The Milan derby is approaching at a time of particular difficulty for ACMilan. The defeat against Bologna at SanSiro dropped the team from third to fifth place, leaving them seven points from the top and below the rivalry with Roma and Como. The main problem, however, is the squad, which is now in a situation of lack of alternatives and critical injuries, especially in defence.
Amorim's team was hit by the injury of FikayoTomori, who today was evaluated for a muscle problem in his right thigh. The English defender was almost excluded from the summer project, but was reinstated only to deal with the emergency. His situation highlights a management of the squad which, once again, has left the club with a defense reduced to the bone and without a real leader. The only player who could provide greater stability is MarioGila, but apart from him there is a lack of international level defenders capable of guaranteeing continuity. The lack of a defense captain is felt especially in the most important matches.
The attack also shows shortcomings. Milan have relied heavily on GonçaloRamos, but there is no real assistant capable of maintaining pressure and presence in the penalty area. The absence of a reliable replacement for the Portuguese creates a void that the team is unable to fill. In midfield, AdrienRabiot's departure has left a weaker playing area: the Frenchman is not only a quality player, but also provides physicality, balance and coverage of multiple areas of the pitch. Without him, the midfield loses some of its solidity and ability to manage key moments of the match.
The January transfer window promises to be a crossroads for ACMilan. The club must decide whether to continue with a numerically short squad or whether to intervene to correct a construction which, once again, shows structural problems. In recent years, the team has often opted for strategies that are difficult to decipher: targeted investments in young profiles, important bets and transfers without always adequate replacements, and injury management that has left the team with no alternatives. The derby against Inter comes at the worst time, but the problem goes beyond a single match: without a deep squad, coherent choices and more linear planning, the risk is to continue to live on the run and in trouble.
The next step for ACMilan will therefore be to carefully evaluate the market offers and consolidate the squad in view of the most important challenges. If the club manages to fill the gaps highlighted, it will be able to face the derby with a more balanced team ready to compete for the top of Serie A. However, if it does not intervene, the team will risk remaining in a precarious position, with the derby becoming just another moment of difficulty.