Hiring Stefano Pioli made ‘a lot more sense’ for AC Milan than opting for Luciano Spalletti, according to one journalist.
The Rossoneri confirmed the appointment of Pioli as their new head coach today via a statement on their official website.
Marco Giampaolo was sacked after just seven games and 111 days in charge, having lost four out of his first seven games in charge.
Luciano Spalletti appeared to be the man set to take the job, however that all stalled when it was revealed that he could not agree a severance package with Inter.
ESPN pundit and insider Gab Marcotti though believes that Milan got the better of the two anyway, given their current situation.
“I think out of the possibilities, given it’s midseason, Stefano Pioli makes a ton more sense than Luciano Spalletti,” he told them.
“Of course there are risks attached to anything, but I think it could have been potentially worse to keep Giampaolo.
“On Spalletti though, first of all you’re looking at a guy who has two years left [on his deal] at Inter, so you’re looking at about €20million over two years.
“There’s no reason to throw good money after bad with that guy. The other thing – we know how this guy got Inter into fourth place, it came down to one game against Lazio that could have gone the other way.
“We should also remind ourselves that the big millstone around Inter’s neck financially is down to Nainggolan, Perisic and Icardi.
“He extended the contracts of the first two, Nainggolan was a guy he personally wanted, and part of the reason Conte couldn’t get the depth that he wanted is because of the decisions that this guy [Spalletti] made.
“We also remember how badly they played at certain times and he goes off message: this is not what Milan need right now.
“Spalletti might be a situation where you’re thinking ‘I want to win now, last piece of the puzzle’. He’s not somebody to take you places, and the other big thing is he’s not somebody who has a history of success in working with youngsters.
“That on the other hand is one of the things that makes Stefano Pioli appealing I think.
“It is also my understanding that Pioli’s style especially in his last appointment at Fiorentina, they feel that he counter-pressed really really well.
“Pioli is a guy who keeps trying to update the way he plays. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes he doesn’t. I think that’s where they want to be, I don’t think it’s any mystery when you look at the very top.”
You can watch the rest of his analysis below…
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