[Rossoneri7]

What a match and what a debut for Messias!

Milan dont stand a chance to make it past Liverpool, unless Liverpool are not fielding their top team as they are mathematically through on top of the group. Then the team stands a chance, but only if Liverpool field an average side.

I wholeheartedly would like to see the team out of CL and focus on Serie A. But after yesterday's showing, uou can never say. Who knows if this team can actually get through the round of 16?

Would be dreamy. But the club would definitely have to reinforce over the winter break!

[X-Offender]

Don't stand a chance? Like we didn't stand a chance to go through and now everything is open again?

People on this forum love to jump the gun. I've personally learned after Istanbul 2005 that anything, and I mean anything is possible in this game. Hope is the last thing to die out.

Assuming we defeat Liverpool, the following can happen:

1. Porto win, Porto go through.
2. Porto-Atletico tie, we go through.
3. Atletico win, then the goal difference will come into play.

Since our head-to-head encounters are tied (2-2, away goals don't count anymore), then the team with the overall best GD will go through. Right now we have the better GD (-2) against Atletico's -3.

If we win, say, by one goal margin against Liverpool, and Atletico win by a 2-goal margin, then we'd have the same goal difference. In that case, there's a hierarchy of other criteria that come into play, and the majority of them are in our favour too.

It's going to be a thrilling last week no doubt. We're somewhat favoured against Liverpool in the sense that we play at home, Liverpool have nothing to ask of this group stage anymore, and they're going to be playing with at least half the starters out.

[han2503]

Messias just needs minutes. The guy has impressive qualities and it shows. He'll give us a great hand from now onwards.

And yes, Romagnoli was massive tonight. Both him and Kjaer completely annulled their strikers.

Man, if only we didn't have all these injuries...

Yep, these injuries are the difference between us and Inter imo, had we had a fully fit squad as they have we'd be +10 on them right now.

I really don't understand why we don't do anything about out fitness/medical staff. There is clearly a problem. Especially when you consider that our only "old" players are Zlatan, Kjaer, Giroud and Messias. We have a very young squad that should not be getting this many injuries. And Giroud and Messias last season were barely ever injured, they come to Milan and it's injury after injury.

The best investment this club could make right now is overhauling the fitness staff.

Not sure about Diaz. What's all that "glue" and connecting come to? Poor finish, poor final touch. Well, I'm not a fan of Diaz, I'll admit. Hakan was a better player in every way, I'm not gonna let my mind being clouded by his childish and disgusting behavior after he left us.

Last season, I would have been inclined to agree, but this season Diaz has been hugely important for us. He's slowly working his way back to fitness from covid. Before that the numbers spoke for themselves as he was heads and shoulder above what Hakan provided. And all of Diaz's contributions come from open play. Majority of Hakan's contributions come from set-plays, which is being repeated at Inter since he only has 1 goal and 1 assist from open play

Yes, as I said, he has to improve that final touch. But he was uncontainable last night. The Atletico players kept fouling him because there was no other way to stop him. He's worked a lot on his physicality. Despite being so small, he doesn't go down easily.

I personally really like him. Like Leao, he tends to switch on and off during the game, but his desire and work rate are really contagious and to be admired.

Capanoglu I couldn't stand when he was with us, now I don't even wanna see his ugly face. And don't get fooled by a couple of good games. He did that with us too. When the team plays well (which Inter are doing), he looks good, but as soon as the team starts to suffer, he disappears completely. Prior to the derby he was collecting a shitload of 5's in ratings. Crap player.

Agreed

Giroud out for a month.

This is 2020/21 all over again. Injury after injury, always on emergency, never a fully fit squad. Just ridiculous.

Yep

At least we get back Maignan, Tomori and Leao this weekend.

I'm sure we'll get some new between today and tomorrow that someone else is out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I read a few days ago that Pioli has only had a fully fit squad at his disposal once since he's been with us, that 0-3 game against Juve last season, in every other game he's never had everyone available.

This puts real perspective on how good he's been as he has the 2nd best win percentage out o any Milan coach in the league.

What a match and what a debut for Messias!

Milan dont stand a chance to make it past Liverpool, unless Liverpool are not fielding their top team as they are mathematically through on top of the group. Then the team stands a chance, but only if Liverpool field an average side.

I wholeheartedly would like to see the team out of CL and focus on Serie A. But after yesterday's showing, uou can never say. Who knows if this team can actually get through the round of 16?

Would be dreamy. But the club would definitely have to reinforce over the winter break!

I was of the same opinion, but now that we have a shot, I want us to give our best against Liverpool.

My only worry is that we drop in the EL which would be a drain on our squad. Especially with the constant barrage of injuries. That could be a huge dent on our title challenge

Don't stand a chance? Like we didn't stand a chance to go through and now everything is open again?

People on this forum love to jump the gun. I've personally learned after Istanbul 2005 that anything, and I mean anything is possible in this game. Hope is the last thing to die out.

Assuming we defeat Liverpool, the following can happen:

1. Porto win, Porto go through.
2. Porto-Atletico tie, we go through.
3. Atletico win, then the goal difference will come into play.

Since our head-to-head encounters are tied (2-2, away goals don't count anymore), then the team with the overall best GD will go through. Right now we have the better GD (-2) against Atletico's -3.

If we win, say, by one goal margin against Liverpool, and Atletico win by a 2-goal margin, then we'd have the same goal difference. In that case, there's a hierarchy of other criteria that come into play, and the majority of them are in our favour too.

It's going to be a thrilling last week no doubt. We're somewhat favoured against Liverpool in the sense that we play at home, Liverpool have nothing to ask of this group stage anymore, and they're going to be playing with at least half the starters out.

Interesting

I thought we'd be out if it came to head-to-head. Didn't know the away goals have been scrapped. Is this the case for the KOs as well?

[X-Offender]

Yes. As from this season the away goal rule has been completely abolished from all UEFA and FIFA competitions. So it's also valid for KO's.

[X-Offender]

Kjaer will undergo surgery. He will be out for a long time.

Well, f@ck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

Define long time?

[X-Offender]

It is useless to make assumptions about recovery times, which will be established after the surgery (tomorrow). Certainly this is a major injury, which could leave the Dane out of the fields for a long time.

Link

[X-Offender]

The cruciate ligament of Kjaer?s left knee is involved in the injury and there is also damage to the collateral ligament. His season is probably over.

This from Corriere.

I think it's premature to say his season is over, but it's gonna be at least a couple/few months.

We have the obligation to operate in January now, but this sucks @ss so much. Kjaer is too important for this team.

[Fillipo Simone]

Yes, indeed. One of the 3 or 4 key ingredients. Big blow.

Why does this only happen to us?

[X-Offender]

We are cursed. I can't find any other explanation.

- Kessie gets injured before the season starts and stays out for almost a month;
- Zlatan gets injured against Lazio after having stayed out for 5 months (and missed the Euros) and has to stop for another 3-4 weeks;
- Brahim and Theo get Covid-positive just at the end of the NT break and have to miss two weeks worth of games;
- Maignan has to perform wrist surgery out of the blue and misses more than a month worth of games;
- Florenzi has to undergo knee surgery and stays out for a month;
- Bakayoko gets injured in his debut and stays out for a month;
- Rebic stays out for a month due to some ankle injury, the day before his return gets a muscular injury in training and has to sit the season till January;
- Calabria gets injured in NT duty and has to sit until January;
- Messias has a late start due to poor condition and injuries, but gets injured again in training and makes his real debut in late November;
- Now Kjaer out for a few months.

Not to mention all the little injuries here and there of other players that have made them missed games. And we're only in early December. It's literally unbelievable.

[X-Offender]

Leao out as well, probably till January.

Pointless to make any comments anymore. This is getting beyond ridiculous.

[Fillipo Simone]

I'm thinking something is wrong with our medical staff, condition trainer or training routine. Something most certainly is wrong.

[X-Offender]

Someone asked this to Pioli today. This was his response:

There are many muscle injuries: have you given yourself an explanation?
We are working hard on it because they can make a difference. Playing so much doesn't help, but it applies to everyone. We are doing everything to facilitate everyone's recovery and rest, I'm also doing extra turnover to avoid overloads. Now we have to grit our teeth until the break.

Problem is, after the break injuries will continue and nothing will change...

[han2503]

Someone asked this to Pioli today. This was his response:


Problem is, after the break injuries will continue and nothing will change...

Exactly, it's what derailed us last season and what will most likely derail us this season

At least the media are finally asking the right questions

Theo and Leao both out tomorrow. Let's all hope Liverpool play their kiddie side or we don't have a chance.

[X-Offender]

Exactly, it's what derailed us last season and what will most likely derail us this season

At least the media are finally asking the right questions

Theo and Leao both out tomorrow. Let's all hope Liverpool play their kiddie side or we don't have a chance.

No, Theo should play. He had just a mild fever this morning and trained in the gym.