Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez, Luka Modric: Who is expected to start as Milan seeks to progress in Coppa Italia?
Christian Pulisic, Luka Modric, and Santiago Gimenez are all in the conversation ahead of Milan’s first official match of the season, a Coppa Italia clash at San Siro. Serie A may still be a week away, but the Rossoneri’s competitive calendar starts now — and with it comes the first real test of Massimiliano Allegri’s second stint in charge.
The fixture against Bari arrives a week earlier than most would have wanted. That’s the cost of a disappointing campaign without European action. Last season’s shortcomings mean Milan must begin their journey from the early rounds of the domestic cup — a stark contrast to last year’s run to the final.
Allegri returned to the San Siro this summer with a clear mandate: fix the issues that derailed the previous season and restore the club’s competitiveness. Pre-season was shortened, with the Italian coach choosing to bring his players back earlier for more intensive work.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the coach has been testing both a 4-3-3 and a three-man defensive setup. “It’s possible he throws in a trump card,” the paper noted, but current signs point towards a 3-5-2 system to provide both structure and flexibility.
Who’s in and who’s out?
Fans at San Siro will be eager to see how Allegri lines up, but the coach is keeping his cards close to his chest. While no major absences are expected, some players are still working their way to full match sharpness. Corriere dello Sport reports that a back three of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Strahinja Pavlovic is currently the leading option, with new signings Koni De Winter and Zachary Athekame being eased into competitive action.
The bigger talking point is in the attack. Will Allegri field Christian Pulisic alongside Rafael Leao, or hand the starting role to Santiago Gimenez? Pulisic is fit but may be managed carefully after recent fitness concerns, while Gimenez offers a more traditional center-forward option.
In midfield, Luka Modric is set to start on the bench as he continues to build match fitness, but the Croatian maestro is expected to feature if the situation demands it. The trio of Youssouf Fofana, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Samuele Ricci is under consideration for starting roles, while Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan could provide width.