Milan’s Coppa Italia gamble: Who among Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez, Rafael Leao, and Joao Felix will start the battle against Inter?
As Milan prepares for its fifth and final showdown against Inter this season, one question looms large: which attacking star will lead them into battle when it matters most? With a Coppa Italia final spot and perhaps a lifeline to European qualification on the line, manager Sergio Conceicao faces his biggest selection dilemma yet.
Among the names swirling in pre-match discussions are Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez, Rafael Leao, and Joao Felix. Yet not all of them are expected to feature in the starting lineup of the most consequential Milan derby in years. Who those players are—and why—is at the heart of a tactical riddle that will define the Rossoneri’s season.
Milan’s Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Inter, set to take place on Wednesday evening at San Siro, comes at a critical point in their campaign. A 1-1 draw in the first leg left everything to play for, but the stakes have grown even higher since.
With the Red and blacks languishing in ninth place in Serie A and enduring their worst league season since 2014-15, hopes of European soccer next season hinge entirely on lifting the Coppa Italia. For manager Sergio Conceicao, this match is more than just a local derby—it’s a referendum on his tenure.
The tactical setup
As per Milan News, the predicted formation is a 3-4-3, with Mike Maignan in goal, and a defense comprised of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Malick Thiaw—the latter replacing Strahinja Pavlovic, who had featured in recent games. Wing-backs Alex Jimenez and Theo Hernandez will play slightly deeper to counter Inter’s flank-heavy attack.
In midfield, Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders will be tasked with controlling the tempo. The frontline, however, remains the most intriguing area—not just for its firepower, but for what it reveals about Milan’s strategic intent.
Who starts and who sits?
Now comes the answer to the mystery: Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez are not expected to feature from the start. Instead, Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, and Tammy Abraham are set to lead the line. This trio offers the perfect blend of dynamism, creativity, and direct threat.
Pulisic’s resurgence under Conceicao has been a highlight of the latter half of the season. The American winger’s energy and incisive runs down the right flank have been key in stretching defenses and creating space for his teammates.
Leao, always the San Siro outfit’s wildcard, remains a mercurial talent. When he’s on, few defenders in Italy can live with his pace and dribbling. Conceicao appears ready to trust the Portuguese winger once again on the left, hoping he can recreate the spark he showed earlier this season.
But the real headline is the selection of Tammy Abraham ahead of Gimenez and Luka Jovic. Abraham has already scored twice against Inter this season, and his physicality, hold-up play, and finishing have clearly won over the Milan boss.
“The presence of Tammy Abraham, already two goals against Inter this year, in place of Luka Jovic,” was confirmed by Milan News as the likely change in the starting eleven.
Predicted Milan XI (3-4-3): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders, Theo Hernandez; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao.