, we have solutions and we are prepared.” Also, it might be about holding out for just a couple of games. Pioli, when asked about the need for a substitute for Ibra, replied: “It will not be the injury that will make us change our strategies, but if something can be done in the market, I think the owners will do it. It depends on the opportunities that arise ”. For now, the first target remains a central defender (Kabak), but it seems that Milan are ready to strengthen in other sectors also in January.

The coach who seemed to arrive on time has become the master of the field, he has the maximum confidence of the players who has managed to motivate and improve from a tactical point of view. The project convinces and there is harmony in the group: to think that it was in Reggio Emilia, against Sassuolo, in July, that Pioli was confirmed a bit surprisingly. Its rise from the summer has been rapid: it is now a staple.

Here comes Hernández again, the Spaniard who was not in Marassi and they missed him a lot. Among other things, Theo had recently scored again: his energy and talent will be essential to animate the left wing, which gave Milan so much, even in the last matches of the calendar year. Pioli made him rest against Genoa so as not to cause worse discomfort: the Frenchman is increasingly a key man.

It is a team that has accumulated great numbers, such as the 2 goals (at least) scored per game: there are 14 in a row, first in Serie A. But despite the stop in Genoa, the unbeaten streak away from home leaves its mark . Pioli has not lost at Inter since February 9, but you have to go back to December 22, 2019 to find a real defeat outside the city (in Bergamo). That year ended really badly, in this Milan he reached an enviable balance. Therefore, Pioli does not shake, even if the injuries are severe. And in Reggio Emilia, a field that brought him luck months ago, he will look for oxygen and points to drive the neighbors back.