Another objective for the season vanished into thin air last night as AC Milan were beaten 3-0 in the Supercoppa Italiana final against Inter.
La Gazzetta dello Sport begin their analysis of Milan’s current situation by remarking how Gordon Singer was present at the game at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the current own of the club Gerry Cardinale watched from his New York office instead.
Paolo Maldini did not show up in front of the cameras before or after the game to answer what would have been some difficult questions regarding the current moment that the team are going through.
The season so far has not gone to plan. Milan had the duty to try and win the Scudetto against, as holders, but they are nine points below Napoli and a defence can almost be ruled out. At the same time, Milan had a duty to try win both/either of the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, but lost in both within a week.
The club currently believe that they are on a virtuous path, both on the pitch and looking at the accounts, and therefore the glass is still half full in their eyes. The failure on two of the four fronts will not cause a big bang, but there must be careful reflections, both to examine any errors and to find correctives in the second half of the season.
There is, in particular, a huge watershed that hangs over the Diavolo’s head at this point: qualification for the next Champions League. It is an objective which is currently in reach but seems to become more and more difficult with each bad result, so an improvement in performance is needed.
The competition is fierce yet Milan need to find a way to finish in the top four to secure the €40-50m that the Champions League brings in revenues, otherwise the project would be thrust into doubt.
It is here where the reflections begin, as Maldini and Massara’s last summer market is proving to be increasingly fallacious as the months go on with De Ketelaere’s struggles and Origi’s lack of goals.
Being left without the Champions League would be an economic disaster that this club cannot afford and the microscope would move to Pioli, who was and remains the greatest architect of Milan’s resurgence in the last two years, though he too is now held to higher standards.
Pioli has a lot of trust from the management and the ownership above, but the examination between now and the end of the season also includes him.
Well ,this is exactly what we should expect from our team after that horrific friendlies we played vs arsenal,liverpool and psv.
Well, it is easy actually. If Milan does not reach Champions League next year, coach must be sacked. And..
From summer, Milan must sold and release: “Tatarusanu, Mirante, Ballo Toure, Florenzi, Dest, Bakayoko, Messias, Saelemakers Origi, Rebic, and Ibrahimovic to become a coach. Adli and Lazetic send on loan”.
Bring to first squad primavera stars. And try to bring Kessie replacement, right winger, and two strikers.
What the hell have the coach done bad to be sack which coach would lead this current players that you and i know
Bring from the primavera you all crying of what’s their position on the log just let them grow where they are and give Mr Pioli mature players and not this kids who needed time please its not Mr Pioli fault at all
Well, still Milan have bigger revenue compare to Lazio, Roma and Atalanta. And Milan squad is more valuable than competition. If he can’t handle to win against weaker club on paper- we need coach who can, year by year.
If you sell Ballo-Touré, Pobega, Krunic, Messias, and Origi at their current market value (according to Transfermarkt), you have a little over 40M. That neither kills our depth nor quality and with that, you can get a decent player.
Combined those players wouldn’t bring in more than 14 million, let alone 40.
This is frankly ridiculous. Supercup is a glorified friendly. I’d happily get tonked in the Supercup and win a league game instead. Retaining the league was never likely to be after losing key players.
The season’s objectives were top 4 and Champions’ League second round. If both of those are a ‘yes’ then it’s been a very successful season.
I don’t agree that, Supercoppa is a glorified friendly.. Yes, winning the league, will put all the scars behind.. And, it will make Supercoppa look like, a less relevant trophy. We can retain the Scudetto, I hope that, we stay focused..
I don’t agree with sacking Pioli. However, I do think he needs to do more with the group that he has such as switch formations/tactics to better fit the personnel. The thing that is the most frustrating is our defense. It is basically the same group that was our strength from last season. The only thing different is Tata in goal instead of Mike. I know that Mike is awesome but the last time I checked he doesn’t play on the defensive line.
I’m not very active in outsmarting other milan fans, or just don’t wanna playing smar-a$$.
Just wanna say: I don’t see a point why Redbird outbid an investment company which wanted to invest in our club? Why did you buy us just to continue get low-cost or free of charge players, contininuing fighting for mediocracy? There are better clubs for doing that policy, like Ajax, Benfica or even Atalanta…
Please, release yourself and us l, and resell our worshiped club to someone who wishes to invest in a high class club like we suppose to be and end this nightmare for real AC Milan supporters
Karen’s target – to win all games, world class signing.. Owner target-CL qualification, low budget signing.. a lot of critics this time around just like last year.. fans still think we are in berlusconi era..