Tare: ‘No AC Milan excuses or complaints, we can go top of the table’

AC Milan director Igli Tare warns there must be ‘no excuses or complaints’ about the injury crisis, as they can go top of the Serie A table beating Fiorentina tonight.

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

This represents a massive opportunity for the Rossoneri, as a victory would put them top of the table alone following defeats for Roma, Napoli and Juventus.

“It is a big opportunity, so we have no excuses or complaints. Injuries are part of the game, the team is coming off a series of positive results, and we must think positive,” Tare told DAZN Italia.

“We are up against a strong opponent that hasn’t got the results it deserved, but we can go top of the table, and it is with that attitude that we must go into this match.”

However, they also have to deal with a huge injury crisis, ruling out Adrien Rabiot, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christopher Nkunku, Pervis Estupinan and Ardon Jashari.

Samuele Ricci and Zachary Athekame get their first Serie A starts in the Milan jersey, as the former Torino player had perhaps less space than expected following the arrival of Luka Modric.

“Athekame is a young player with great potential, but obviously a stadium like this puts pressure on, so we must give him time to develop. He shows great things in training and deserved to start tonight.

“It is always easy to play alongside a legend like Luka, so he can only grow and learn.”

Max Allegri has a decimated squad at his disposal, with only five outfield players on the bench, but the director insists this is still sufficient for a club that only has Serie A and the Coppa Italia to focus on.

“We built the team on purpose like this, with 18 outfield players, four goalkeepers, and then a rotating group of the Milan Futuro players coming in. We must not see the absences as an alibi, we can go top of the table and need to maintain this positive attitude,” concluded Tare.