AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli racked up an important milestone during the win against Lecce as it marked his 100th victory since taking charge.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport likens Pioli’s journey so far to climbing a ladder, where the first steps were ones into the unknown but the determination was there to take the journey rung by rung to continue moving upwards.
Pioli is aiming to follow up the Scudetto win with a third straight top four finish in the league, while in Europe he has the possibility of taking the Rossoneri to the final for the first time in 16 years if the Rossoneri can beat Inter over two legs.
While fighting on a double front it is necessary to keep picking up wins, starting with a victory against Roma in the game on Saturday at the Olimpico. Pioli said it himself: “The matches against Roma, Lazio and Juve will determine the final standings.”
An assist was offered by the Giallorossi themselves as they lost 3-1 against Atalanta to move Milan up to fourth on goal difference, while there is additional motivation for Pioli’s men after the collapse in January during the 2-2 draw which ended up sparking a crisis.
The numbers of Pioli’s tenure are impressive. He has won 56% of the 179 games coached, the same as Ancelotti and better than people like Capello (54%), Rocco (53%) and Sacchi (51%).
In the gallery of 100 wins, the 3-0 against Lazio and the 4-2 against Juve in the summer of 2020 shine, the one in which his Milan blossomed after the first lockdown. The 11-10 on penalties against Rio Ave in the 2020-21 Europa League play-offs was a key moment too.
The 3-0 away against Juve and the 2-0 in Bergamo against Atalanta were decisive for the return to the Champions League eight years after the last time, while Giroud’s double in the derby and in the 3-0 against Sassuolo sealed the Scudetto.
This season has been full of memories too: the 1-0 over Tottenham and Napoli in the first leg of the two Champions League knockout clashes, the 4-0 at the Maradona in the league and the 3-2 in the first derby.
Pioli has other things to achieve though. On Sunday at San Siro he overtook Allegri becoming the coach with the eighth-most games in Milan history, with Arrigo Sacchi (220 games) next in line.
Pioli will certainly cross the finish line of 188 benches, but could reach 189 if Milan reach the Champions League final. Sacchi became European champion immediately after winning his first Scudetto, and to emulate that would be something quite remarkable.
