Giroud’s substitute: Pioli’s tough choice for Lazio match

The next Serie A match of AC Milan is against Lazio but the Rossoneri will be without Olivier Giorud. Pioli is already studying the alternatives.

With a press release published on their official website, AC Milan announced yesterday that Olivier Giroud had tested positive for Covid. The French striker will be forced to skip the Rossoneri’s upcoming Serie A match against Lazio, scheduled for 12 September. A very bad news for the Red and Blacks after the fine debut with two victories so far.

THE CONDITIONS OF IBRA – And so Stefano Pioli will be forced to review his plans for the match against the Biancocelesti. But who will be the starting centre forward? Difficult to say for now also because a lot will depend on the conditions of Zlatan Ibrahimovic who two days ago returned to train with the rest of the squad. The Swedish star looks fully recovered after the knee surgery on June 18th.

However, after such a long period out it seems very unlikely for Pioli to risk Ibrahimovic from the start. Although AC Milan vs Lazio is a very important match, Zlatan has not seen the pitch since May. His last appearances was the match against Juventus which Milan won 3-0.

THE ALTERNATIVES – Meanwhile Stefano Pioli is already studying alternative solutions. The obvious choice is to adapt one between Rafael Leao and Ante Rebic in the centre forward role. Both have occupied that position last season but with miserable result. Constantly the two have proved that they can not lead the attack.

The remaining candidate is Pietro Pellegri, the third striker in the squad. Pellegri too is not in top physical form but he would be the ideal replacement for Ibra and Giroud in the centre forward role. The former Monaco, just like Leao and Rebic, is training at Milanello during this period of international break. Pioli will carefully observe all three and then choose who will start against Lazio.

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