AC Milan had recently regained a fully healthy defensive lineup, but Stefano Pioli may now face the challenge of coping with two additional player absences.
According to Calciomercato.com, AC Milan faces just six days before their upcoming match against Fiorentina, with a total of 14 games remaining in the season, including Europa League fixtures. The recent international break has once again highlighted the issue of a packed schedule, presenting challenges for Milan as Simon Kjaer sustained an injury during Denmark’s match against Switzerland.
While initial reports suggest Kjaer’s injury might be precautionary, it remains a concern for coach Stefano Pioli due to the defender’s history of fitness struggles. Medical assessments with the Danish national team will determine Kjaer’s availability, potentially allowing an earlier return to training at Milanello.
Alongside Kjaer’s setback, Pierre Kalulu faces an extended spell on the sidelines due to a ligament injury suffered in the recent victory over Hellas Verona, with an estimated absence of 4-6 weeks. With the match against Fiorentina approaching, Milan finds themselves short of central defenders, relying heavily on Matteo Gabbia, who has been in good physical shape since January.
Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw, returning from injury layoffs, will need to quickly regain match fitness, especially with Tomori being one yellow card away from suspension in Serie A. Pioli is likely to heavily rely on Tomori for the upcoming Serie A fixtures against Fiorentina and Lecce, considering his upcoming suspension for Europa League’s quarter-finals against Roma.
While awaiting updates on Kjaer’s recovery, Pioli may consider deploying Theo Hernandez as a central defender if needed, a strategy that showed promise in December. Additionally, there’s the option of promoting Jan-Carlo Simic from the Primavera team, providing a potential solution in emergencies, considering his limited but promising appearances in the past.