AC Milan had their fate in their own hands last night against Cagliari – and they still do – but the draw has no doubt had a damaging impact on the team.
As il Corriere della Sera writes (via MilanNews), it was supposed to be the great night of the return to the Champions League, but it actually ended up being a nightmare and yet another one experienced this season at San Siro. It risks becoming reality if the team does not show up in Bergamo, because Milan hurt themselves and now they will have to try to save themselves against Atalanta, a team whom they do not have good recent form against.
Juventus and Napoli will face off against Bologna and Verona respectively in the final game of the season – mid-table teams that have little to player for – so it is practically impossible to hope that they will stumble. Milan, on the other hand, which on paper will have the most complicated commitment, and will have to beat a team bang in form.
The draw with Cagliari condemns the Rossoneri to the a play-off in Bergamo and this time Pioli is wrong: not entering the Champions League would be a failure, not a simple disappointment.