AC Milan vs. Sassuolo: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Coppa Italia Game

AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati knows how important the Coppa Italia is. Especially this season.

"It’s the only cup that we’re in, it’s our Champions League," he told reporters on Monday, per Football Italia.

This is a sad truth. What is sadder is the fact that Milan have not won this tournament since 2003. In that time, they were busy winning the Champions League, the Scudetto, even the Club World Cup. So with all due respect to the Coppa Italia, it was never a priority for Milan.

Now, suddenly, without any alternative, it is.

But it is also a chance to avenge the loss to Sassuolo barely a week ago.

Sassuolo stand in Milan’s way again. They are becoming a familiar obstacle. The Emilia-Romagna club came back to beat the Rossoneri last January, and they did it again this month.

It’s as if they play with more heart, or something. In the last encounter at San Siro, Milan scored first, but they let Sassuolo back in the game. Milan can grab a lead, but they cannot play with one. 

The same thing happened against Torino on the weekend: an early goal followed by a loss of composure. 

So Milan have a chance to do two things on Tuesday: to progress in a tournament they badly need and break the ugly cycle of dropping points from winning positions.

And to do that, they have to start imposing their own game on their opponent for a full 90 minutes. They cannot slink back into their own zone. The motor has to keep running. The shots have to keep coming. 

Luca Bruno/Associated Press

Milan play at their best when they control the ball and attack and attack and attack. That is their strength, and they have to play to it.

Sassuolo do offer their own threat. Simone Zaza, Domenico Berardi and Nicola Sansone are tricky players. They will jump on mistakes, which Milan tend to make a lot.

And it’s hard to cut down on those errors when the team keeps on changing. Out of necessity or tactics, coach Filippo Inzaghi alters the starting XI almost every game. 

There is the temptation in the Coppa Italia to rest key players and send out the substitutes, but Inzaghi must resist that. They need continuity, and they need their strongest squad. 

Alex, Riccardo Montolivo, Nigel de Jong, Jeremy Menez and Giacomo Bonaventura—Milan’s most important players—all must play against Sassuolo. 

Milan should feel lucky to have the opportunity to play Sassuolo again so soon. They both know each other well. And hopefully Milan understand, finally, that they cannot take them lightly.