For three seasons, AC Milan has been back in the spotlight. unfortunate runners-up to Inter two years ago and crowned Italian champion last season, the Lombard club, current leader of Serie A, relies on a dense and solid squad, punctuated by the very good performances of its players French like Mike Maignan, Théo Hernandez, or even Olivier Giroud. Before Sunday evening’s clash at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan against Juventus Turin, here is the barometer of the state of form of the French players of the Rossoneri club since the start of the season.
The bad news for the Milanese on the sidelines of the match against the Turin rival is the absence of their starting goalkeeper, the goalkeeper of the French team Mike Maignan. Following the suspension of the latter and the injury of his understudy Marco Sportiello, the Lombard club is forced to start its third goalkeeper against the Bianconeri, Antonio Mirante (40 years old).
However, Maignan has displayed a very good level of play since the start of the season, performances in line with the previous year. the Blues goalkeeper has played all of the Milan club’s matches this season and has already managed to keep a clean sheet 6 times (in 12 matches). The player trained at PSG was also in good shape during the last meeting of the French team. The suspension of the former Parisian, great architect of the Italian championship title last season (crowned best goalkeeper in Serie A), will obviously be felt in the Milanese ranks as the former Lille goalkeeper is a pillar of the team Lombard.
Like his epic performance in the Milan cage during the Rossoneri victory on the Genoa pitch on October 7 (0-1), Olivier Giroud, at 37, has had a very decent start to the season with the Lombard club. . The top scorer in the history of the Blues has found the net four times in nine matches this season. The top scorer in the history of the French team does not play all of AC Milan’s matches but is very often decisive when he takes to the Italian lawns.
The former Arsenal striker had a slightly more complicated final meeting with the Blues. Giroud did not find the net in France’s two matches against the Netherlands and Scotland. But even when the Avignon player doesn’t score, his shadow work is still just as useful for his team. Given his experience, there is a good chance that the former Chelsea striker will be in the game against Juventus on Sunday.
The French executive from AC Milan who has been in the best shape since the start of the season is Théo Hernandez. The left-back is the player most used by his coach Stéfano Pioli. The defender of the France team has started in all AC Milan matches since the start of the season. the youngest of the Hernandez brothers has scored a goal but has not yet provided an assist. This does not prevent the Marseillais from still being very active and offensive on his left side. His last two matches with France have shown it once again. The N.19 of the Rossoneri will have to be unleashed on his left side on Sunday to undermine the defense of the Old Lady.
Behind the three internationals of the France team, other young French players are trying to prove themselves. 23-year-old midfielder Yacine Adli has made four appearances for Milan this season, starting three times. The former Bordeaux player was notably there during the Lombards’ last match in Serie A against Genoa and is playing more and more with the Italian team. The midfielder trained at PSG has not yet started Champions League matches but is showing good progress. It would not be surprising to see the 23-year-old play a few minutes against the Turinese.
For his part, the promising central defender Pierre Kalulu is still convalescing following an injury to the rectus femoris muscle of the left thigh. Starting 35 times last season, during the Italian championship title, in 46 matches played, the 23-year-old player was stopped dead in his dazzling progress and has only played two matches this season with the Milan club. The 23-year-old must regain all of his physical abilities to once again become the “luxury joker” of the Lombard defense that he was.
The Franco-Algerian Ismaël Bennacer has not yet returned to competition. The talented midfielder is still away from the pitch since his right knee operation five months ago. Bennacer was a strong element for Milan last season. Fennec played 40 matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists. We must hope that the 25-year-old recovers perfectly from his serious injury to regain his starting place with Stéfano Pioli.
The Rossoneri will have to put in a great match on Sunday to win against Juventus and consolidate their place as leader of Serie A, before a perilous trip to the Parc des Princes to face PSG in the Champions League on October 25.