With Stefano Pioli departing after the end of the season, AC Milan have been holding talks with several managers to evaluate who can lead the club forward after the 58-year-old leaves, and a report has emerged about how Julen Lopetegui reacted following the Rossonero backlash.
In the past week, reports suggested that Milan were set on Lopetegui to replace Pioli. However, the reaction from the fans quickly caused a turnaround. Social media can be a powerful tool for fans to voice things, and they did so with the news of the Spaniard’s potential arrival.
From ‘Nopetegui’ to protests, the Diavolo’s management were backed into a corner where they had to refuse the idea of Lopetegui, and today, Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews) have reported how he has reacted to this.
The report suggests that the former Wolverhampton Wanderers coach had been ‘anticipating and cherishing’ the idea of becoming the head coach of Milan. However, following the reaction from the fans, the club opted that he was not the man for the job, leaving him ‘stunned’.
According to Gazzetta, he is believed to have underestimated the impact of the Rossonero voice on the management and was shocked to see the reaction from supporters about the potential of him leading the club.
Both parties will now look for new opportunities, but it has shown the management how important this decision is, on and off the field.
So much for the numerous posters here who were saying that RedBird wouldn’t listen to concerns from the fans and would just do whatever would be cheaper for them, as these people think that RedBird, due to being Americans, are evil. Well, it seems like RedBird listened to Curva Sud after all and scratched the Lopetegui plan once the tifosi expressed strong objections.
He was an average candidate anyway.
It’s good that the fans are being listened to. But they have used their get-out-of-jail-free card. Ownership won’t reject every candidate the fans object to. And let’s hope management is wiser than to choose Conte — who always leaves scorched earth behind him.
And contrary to many posters here, Milan could do worse than to keep Pioli — much worse. The players seem to like him. But Pioli needs to adjust and innovate — something he hasn’t done well this year. Pioli’s record is better than that of many of candidates being considered. But he has let himself get set in his ways. This could change however.
He *NEVER* should have been the top candidate.
NEVER.
Incompetent management looking for the cheapest OBEDIANT option.
As a selling team, winning is no longer our objective, only profit is.
Success is now measured solely in $$$.
LMAO!!! What does GDS know….. Headlines are getting ludicrous.