GdS: Attacking headache and third midfielder – the key themes from Allegri’s presser

AC Milan and Napoli will take to the field on Sunday evening, and Massimiliano Allegri was the first to share his thoughts on the game.

While waiting for his counterpart Antonio Conte to speak, Allegri touched on some interesting topics regarding the lineup in his pre-match press conference, making it very clear that he now faces a headache in the attack.

La Gazzetta dello Sport picked out some of the key themes from Max’s presser. These included Rafael Leao’s playing time, the new attacking setup with the Portuguese’s return, and the midfield partner for Rabiot and Modric.

On Leao: “Leao will be available. I don’t know how much autonomy he has, he’s been out for 45 days and has only done separate training during this period.”

On the changes to the attack: “Will the attack change with Leao’s return? We’ll see as we go along. Leao needs to find his ideal form. Nkunku is growing like Pulisic, Gimenez has unlocked his potential, and we hope that continues.

“Then there are the substitutions. You achieve your objectives if those on the bench determine when they come on, for better or worse. For better, you achieve your objectives, for worse, you don’t.

“Choosing the lineup tomorrow will be very difficult for me. It’s important that those on the bench are available mentally to then determine when they come on.”

Molly Darlington + Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

On Pulisic and Nkunku: “Everyone’s fine, I’m having a hard time making decisions. The important thing is that everyone gets on the pitch and whoever’s on the bench is ready for the decisive moment.

“Everyone wants to play, but I can’t play more than 11. In the end, we all achieve our goals: the ones who ultimately determine the seasons are almost always the ones who come on.”

On the third midfielder: “The important thing the club has done is that the arrival of Rabiot, an international player, has increased the competitiveness within the group. They are six very good players.

“Apart from Modric , who unfortunately is something you don’t see anymore in football and it’s a good thing we have him. The others are all very reliable and that’s a fundamental thing.”

According to the latest reports, Allegri is expected to choose Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez from minute one tomorrow. The player who will join Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modric is tipped to be Youssouf Fofana.