Alessandro Florenzi has admitted that AC Milan have had a bad last couple of weeks, but he stressed the importance of a ‘strong reaction’ this afternoon.
It could be argued that this could not be a worse time for Milan to play Juventus. Not only do they have a number of key absences, but their last four games have included a Europa League elimination by Roma, a draw with relegation-battling Sassuolo and a sixth straight derby defeat.
There is once again a defensive emergency for Pioli to try and navigate, given that Simon Kjaer and Pierre Kalulu are injured while Theo Hernandez, Davide Calabria and Fikayo Tomori will all serve suspensions.
As a result of the absences, Pioli has been forced to name a makeshift back four with Alessandro Florenzi on the left side and Yunus Musah as the right-back.
Florenzi spoke to Milan TV not long before kick-off at the Allianz Stadium, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.
Has it been a difficult period?
“A not easy week, or rather two. But when you fall it’s the moment you have to give a strong reaction. We will have to put into play everything we have stored in recent days and try to react to the current trend.”
The match could be decisive for who gets second place…
“I expect a fierce Juve, it won’t be an easy match. They are well organised and want the same result as us.”
More must-reads: