Without a top four finish and with an exit to rivals Inter in the semi-finals of the Champions League, AC Milan’s entire project is at risk of a big step backwards.
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After the 2-0 defeat against Spezia on Saturday which complicates the race for the Champions League places, La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below) reports that there are two/three weeks coming which will decide the season.
Milan are two turning points away from a glorious year, as Pioli would say, with fourth place and a Champions League final place something that has not been seen since the early 2000s. However, a collapse against Inter and a Europa League place would make the season a clear disappointment.
With Inter in the Champions League, then Sampdoria at home, Juve away and Verona at home, the next four games will decide everything. Roma’s draw against Bologna means that if Juve are excluded from the Champions League, fifth place might be all that is needed and the Rossoneri are currently there.
The revenues from the 2023-24 Champions League are crucial for the project given that they guarantee at least €40m (Milan last season collected €44m in UEFA prize money for a group stage elimination) and everything suggests that the project could continue.
At the end of June, RedBird renewed Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara’s contract and then Stefano Pioli extended until 2025 with continuity the key message. Renewals of players like Bennacer, Tonali, Tomori, Giroud and soon Leao followed, showing Milan trust all of its key players.
The millions from the next edition of the Champions League would thus serve to strengthen the team, to focus on two quality players, to continue a path that began in 2019 and was partially slowed down in this strange, crazy 2023.
However, only being in the Europa League would open doubts about a project that has had its ups and downs this season. On the one hand, the semi-final of the Champions League goes beyond all expectations, because Milan certainly do not have a squad for the European top four.
On the other hand, the team has taken steps backwards. Kessie has been missed and some key players have not been as consistent, while summer signings like De Ketelaere and Origi above all gave little or no contributiom.
Missing out on the UCL costs prestige, international visibility and at least €35m, which would force RedBird to redefine the summer plans on the market. Gerry Cardinale would also be forced to consider the future of Paolo Maldini, Ricky Massara, Stefano Pioli and all the key men of this management.
Pioli certainly seems to be in difficulty at the moment pushing a team that has lost some of its principles. Then, Cardinale has repeatedly spoken of data as a key to winning choices and RedBird love young players, with low salary, not necessarily ready immediately but with quality. Ideas compatible with the choices of Maldini and Massara? We must see.
Milan already knows that several players will leave in July: Tatarusanu, Mirante, Dest, Bakayoko and Ibrahimovic. Ballo-Touré, Vranckx, Adli, Rebic plus perhaps even Messias and Origi risk being sold/leaving too.
Milan’s squad for next season will certainly be different and the aim is to strengthen the depth options. The project still possesses economic solidity, ambition and potential, but backwards steps force reflections.
