Stefano Pioli is expected to be sacked by AC Milan at the end of the season, and the last few days have seen him look more and more like a lonely figure as per a report.
This morning’s edition of Corriere della Sera (via PianetaMilan) speaks about the statements made by Pioli yesterday at his press conference in Milanello, on the eve of today’s match against Juventus in Turin.
The paper remarks: ‘Pioli is a lonely man: he inevitably feels the end of his story at Milan approaching and this is perhaps why after the horror derby, but in reality, if you think about it carefully, already following the searing elimination in the Europa League, something has also changed in his words, in his communication choices’.
It seems that the coach ‘wanted to remove a few pebbles from his shoe’ regarding where his Milan side are at and what they have achieved compared to the expectations and the reality.
“Inter have had the strongest squad for four years and have only won two Scudetti. We have never been the strongest team in the league,” he said.
“We tried to fight for the top positions, sometimes we succeeded and sometimes less. We gave everything mentally, but we weren’t always able to raise our level of play.”
It is not a criticism of Milan, the club or the players, but pride in the achievement of the 2021-22 season, when Milan won the Scudetto as underdogs.
Behind Pioli’s outburst, however, there is also the quite bitter awareness of having reached the end of his cycle, one that looked like bringing a lot of success but in the end will bring just that one trophy.
With five games still to play and a second place to conquer, perhaps this was not the right time for an outburst of this kind. Pioli’s words on the eve of Juventus-Milan then raised a social uproar not only among the Diavolo fans, but also among the Inter fans.
It all started when he was asked to comment on Simone Inzaghi and his compliments to Milan after the derby against Inter on Monday night.
“This is a credit to Inzaghi, but I think it’s much easier to compliment your opponents when you win. If I have to tell the truth, I don’t remember last year how many points Inter were from Napoli, a lot. So the seasons then change, they disappear,” he said.
Pioli will not be at Milan next season. Winning against Juventus, Genoa , Cagliari, Torino and Salernitana would at least make the end of the season more peaceful.
The atmosphere at Milan, after the elimination in the Europa League at the hands of Roma and after the derby lost against Inter, is in fact very heavy.
“If I could change the result of the derbies I would give everything I have, but it can’t be done. I for one must have broad shoulders, we must demonstrate who we are until the end,” Pioli said.
The Legendary Milan Coach in last decade will be trash by the management, even when he get second in the league. What a sad story for scudetto coach.
Even Capello, Gullit, and Allegri say: “Pioli has done great job”.
Pls can you at least highlights what’s legendary about Pioli?
In last decade. With Pioli Milan can get:
1) scudetto
2) semi final champion league
3) second in the league.
No coach can do what Pioli do in last decade of Milan
No others coach can do what Pioli do in last decade of Milan
Worst record in the Milan derby. That right there is stuff of legend
If he was perfect we’d be keeping him. His tenure was a mixed bag of d**ks… I’m just glad we got a Scudetto and a deep CL run out of it.
Nobody is perfect. With 2 million salary, Pioli has done great job. He also hard working, he even didn’t have time to comb His hair.
Maybe he does not deserve memorable good bye. But he deserve good bye ending, after what He has done. No like now, lonely, sad ending.
Wining in derbies doesn’t get you ULC… Or titles… Especially with the difference in quality of squad and salaries and transfer market
Even though ive been supportive of pioli and he has done an overall good and sometimes great job for us i think its pushing it to call him legendary, Second place isnt an overall bad result, sure, but his ridiculous experiments certainly leaves something to be desired.
In the last decade of Milan, His achievement is legendary. No others Milan coach in last decade can do that.
Well legendary coaches is sacchi, capello ancelotti rocco etc. Pioli is not at that level but i nevertheless recognize he has done a splendid job for us wining us the scudetto and that should never be forgotten and i for one will always be greatful for that.
Same can be said about legendary players, the word is far to often tossed around leaving it with no meaning. I would mention cesare and paolo maldini , van basten, kaka, baresi, nordahl, rivera etc. level players, the majority of other players deemed legendary is icons at best.
Maybe close to legendary, but not legendary. We can say great coach for last decade of Milan.
So did zacheroni… and who remember him…
I think he deserves some credit definitely for bringing us the scudetto after eleven years of turmoil and that is why i can somewhat agree with your last statement but his biggest issue in regard of any lasting status is that compared to the before mentioned coaches he wont leave such a lasting imprint of style on the sport as they did.
Guillaume, Well to be fair i think pioli should be remembered more fondly than zacceroni as he had a way better team than we had when we won the last scudetto but sure i generally doesnt disagree with you here,
Milan should sign salvatore Esposito and eduard spertsyan before it’s too late
While the outburst was unnecessary and only make dressing room worst, i can’t fully blame Pioli for his outburst. The result against Roma and Inter are definitely bad. But it feels like the management are quickly washing their hands and left Pioli all by himself instead of keeps supporting him until the end of the season.
The treatment from the management doesn’t show they always behind Pioli either good or bad. So whoever they hired for next season, i expect will get the same sh*tty treatment too.
I never saw such a terrible Milan. Pioli ran out of ideas…while players like Leao are a waste of money and Benaccer had better times. No style of play, some rubbish players and other highly disappointing ones. Sold De Kettelar and Saelemakers two Young ones. We are 2nd because of lack of competition. Very unhappy. no way out for pioli.