Sky journalist believes Pioli could change formation vs. Lecce with Loftus-Cheek absent

Training at Milanello only resumed yesterday after the players were given a small Easter break, but some clues have already begun to emerge regarding how AC Milan will line up against Lecce at the weekend.

Milan emerged from their trip to face Fiorentina with three points on Saturday, making it six wins in a row and four in the league, and now attentions turn to welcoming Lecce this coming weekend.

However, Pioli will also have one eye on the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Roma at San Siro the following Thursday, with a game away against Sassuolo following that which is sandwiched between the two legs.

Theo Hernandez returns from suspension for the game versus Lecce having served his suspension, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and thus must miss out.

During a segment on Sky this morning, Peppe Di Stefano (via MilanNews) spoke from outside Milanello about the possible selection choices that Pioli will make on Saturday afternoon.

“There will be some changes against Lecce. Evidently Gabbia could return from the start. Bennacer could play in the attacking midfield role instead of Loftus-Cheek, but also pay attention to a different hypothesis,” he said.

“Instead of a 4-2-3-1 we could see a 4-3-3, with a slightly lower centre of gravity, for example, Adli with Musah on one side and Bennacer on the other. This could also be a way to allow Reijnders to catch his breath, he who had commitments with the Dutch national team, as well as the match against Fiorentina.

“In short, Milan now have the solutions and clearly wants to exploit them all to get to the match against Roma, both the first leg and the second leg, in the best possible way.

“Theo Hernandez will obviously return on the left, and there is a starting spot for him. I believe there will also be other rotations, and who knows if there is room in attack for Jovic and perhaps preserving the almost 38-year-old Giroud for the match against Roma.”