A lot of the excitement and genuine enthusiasm going into AC Milan’s season evaporated within 270 miserable minutes of the Serie A season, and it has left fans wondering how to distribute the blame.
After the Torino game, we wrote at length about why Milan’s start to the season – despite a fantastic tour of the USA and wins over the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City – could be a bumpy road.
Internationals returning late and signings joining late disrupted Paulo Fonseca’s attempts to assimilate a playing style, and the result is two points from a possible nine.
The creation myth
While doubts about the clarity of the mercato strategy were festering, Zlatan Ibrahimovic tried to build the buzz in his own way: with vague similes and metaphors. He talked about the ‘Creation in 7 days’, pinpointing at each new signing’s press conference how far Milan were along in the week.
Gerry Cardinale has placed some limits on the mercato spending and it is perhaps obvious that the objectives of RedBird are mainly financial, while the sporting ones take a back seat. Otherwise, would be inexplicable to have another window targeting players in and around the €15-20m range.
There are those who believe – and with merit too – that nothing will be won with this strategy, which was coupled with the serious mistake by the management to burden the entire atmosphere with false promises and arrogance.
Ibrahimovic is also responsible for this, as he has not yet become aware of his role. The days when he was considered God are far away and belong to the era of when he was a footballer – for now he is an apprentice.
To become a top executive/director, the road is still long and concrete results are needed. Ibrahimovic has repeatedly used statements that have sent the fans into frenzy. An example? When the Swede declared that Cardinale wanted him to spend more money but he didn’t want to.
“Gerry is in town, we had meetings yesterday and today. We talked about various things. Nothing new. Gerry wants us to spend more but I say no, we spend what is necessary to strengthen,” he said during the presentation of Emerson Royal.
As mentioned, one of Zlatan’s most controversial phrases was the one about the creation of the new Milan. The Rossoneri played a lot on his image as ‘God’ in the media to talk about the birth of the new team and the transfer window.
Each purchase was presented as a day of the biblical Creation, with the aim of creating a perfect team in seven days. This was all while signing two or at most three players who can be considered guaranteed starters in a team that had so many obvious gaps.
And on the day of the final signing unveiling, that of Tammy Abraham? Ibrahimovic wasn’t present as CEO Giorgio Furlani instead sat alongside the English striker. The Senior Advisor meanwhile is hunting in Canada, so he took the ‘day of rest’ quite literally.
Panic spreads
The first three games have only highlighted and deepened some of the worries that not even cynically minded supporters have, as well as the managerial confusion contributing to what many feel represents the lack of will to make Milan truly competitive to win important trophies.
The results to this point are damning: two points out of nine obtained against three teams who – with respect – will not be challenging for the Scudetto nor most likely even the Champions League places. Now we await a fiery period after the break, with the magnifying glass projected to the derby on matchday five.
Milan will return from the international break in just under two weeks and then they will face Venezia at San Siro in a game that is absolutely must-win. Not only is three points a necessity, but it must also be a convincing performance that brings many certainties that don’t exist currently.
Why? Because in the 20 days that follow, the road gets more bumpy: Liverpool, Inter, Bayer Leverkusen and Fiorentina are on the agenda, with Lecce to break it up. The Rossoneri will play every four days and they are all away matches, except Liverpool and Lecce (and Inter will be at San Siro).
It is a daunting run of games, especially after this terrible start. Fonseca would rather have prepared to face the likes of Mo Salah, Lautaro Martinez and Florian Wirtz when his team had some confidence and semblance of defensive structure.
What his side have instead shown so far is that they cannot even deal with Raoul Bellanova, Duvan Zapata, Dennis Man, Matteo Cancellieri, Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia, let alone the elite attacking talent in Europe.
Some high-stakes moments in Stefano Pioli’s tenure come to mind: Roma, Inter and Juventus in 10 days in April, as well as Juventus, PSG, Napoli and PSG again in 17 days last Autumn. Sometimes it happens, and you simply sink or swim.
Even more worrying is that fact that every single goal conceded – and there are six of them in just three games – have shown a very easy way to score against Milan: win the ball back, work it to the left side and send it into the box.
The future is a mirage
We keep hearing about Milan’s financial strength and about how it will safeguard the future of the club towards self-sustainability. Of course such an improvement in the accounts is nothing but positive, and represents a huge turnaround from the peril of previous ownerships.
Yet, fans are asking the same question – at what point does the stabilisation and strength turn into serious investment in the playing squad? During Paolo Maldini’s tenure we were told that consecutive Champions League campaigns were needed, then the goalposts shifted to a new stadium which still seems as far away as it did in 2014.
Milan’s two biggest rivals moved in different ways. Juventus did a full project reboot, backing their new coach with over €160m of signings, the kind of support that enabled them to win the race for Thiago Motta in the first place.
Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram arrived to fully rebuild the midfield, with Nico Gonzalez and Francisco Canceicao reinforcing the attack plus Pierre Kalulu and Juan Cabal joining the defence.
They also sold well: Matias Soule, Dean Huijsen, Samuel Isling-Junior, Moise Kean and Federico Chiesa all fetched figures between €10-25m, and they even got €7m+ for pure fringe players like Kaio Jorge, Koni Di Winter and Enzo Barrenechea.
Inter didn’t spend anywhere near as much, but again their strength will be continuity and they are adding from a position of being not too far from perfect. Josep Martinez joined and will be the number one in time, while Mehdi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski were secured well in advance on free transfers, and young talent Tomas Palacios came from Argentina.
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It is smart business considering the financial constraints the Nerazzurri are under, and the fact they start the season as such strong Scudetto favourites is because of how good the existing framework is, a Marotta-constructed framework that other teams – Milan very much included – can only look on at enviously.
Atalanta have lost some players and gained some but overall they have continuity under Gian Piero Gasperini, and after decimating Bayer Leverkusen in last season’s Europa League final the management and players have an abundance of credit in the bank.
Napoli may still be viewed as a chaotic organisation and could have handled certain things better this summer. Yet, they needed a centre-back – as Milan did – and invested over €30m on a player they believed in, and they went and got Antonio Conte whose nous and experience gives them a chance in any game.
What happens if things don’t pick up for the Rossoneri? Fonseca will be the first to go, maybe the Monday after the derby against Inter or a few weeks after that, because as always in situations like this it is the head coach that is the first to fall as the easiest to replace.
At that point the lack of planning will reveal itself once again, with Milan forced to take an interim or pay a third coach a hefty amount, all with the Scudetto already lost and most likely the European campaign in the balance.
The reality is that a year of transition that could already start before the summer ends. This would be reflected in the dwindling if not nosediving enthusiasm surrounding Milan, then the subsequent knock-on effect on ticket sales, merchandise revenues and brand growth.
Maybe then Cardinale will begin to understand the importance of ambition. Football is more about just the field, but that is where it all begins, and if that field becomes a Great Flood then Ibra’s creation myth will soon be submerged.
The future looks bleak with the star player not wanting to renew their contracts
Went from scudeto winners to joke club in 2 years.. cray cray
theo needs a better contract and fonseca and emerson cant be here for the next season
Many fans wil relate to this article. It’s really starting to be apparent that the club is not moving into the direction we thought it would after the Scudetto.
It’s very hard to be optimistic for the next run of games on what we have seen.
Its almost like Bartholomeo wrote this article 🙂
Listen, there are a lot of truths here. There is a lot of inexperience up top as is evident in the coach appointment. And lack of a “connectivity” in the signings.
We have a good roster that could use some more upgrading (RB for one) but it takes a Sporting Director to tie the signings to a cos h that knows what to do with them. That is lacking at Milan clearly and instead we have Fonseca.
Maybe he will turn it around, let’s hope. But my fear is that it will be at a point when the season is lost, like the article mentioned. And the management doesn’t seem likely to cut the coach mid season to then bring another “stabilizer” while also paying the contracts of other two. Maldini did it with Giampaolo. Somebody had the balls there. RedBird likely won’t do that.
RedBird’s financial sustainability is much needed for sure. But maybe the structure under Gerry could use the same upgrading that we have been looking to do across the club.
Ibra is no Sporting Director. Moncada, Furlani and him have separate functions but don’t seem interconnected into any sort of functionality or direction. Three Disjointed arms.
Would we be singing a different song if the results were different? Maybe. Or maybe not – hard to tell. But for now we need to focus on the results, team integration and renewals. And let’s see how the management reacts based on what’s happening on the field.
Haha thanks I’ll take that as a compliment, Oliver is an excellent writer! And he’s objective here, very good article.
Fans just want to win, especially Milan fans used to great players and major trophies. Milan had the momentum recently, after years of painful struggle, qualifying for UCL, winning the Scudetto, going to UCL semifinals so the fans were in right to expect a resurgence. Now it’s over and for the second year in a row it’s a new project. The team is filled with average players, the hiring of Fonseca is a huge joke (last played in UCL in 2018 with Shakthar) and the atmosphere is toxic. Maldini is gone, Pioli is gone so who’s guilty now? It’s obvious that this management by committee is lost and yet, as Oliver evidenced, there is a lot of arrogance. “No panic” is their motto. Wtf it’s probably one of the biggest crisis in the history of the club right now…
I’m with you mate. Fans just want win and trophy. Simple as that. I don’t understand why we need to learn to be accounting and care so much about balance book and healthy financial BS (yes of course it is important, but for a fan?). It used to be simple to support team you love. Now people makes it more complicated.
Another thing that makes me flabbergasted was, if you want club with huge signing go support Madrid, PSG or City. Were they thinking that Nesta, Cafu, Stam, Pippo, Rui Costa, Seedorf were not a huge signing?
We are AC milan, stop acting like Atalanta with 7 UCL patch on its sleeve
Do you understand why Maldini left? It’s not about the results. Namely, when Elliott started selling Milan, Maldini lobbied for it to be Arabs. When R.B. bought Milan, they couldn’t fire him, because Milan won the Scudetto, but he had to leave, because R.B. he couldn’t keep it, which is understandable. Are you saying Milan has average players? Okay. Then go and rest, I see no reason to waste your nerves, when there is no help.
I don’t understand how so many “fans” are so aggressive toward their counterparts, just learn that none of the fans are responsible for the mess at the club. You should turn your bitterness towards the responsible of that aforementioned mess. Peace.
If Milan turn this situation around and start winning, will you praise the management?
Watching the clowns of Juve actually have the balls to start a new long term project with a real plan, meanwhile we’re stuck with cardinales circus is depressing… kalulu laughing his a** rn probably. Can only pray an overhaul happens, and all the brain devoid dross upstairs hits the road. Quote of our summer: “wE dOnT nEeD a ToP mAnAgEr.” It’s arguably the one thing we need more than anything else…
Great article Oliver, the cracks are showing and the veil is lifting. There is no sporting project, Furlani’s laughable BS the other day is evidence of that. You can’t lie to football fans for long… Ibra was told to say that he didn’t want o spend more by Gerry, it’s all lies smoke and mirrors….keep Gerry clean. If Gerry was serous he’d be looking to upgrade the midfield with Ugarte and Koopmeiners this summer…I’m sure next summer we’ll reinvent the midfield for the third time in as many years..
If we see it, then the players see it, is it then any wonder that players seem disenchanted and lazy.
Man that assist from Tonali against France was marvellous. We could really use a midfielder like this haha
But they say Fofana an upgrade from Tonali.. im a bit confused maybe tonali team full of wold class player.. but heard that italian has no football talent.. thats why RB target France player
Then the Italians (I’m not Italian) are surprised that football has hit rock bottom for them. Articles like this contribute to that. You don’t know how to support the team, to give strength to the team, and criticize at the end of the season and say what you have. It is easiest to criticize, but think about how much damage it does. You say Juventus has stepped up? Okay. let’s see with whom: Douglas 55M?? Well, they paid Arturo 75M and is it a guarantee that he is a good player? I’ll tell you it’s not. Watch him play in the national team, nothing special. Kopmainers? ok player was in Atalanta. Same as our Reinders arrived from Alkmaar. There are only more seasons in Seria A. Thuram? When did he play in the French national team? All in all, the price you pay for a player is not a measure of his quality. See you in May. Forza Milan.
So you are ok with the distinct possibility that our season may be over by October? Behind int eh scudetto race and fscing the challenge of the games after Liverpool, Madrid and Leverkusen being ‘must wins’
I support the club and badge, that’s doesn’t guarantee my support of those in charge or on the pitch it simple isn’t good enough, recruitment is bad, and as for May, I’ll happily revisit this with you and compare notes….
When Sassuolo gave us 5 pieces, then Lazio 4, then Inter 3 in the Super Cup final, I didn’t say that we should leave them, but that we should help them get out of the problem. And that’s where you can see the real fans. They could have said that we will not go to the stands until you remove Pioli, but they didn’t. Football is not a video game, so you control the joystick.
What does this even mean…..? You support the club no matter what. Doesn’t mean you don’t defend your club when its worse than it was 3 seasons ago
It’s worse than three seasons ago 🤣🤣. See you in May.
Three seasons ago we won the scudetto…we got to the CL semi final tue following season…in the two seasons since we finished 19 and 20 pints behind the champions..yeah…it’s really progressing…😂 so far this season we have 2 points from 9 against average and newly relegated teams…great progress..
Just for reference, what exactly are you expecting in May?
My oh my, a doom and gloom article at Sempremilan to end the day? I’d get my chair and popcorn ready 🙂
They bring cheaper coach to make better results ?
Financial or which results ?
There just seems to be no proper plan in place to construct the squad. Almost 200 millions later and they still lack in most crucial positions while they got many new fringe players on their books.
They bought players for 433 but hired a coach who plays 4231 and continued with buying players for 433. Wtf?
Also, they should be looking at players in Serie A to reinforce the squad. Not necessarily Italians but players who are used to the league, know language and understand the importance of derbies.
And retrospectively for 200m we could have got Koopmeiners, Ugarte and a very good striker. This is why moneyball doesn’t work, it’s like when you keep buying old broken cars..you buy one, replace it after 6 months and repeat…may as well get a newer car one..complete false economy. Maldini wanted SMS and Berardi, the claim is they were too expensive..yet here we are having spent 200m on average joes and then replacing them the next summer….
You don’t know what moneyball is. Signing international players for €20 million isn’t moneyball, it’s what many Serie A clubs do because that’s the reality of the finances in 2024.
But the some of the parts…..is the parts. By your own admission we’ve spent 200m, the problem is that hasn’t been spent well. We’ve bought lots of cheap players, many of whom haven’t worked out so we have tried to rebuild the midfield for the second summer running….the most important part of the team. Was the intention to spend 200m from the outset? If so, why not do it properly, add Koopmeiners and Ugarte (other options acceptable) ONCE and then add a good striker. Instead of adding players like Musah, RLC and Chukwueze (who I like) and have a value to the team but are NOT world beaters and I think it’s now evident they haven’t improved the level of our team. If the initial intention wasn’t to spend 200m, surely that is an admission of them ‘effing it up’ and having to undo last summers Mercato…two summers in a row, 2 new midfields and still no no6…that has financial implications and the implication that you’re asking a whole set of new players to help again……you get it yet?
As for moneyball, please explain your definition. My understanding is Oakland lost a number of high scoring batters, and unable to compete financially tried to make up the runs they would have made across the season, with a number of players who scored less runs, but across the aggregate max up for the larger amount? If I’m wrong, please inform me, I’m here to be educated
And watching Tonali dominating for 90 minuted against France after almost a year away from the pitch, hurts.
To think they sold him for a bunch of fringe midfielders…
Spending more in the process…utter non footballing amateurism
So Origi and Balo…. Refusing to leave…. But diehard Milan fan Tonali…….. Okay gimme some of that crappy weather but big bucks on Tyneside 👌
(Disclaimer: I don’t hate Tonali. I hope he returns.)
Ah yeah Tonali the traitor… Interesting theory. How convenient that his outrageous betrayal allowed the bankers to fund their idiotic rebuild of the team. I guess it was a « I’ll pack his bags » type of offer from Newcastle.
Yes I called him a traitor…. Wait, hang on – it’s just Comrade Bart making up sh*t again 😂. It’s a simple question man: Why didn’t Tonali refuse to leave – like Orig and Balo?
(*Pls try to answer without creating a fantasy dreamscape scenario.)
In the interview with his agent, he said it was hard to convince him but in the end he understood that’s best for the club who’ll get much needed money from his sale.
It was also reported by Athletic, NUFC came for Barella but they rejected them and heard Liverpool wanted Tonali but Milan are open to sell Tonali but asked too much for him. Which was not too much for Newcastle.
But you knew all that already, you just conveniently left it out in hope fans will forget.
“he said it was hard to convince him but in the end he understood that’s best for the club who’ll get much needed money from his sale.”
In other words he said…. ‘”Yes.”
Balo and Origi said “No.”
Do you see what I’m getting at….?
I’m glad he left because this club has become toxic average. Can’t imagine the sh*tstorm over him from this fan community here if he rejected Newcastle and stayed but then we lose him due to betting issues.
Then the Italians (I’m not Italian) are surprised that football has hit rock bottom for them. Articles like this contribute to that. You don’t know how to support the team, to give strength to the team, and criticize at the end of the season and say what you have. It is easiest to criticize, but think about how much damage it does. You say Juventus has stepped up? Okay. let’s see with whom: Douglas 55M?? Well, they paid Arturo 75M and is it a guarantee that he is a good player? I’ll tell you it’s not. Watch him play in the national team, nothing special. Kopmainers? ok player was in Atalanta. Same as our Reinders arrived from Alkmaar. There are only more seasons in Seria A. Thuram? When did he play in the French national team? All in all, the price you pay for a player is not a measure of his quality. See you in May. Forza Milan.
You are missing the point. The club was heading in the right direction , young talented players, an entertaining style, debt was going down . We won the Scudetto and made the semis of the CL from the basis of good work done by Boban, Massara & Maldini.
Then RedBird bought the club and things started changing(as change is inevitable) but has it been for the better?
The club sold Tonali who was a bandiera and pillar that the team should have been built around. When he was sold Reijnders, Musah & RLC replaced him and where are we at now? None of those players is in Tonali’s level.
Maldini made mistakes but he was right about one thing and made it clear publicly after the Scudetto. The management needed to invest in 3/4 Top players to raise the level or everything will just fade away, a temporary blip.
That’s exactly what is happening now.
Us fans do not need to wait for May , we see the team and how they are playing, the new players brought in.
The moves of the management also reveal a lot more then the words released in their conferences.
I watched Tonali last season and he led Newcastle to the Champions League final and the English title. Oh, if that didn’t happen because he was suspended. Milan was second and in the most difficult group (PSG and Dortmund played in the semi-finals) we did not pass because of goal difference. Is it a disaster? Don’t talk nonsense. Milan has a good base of players and it will go in the right direction.
Things started to change after the scudetto, because the genius Pioli said we draw the line and start a new beginning with a new way of playing. Well, my people, when you win, you don’t change, you continue. There, those are our failures. Fear of continuing to win. And how come the Tomori Kalulu pair are bad after being good?
It is now clear that Moneyball is not suitable for Milan. It may be suitable for other small clubs, but it is definitely not suitable for Milan. It is time to sacrifice a player or players like Theo Hernandez or Mike Maignan to terminate the contracts of unwanted players. Moncada should be the red bird instead of Ibrahimovic. The last part is about the coach, the coach must be young because modern football requires a young coach.