As AC Milan prepares to face Ferencvaros in the Europa League, Ruben Amorim highlights the need for experienced leadership on the field, particularly from Adrien Rabiot, who will captain the team in the absence of Strahinja Pavlovic.

At San Siro, the atmosphere is charged as AC Milan gears up for a vital Europa League showdown against Ferencvaros. The match is scheduled to kick off at 17:45 GMT, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Rossoneri, who are looking to recover from a shaky start in the tournament.

Ruben Amorim, Milan's head coach, has made the strategic decision to appoint Adrien Rabiot as captain for this fixture, emphasizing the importance of his experience in a match that Milan must win to remain competitive in the group stages. The team recently celebrated a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, but their earlier two heavy defeats in the Europa League have left them with no room for error.

Amorim expressed concern over the absence of key defender Strahinja Pavlovic, who has played nearly every minute for Milan this season. The coach noted, "It’s strange to go into the game without Pavlovic," acknowledging the defender's pivotal role in the squad. With several players sidelined due to injuries, including goalkeeper Mike Maignan and midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the team is relying heavily on Rabiot's leadership on the pitch.

The coach indicated that while they need to rotate players to manage fatigue and injuries, winning this match is crucial for Milan's confidence in the Europa League. Rabiot's presence is expected to provide a stabilizing influence, as the team navigates this challenging encounter against a Ferencvaros side that has been unbeaten in the tournament thus far.