With the Europa League fixtures against Ludogorets looming and Udinese on the weekend, we turn our attention to the fitness levels of the squad.
Yesterday, AC Milan submitted their list of 27 players who will take part in the Europa league, and there weren’t any real surprises. However, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw one name, Andrea Conti.
UEFA Europa League final list - 27 players called up:
— The AC Milan Offside (@SBNRossonero) February 2, 2018
GK: A. Donnarumma, G. Donnarumma, Storari, Guarnone
The real concern going into the weekend was Ricardo Rodriguez. We can now officially rule him out for the match against Udinese, though team doctor Gianluca Melegati has said he expects the Swiss starting left-back to begin a full training regiment again on Monday. This is now the third match without Rodriguez, who was missing in both Lazio fixtures. The first due to suspension after seeing two yellows against Cagliari, and the second due to illness. Melegati, speaking to Milan TV, stated:
“Ricardo Rodriguez had a strong abdominal colic during the night which required immediate care. He is doing well now, he is recovering,” Melegati said to the club’s official TV station. “But, naturally, he is still very weak. This, we have advised [the coaching staff] not to include him in the squad that will travel to Udine. He will be fit and set to resume full training next Monday.”
Andrea Conti joined the squad today for muscular exercise, putting to bed a bad ligament injury that sidelined him for six months.
Andrea!
— AC Milan (@acmilan) February 2, 2018
Conti initially joined the team for the muscular awakening exercise today
Oggi Conti ha effettuato la fase di attivazione muscolare con i compagni #weareacmilan pic.twitter.com/0ls81uo1bd
Conti was a surprise addition to the Europa League roster that will face off against Ludogorets later this month. Fans and teammates were wonderfully pleased to see the 23 year old Italian international back on his feet. Melegati had this to say regarding his timeline back to full training:
“Andrea Conti’s recovery is going very well, we are very pleased, and he is even more so, because he sees that he is improving every day. He will soon join the team in training and we consider this a fundamental step in his recovery process from a technical and athletic standpoint.”
If you recall, Marco Storari was pulled out of warm ups during the Coppa Italia derby. That injury seems to be coming to a close as he was also listed on the eligible squad list. Of course, there is no exact timetable for Storari but it’s good to know he’s inching closer.
“Also Marco Storari is doing very well. Fortunately, his recovery is going as we expected. His estimated return date remains the same, it’s been 40 or maybe 39 days since his injury. So, in the next days, he will undergo the last resonance test, which will allow us to know exactly when he will be back in full training with the team.”