The Europa League has become decisive for AC Milan in terms of salvaging the season and in particular for Stefano Pioli’s future at the club, according to a report.
As Corriere dello Sport (via PianetaMilan) report this morning, Milan simply cannot put in another performance like the one that they did against Monza at the weekend because otherwise the three-goal lead obtained from the first leg could quickly evaporate.
Europe has become a focus for Milan just as it did last season given that winning the Scudetto is now out of reach, and going all the way in the Europa League would guarantee three more matches at San Siro for box office revenues, plus prize money.
Going to the final in Dublin would bring €35-40m into the accounts, a figure that includes the market pool and takes into account the historical ranking too, but it goes beyond just the economic factor.
Pioli’s future is on the line too, because only going to the final of the Europa League – and possibly even only winning it – would see him keep his job as the head coach for next season.
Otherwise, Milan are looking at yet another trophyless season which would not be acceptable after the Scudetto win of 2021-22.
His sacking probability now: 80%
After winning europa: 40%
If he gets scudetto this season: 0% 😀
To be fair though… IF Pioli can conjure a scudetto before Inter does, he’d definitely deserve a 5-year-extension as the scudetto is now Inter’s to lose! 😀
Scudetto isn’t happening this season. We need to get it out of our heads. The reason we are in third is because we aren’t winning games we’re supposed to be while Inter are winning everything.
We need to focus on EL. Top4 is more or less secure. But either way, Milan needs to take a leap in quality this summer with a new coach and ideas.
Short of winning EL I don’t think Pioli stays. Although I think the Derby will play heavily into his future.
Of course my friend, you’re absolutely right but the major reason we’re still not showing the Scudetto spirit was because Kessie had not been replaced in the midfield and Pioli’s switch to 433 at the beginning of the season knowing fully well that the interpretation of the aforementioned formation is absolving space in the team play which always culminated in the players getting into eachother way creating confusion which consequently lead to zero imaginations at the final and basically Pioli’s rigidity also play a pivotal role in AC Milan slow peak through the season while Inter Milan consolidated their formation through the preseason hitherto they’re reaping the fruit.
“Scudetto isn’t happening this season.”
Exactly. Winning it would take a miracle. If Pioli can produce that, he’d be greater than the Pope himself. 🙂
Just one more game like this as against Monza (and unfortunately there will be) and I don’t think anything will be able to save him from being fired at the end of the season !
honestly guys, this bothers me a lot and it seems like we do it with players as well. We and management need to evaluate on the whole body of work; not just one game. Pioli wins a game (like the 3-0 last week) and he’s a genius and should stay for many years. He loses to Monza and he’s the worst and should get fired immediately. STOP. has he been good all season? is the team getting better? how has the season progressed? how has the team done since he joined? etc. We do the same thing with players. Jovic 2 weeks ago deserved an extension and now we want his head. Leao plays a fantastic 1-2 with Theo and he’s worth 200M and should not be sold at any cost, He walks his way through a game and suddenly he isnt worth jack and should be sold. Come on, evaluate on the whole body of work. Sorry guys end of rant.
“Come on, evaluate on the whole body of work.”
The fact is that Milan has played maybe 3-5 good matches this season. That’s out of 30. Sure, Milan is (still) on 3rd spot in Serie A but there has been many lucky and scrappy wins. And everyone surely remembers the meltdowns from 2-0 up to 2-2 against many teams and the losses to Udinese and now Monza.
So, yeah… Let’s analyze the whole body of work. And the result is: not good enough. Not even remotely.
And the same applies to most of the players too. A handful of good matches while the majority has been bad or even awful. That includes Leao, RLC, Calabria, MM16, Theo etc.
Pioli doesn’t know how to rotate. Major mistakes against Monza was changing too many players at once. 3-0 against Renne. Play should be keeping a few key starter once you’re ahead place them on the bench and bring the other one. But they’re are some players who needs to rest to be fully fit. Inzaghi been doing that