Milan’s Injury Woes: From Fonseca’s Optimism to Current Crisis

AC Milan is facing a significant challenge as they prepare for their upcoming match against Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium. Coach Paulo Fonseca finds himself in a difficult position, unable to rely on eight injured players for this crucial away game. This situation is particularly concerning following the disappointing 0-0 draw at home against Genoa, which coincided with the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations and sparked fan protests.

The current injury crisis stands in stark contrast to the team’s situation just 20 days ago. On November 29th, prior to the 3-0 victory over Empoli, Fonseca proudly highlighted the team’s lack of injuries, stating, “We’re happy because we have almost no injuries. It’s very positive, and it’s partly due to our careful player rotation.”

However, the situation has rapidly deteriorated. While Morata has returned to action, the team will be without Jovic, Pulisic, Okafor, Zeroli, Loftus-Cheek, and Musah for the Verona match. These absences compound the long-term injuries of Bennacer and Florenzi. Each player has a different recovery timeline, and their individual return dates are eagerly anticipated by the team and fans alike.