A potential crisis is brewing for AC Milan: Alexis Saelemaekers' injury could sideline him during a critical stretch of games! The Rossoneri are holding their breath, anxiously awaiting the results of Saelemaekers' medical scans after he picked up an injury while on international duty with Belgium. A strained muscle, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, could keep the talented winger out of action for a significant period.
The Belgian national team officially confirmed Saelemaekers' injury, stating he would be unavailable for their upcoming match against Wales and would return to Milanello for further assessment. This is a blow for Belgium, but an even bigger concern for Milan, who are about to enter a gauntlet of challenging fixtures. But here's where it gets controversial...some fans believe Milan's over-reliance on certain players makes them vulnerable to these kinds of setbacks. Is the squad depth truly sufficient?
Di Marzio's report indicates that if the scans confirm a muscle strain, Saelemaekers is almost certain to miss the Serie A clash against Fiorentina on October 19th at the San Siro. And this is the part most people miss... the potential absence extends beyond just one game. There's a real risk he'll also be unavailable for the subsequent home game against Pisa on October 24th. That's two crucial league matches where Milan could be without a key player.
However, the real worry stems from what follows those two games. On October 28th, Milan travels to Bergamo to face Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium (formerly the New Balance Arena). Following Atalanta, Milan faces a brutal run of matches against Roma, Inter, and Lazio in their next four league games. These are all top-tier opponents, and securing points in these matches is vital for Milan's ambitions this season. To put it simply, these are the games that can make or break a season.
Head coach Massimiliano Allegri (though some sources refer to Stefano Pioli as the current coach – this discrepancy itself sometimes sparks debate among fans!) will desperately hope that Saelemaekers' injury is minor and requires minimal recovery time. Having the Belgian wing-back available for this crucial run of games is paramount.
The question now becomes: how will Milan cope without Saelemaekers, should the worst be confirmed? Does Pioli have a tactical alternative that can effectively fill the void? And perhaps more controversially, is this injury a wake-up call for Milan to invest in greater squad depth in the January transfer window? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – do you think Milan can navigate this challenging period successfully, even without Saelemaekers? What tactical adjustments would you like to see Pioli implement?
