With less than a month until the resumption of the season, the intensity is increasing with each passing day at Milanello to get the squad ready.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Milan’s plan foresees departure for the United Arab Emirates on the evening of Saturday 10 December where they will have a warm weather training camp in Dubai, with their return to Italy scheduled for Tuesday 20.
Friendlies: Milan have four matches scheduled over the break: Thursday December 8 at Milanello against Lumezzane (Serie D), Tuesday 13 against Arsenal (Dubai Super Cup), Friday 16 against Liverpool (Dubai Super Cup) and Friday 30 against PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Internationals: While Giroud, Theo Hernandez and Leao are still busy in Qatar, the World Cup adventure for Kjaer, De Ketelaere, Dest and Ballo-Touré is over. At the moment the only certainties concern Kjaer and CDK, who will join their team-mates in Dubai on December 13 and 15 respectively. For all the others involved in the World Cup, it is more likely to see them upon the team’s return to Milanello.
Recoveries: December 5 will be one of those dates to mark on Ibrahimovic’s calendar, since he returned to Milanello to continue individual therapies which are proceeding as they should. Maignan, Calabria, Saelemaekers and Florenzi are also working alone, while the latter is the furthest from returning.
Motivations: Pioli will work with several players who should be fuelled by the desire for revenge after a World Cup spent watching in front of the TV such as Maignan, Kalulu, Tomori, Origi, Saelemaekers, Rebic and Tonali. Some have been held back by physical problems, while others were perhaps unfairly not considered by their coaches, so the second part of the season is huge for them.
