About Ismael Bennacer; "Isma is a very sensitive boy, he was already crying two days ago, all the expressions of affection I received from my boys but also from the fans meant a lot to me, thanks to everyone." -- Stefano Pioli.
Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in. “For the first time in Australia, two of Italy's most historic football teams will come together to take the pitch for an exclusive match at Optus Stadium on Friday 31 May. Don't miss the opportunity to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event and experience the atmosphere of Italian football at its best.” AC Milan v Roma in Perth on Friday. I saw this a while back and put it out of my mind, but now the dreaded day is upon us. It’s not clear to me which players, including our two, will be participating. Pioli will not. “According to today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below), Pioli will not be the head coach during the friendly against Roma next week. Instead, Daniele Bonera will be in charge of the team as the new first-team manager should be appointed at the start of June. The game will take place in Perth, Australia, and kick-off is set for 13:00 CEST. Bonera is also expected to be in charge of the U23 team, should Milan register one for next season, and the friendly will thus be a good warm-up for him.”
There is no way Internationals will be there. Can't possibly be. Buyer Beware for those fans that got tickets.
Pulisic excused, but not Musah ... Goalkeepers: Nava, Sportiello, Torriani. Defenders: Bartesaghi, Calabria, Florenzi, Gabbia, Hernández, Kalulu, Jiménez, Simić, Terracciano, Thiaw, Tomori. Midfielders: Adli, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Pobega, Reijnders, Zeroli. Forwards: Giroud, Jović, Okafor.
Musah played the second half, one of Milan’s six HT subs (including the GK), who helped turn a 2-1 HT deficit into a 5-2 defeat. Although both teams eventually made nine substitutions, Roma only subbed twice at halftime, by implication taking the match a bit more seriously. Still, I expect to read a withering critique of the Milan players’ performances later from SempreMilan.
Both Pulisic and Musah are on the bench, Milan v Man City at Yankee Stadium. {Glad to see Ederson back on the field.}
I believe that these were the dimensions of all the Copa America fields... one of the most puzzling decisions CONMEBOL made
Both Pulisic and Musah entered at 81’ and helped preserve a 3-2 lead. Next up: v Real Madrid at Soldier Field on Wednesday
Both Pulisic and Musah are on the bench, Milan v Real Madrid at Soldier Field. {Glad to see Courtois back on the field.}
Pulisic and Musah have entered this game of football in about the 66th minute. Jeremy de Leon on the Madrid bench.
Both start against Barcelona. I'm in the wrong time zone (GMT +3) to watch this one so hopefully someone will do a little pbp that I can read later.
Not going to to much PBP, but this is the CP #10 experiment with Musah double pivot with Loftus-Cheek. Musah shaded to the right. 4-2-3-1.
Early - Barca gets a couple of opportunities transitioning quickly from D to attack. Milan ... has not.
GOAL MILAN. You're welcome for the reverse jinx. Musah carries 80 yards up the right wing, backpasses to Chukwueze. Chukwueze splits defenders to feed Pulisic in the box. Barca gives Pulisic a bizarre amount of time, so CP has all the time in the world to find Jovic at the back post, where he finishes, shrugging off a challenge. ASSIST CP.
GOAL PULISIC FOR 2-0! 16th minute. Pulisic makes an easy pass to a too-open Leao up the wing and makes a run behind. Leao makes a perfectly weighted pass toward the end line, and Pulisic blasts one far post from that tight angle.