Dudelange are already mathematically eliminated from the
Group Stage of the Europa League. But that won’t stop them from bravely coming
to the San Siro and playing honorably for their club and for all of Luxembourg.
Being the
first Luxembourg team to play in the Europa League Group Stage is
something they’ll always be able to claim, but taking points from a team like
Milan at the San Siro would make them a legend. So despite knowing they will
not progress, this match, they’re playing for honor.
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| Higuain can't play in Serie A right now, but will be available for the Europa League |
Dudelange currently sit in third place in the Luxembourg top
division, having held Victoria Rosport to a 2-2 draw on the weekend. For that
match, Toppmöller lined up Esposito, Schnell, Moreira, Prempeh, Melisse,
Kruska, Kenia, Stolz, Couturier, Sinani, and Perez. He will be missing Joubert
to injury, but should have a full squad otherwise.
Gattuso is missing his ability to sub and thus half his
squad. Bonaventura’s surgery was yesterday. His knee condition was apparently
very serious, and he will definitely be out for the rest of the season. Biglia
and Caldara are expected to be out until at least February. Musacchio and
Romagnoli could return as early as two weeks from now. Additionally, Gattuso
has left Kessie out of this squad as he is not fully fit. Conti is not
available to play in the Europa League, as he was left off of the UEFA list at
the beginning of the year due to his long-term injury. Then there is
Castillejo, who received a red card against Real Betis at the San Siro and is
serving the second match of his two game suspension.
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| Gattuso changed 9 starters last time. How many this time? |
Of those players who are still left standing, Gattuso has
only called up 18. For our last match against Dudelange, I thought that him calling
up only 19 players was disrespectful to our own team. But this time, I
think it is also dishonorable to Dudelange. Even if it seems that with so many
injuries right now, it seems like he’s bringing everyone he can, he’s not. On
Sunday against Lazio, he called up 22 players.
People have called Gattuso a general, and I can’t think of a
more apt comparison right now. He’s like one of those generals who sends all of
his best troops to the front line in a formation that guarantees death and
injury. And as they start dropping, he just sends more troops, refusing to
change anything for their safety. Even though he has changed formations on the
pitch, just to change formations, he is unable and/or unwilling to use the
formation that worked best. For tomorrow, he will literally use a back three
based on if he has a fourth defender available or not. And he will obviously
change the lineup considerably again, like he did in our other match against
Dudelange. The first time was disrespectful, this time it is more out of
practicality and having no soldiers left to field. But his substitutions, which
have traditionally gotten later and less effective this season, have also hurt
his squad so much. The fact that he was so flippant about not
subbing at all on Sunday while not making the correlation that he’ll
have even fewer players available as each game goes forward, is the most
disconcerting.
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| Trying to win at literally at all costs |
Considering that Dudelange have not won a single match of
their Europa League Group Stage this season, on paper, this is an easy win. But
with Milan’s injury woes and a coach that is increasingly stubborn as his
players drop, it is also an easy loss. Milan need a win to stay in the group and have the possibility to progress to the next round, too. Milan will be playing just to win, but
Dudelange will be playing for honor.
This post inspired by the music of U2’s
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Europa League
Group Stage
AC Milan vs. F91 Dudelange
Thursday, November
29 • 18:55 CET (12:55pm CET)
This match will be
shown LIVE on Univision Deportes USA in the U.S.