Maignan insists Bournemouth red-card shove 'was not intentional' as Milan take unbeaten run to Udinese

Maignan stands by himself after Bournemouth dismissal

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan has broken his silence after being sent off in the Rossoneri's humbling 3-0 Europa League defeat at Bournemouth. The France international was shown a first-half red card at Vitality Stadium for pushing his hand into the face of Tyler Adams, leaving Milan down to ten men and eventually 3-0 down away from home.

Writing on Instagram, Maignan insisted the contact was not deliberate and sought to explain himself to supporters.

"My action was not intentional. Like every goalkeeper in every match, I wanted to make space for myself in my area," Maignan explained.

"Unfortunately, this gave off a bad image, especially in front of the young supporters who watch us. The club, the staff and my team-mates know what sort of person I am. They know my intentions and abandoning them is never part of the plan. As for the rest, we are accustomed to the interpretations given by certain people and certain media outlets."

Maignan will miss at least Milan's next European fixture as a result of the dismissal, with reporting from 23 October indicating the ban is confined to the Europa League for now and that he remains available for Serie A, including the Udinese trip and the derby against Inter. Milan have also moved to protect their player off the pitch: on 24 October the club released a formal statement condemning racist abuse aimed at Maignan on social media in the aftermath of the sending-off.

Rossoneri unbeaten in Serie A under Amorim

While the European campaign has stumbled, Milan's domestic form has been far healthier. The Rossoneri remain unbeaten after seven Serie A games, with a trip to Udinese next. Ruben Amorim has become only the third manager to remain unbeaten in each of his first seven Serie A games with Milan, after Hector Puricelli in 1955 (unbeaten in his first eight) and Luis Carniglia in 1963 (unbeaten in his first 13).

Milan could go unbeaten in their first eight league games of a season for only the third time in the last 20 Serie A campaigns, after 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Udinese mired in early-season trouble

Udinese, by contrast, sit 16th in Serie A after collecting just four points from seven matches. They have lost five of their seven league games this season (W1 D1), with only three worse starts in their history: 1960-61 (six defeats), 1961-62 (seven) and 2017-18 (six). They have also lost all of their last five Serie A matches by an aggregate score of 13-5 — their longest run of consecutive defeats since an 11-game streak between February and April 2018 under Massimo Oddo.

Only Troyes (-9) and Racing Santander (-9) have a worse goal difference in the second half of games across Europe's top five leagues this season than Udinese (-8, level with Borussia Monchengladbach).

Players to watch

Udinese – Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

Ekkelenkamp has scored and assisted in the same Serie A match only once, back in April against Milan. The midfielder, yet to score at home this Serie A season, has attempted the second-most shots in the competition (20), behind only Nico Paz (35).

AC Milan – Adrien Rabiot

Rabiot has scored or assisted in each of his last four Serie A appearances (three goals, two assists). The only Milan midfielders to be involved in at least one goal in five consecutive games since Opta began recording the data in 2004-05 are Hakan Calhanoglu (July 2020) and Kaka (October 2004 and May 2008).

Match prediction: AC Milan win

Milan have won their last three Serie A away games against Udinese by an aggregate score of 10-2, and have previously managed four consecutive away wins against them only once, between 1999 and 2001. The sides have not drawn any of their last eight league meetings (five Milan wins, three Udinese), including Udinese's 3-0 victory in the most recent encounter on 11 April. Milan, however, have drawn each of their last three away Serie A matches — something they last did four times in a row between April and May 2017 under Vincenzo Montella.

Opta win probability: Udinese 20.9%, Draw 24%, AC Milan 55.1%.