AC Milan director Tare: ‘Nkunku a centre forward, can work with Leao’

AC Milan director Igli Tare is reassuring on the all-new strike partnership of Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku against Roma. ‘We must think positive.’

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.

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

There is so much at stake at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, because a win would put the Rossoneri level on points with their opponents in joint second place.

On the other hand, a Giallorossi victory can send them clear at the top of the table after Napoli’s 0-0 draw with Como.

Tare spent most of his career at Lazio, both as a striker and a director of sport, so does facing Roma feel like a derby for him?

“I won enough derbies, especially the one that counted on May 26 in Rome, so we are focused only on Milan winning against a very strong opponent that would put us near the top of the table. We must think positive,” Tare told DAZN Italia.

There are still injury problems for Milan, as Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez and Adrien Rabiot are out of action, with Pervis Estupinan and Ardon Jashari only fit for a spot on the bench.

It means an all-new partnership of Leao and Nkunku upfront, with neither of them really centre-forwards.

“It is true they have similar characteristics, but Nkunku has played as a centre-forward for 70 per cent of his career. It’s the first time they are starting together tonight, they showed in training that they can combine well, so we’ll see,” noted Tare.

“Gimenez is not in a good period, but he has the full faith of the club and the staff. The injury came at a bad time for him and us, but we have to look forward, these things happen in football.”

Max Allegri said in his press conference that it was difficult to get into the mindset of Rafael Leao, so has the director been able to understand him any better?

“I find Leao a really good lad. People have this idea about him from the outside, but seeing him every day, he’s very different to what people think. He is someone who can win the game by himself and I am confident he will have a great performance this evening.”

There will be a minute’s silence before kick-off this evening for Giovanni Galeone, a mentor to both Allegri and Gian Piero Gasperini, who died today at the age of 84.

“Max is certainly affected by this. I was just talking to the coach about Galeone, he had a very strong bond with him, cared a great deal and saw him as family. This is life, sadly,” Tare told DAZN.