Milan boss impressed by United’s win in the derby
AC Milan will be without six players for their Europa League clash with United tonight.
The Serie A club travel to Old Trafford for the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 knockout tie without Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Swedish striker was ruled out of the match a fortnight ago, but Milan will be without several other key personnel.
Former Real Madrid left-back Theo Hernandez and influential midfielder Ismael Bennacer have both missed out.
And in addition to Ibrahimovic, forwards Mario Mandzukic, Hakan Calhanoglu and Ante Rebic are all unavailable.
It means Portuguese forward Rafael Leo and 20-year-old Riccardo Tonin are their only recognised striking options.
Tonight will be the first time two clubs steeped in European tradition have met in 11 years.
Asked if the tie was like a final, Milan coach Stefano Pioli said: “I don’t think it’s an early final in the sense that there are still plenty of very, very good teams left in the tournament, but of course it is a prestigious tie when it came out of the hat, there’s no doubt about that.
“We’re two teams with a lot of tradition, a lot of history in Europe and we want to work hard and try to realise our dreams and go back to winning at the highest possible level.”
Milan are in good form having beaten Roma and Verona either side of a draw with Udinese, but knowing the stakes have been raised by United’s derby victory at City.
DARREN Fletcher’s appointment as technical director at United has come out of the blue.
The former Reds midfielder will offer ‘technical input and direction into all football and performance areas’ as he works alongside new football director John Murtough.
Fletcher was coaching the club’s under-16s last year before joining the first-team coaching staff in January and has now been promoted again.
The Scot has so far been overseeing United games with analysts, rather than with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dugout, hinting at the fact the 37-year-old was always viewed as a more technical appointment instead of a hands-on role.
Earlier this season Fletcher gave a glimpse at his view on how the team should line up, arguing in an interview that Mason Greenwood should be in United’s starting line-up.
He told Sky Sports: “I think he’s a starter in United’s best team.
“Mason plays off the righthand side, Anthony Martial in the middle and Marcus Rashford on the left, with Bruno Fernandes at No.10.
“That’s the best attack and the one that put people on the edge of their seats after lockdown and produced United’s best form.
“I’m sure Mason’s evolution is to be a No.9. He’s got world-class potential.
“Not many strikers can go naturally onto their left foot and naturally onto their right foot and finish it. He’s a defender’s nightmare.”
The former Scotland international’s final season as a player was in 2018/19, after which he played for Stoke City and studied for his coaching badges, although it was not until May 2020 that he admitted his playing days were over.