The future of AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli continues to be spoken about at length in the media, and some interesting declarations came out before last night’s game against Fiorentina.
Milan made it six wins in a row in all competitions with an impressive 2-1 victory against Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday night with all three goals coming in a frantic seven-minute period.
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The four factors
A recent report claimed that there are four things that Pioli will be judged on between now and the end of the season, starting with obtaining second place after overturning the seven-point deficit to Juventus. The current gap to the Bianconeri is six points.
Then, another of the the factors is the journey in the Europa League to erase the stain of elimination in the Champions League group stages. With Roma awaiting in the quarter-finals, getting to the final four has a bit of added meaning.
The third factor is that a concrete solution to the repeated injury problems must be found, and the final one is how the picture looks in terms of who could come in and replace him.
Milan have explored some profiles and have been monitoring others for some time, but only with the certainty of being able to improve the team with a new top coach will the change on the bench be sanctioned.
Interesting declarations
Pioli gave a rather interesting post-match interview following the win over Fiorentina tonight, reflecting on his future having been asked twice by the Sky interviewers if he might leave.
“I am very fond of Milan: how can you not be fond of this club? But the players and I don’t have to think about the future. The club does, because it has to plan, understand where to intervene.
“We have to think about what to do on the pitch, but we have always done it, isolating ourselves at Milanello to prepare for the matches. We must do it now too: there are many important events in the league and Europe.
“Would I stay? I’ve never had any doubts. I won’t let go of Milan, Milan is Milan and I’m very happy at Milan. Then we’re ambitious and everyone expects you to win every match.
“We won the Scudetto two years ago and everyone expects they’re waiting to win. I’m very happy at Milan, then it depends on what happens. I’m happy with everyone, with Furlani, Ibra, Moncada… I’m happy at Milan.”
AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni has given some updates on the investigation into the club by the authorities, and he also spoke once again about the future of Stefano Pioli.
“I have always said that Pioli is staying, because I like coaches who win and, since we are doing well, I like Pioli. Apart from the fact that he is a fantastic person, we are all fond of him and he is fond of us.”
A decisive period awaits therefore, but there are certainly plenty of signs pointing towards the idea of Pioli remaining into the final year of his contract.
