The AC Milan ownership have great respect for Stefano Pioli and they intend to stick with him, but a strong end to the season is needed.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below) writes how the games against Sampdoria, Juventus and Hellas Verona are ones that Milan must win to try and secure qualification for the next edition of the Champions League.
Being back in Europe’s top club competition is a decisive milestone for the sporting and financial development of the project and without it the leadership would be forced into reflections.
In theory the games against the already-relegated Sampdoria and the relegation-threatened Verona are ones Milan should win, but Juve are in second while waiting for their new punishment and a trip to the Allianz Stadium is never easy.
However, this season Milan have failed to beat Lecce twice, lost heavily at home to Sassuolo, drew with Salernitana, lost against Udinese, Fiorentina and Spezia while also failing to beat Empoli, Bologna or Cremonese.
Pioli will be able to rely on his key performers with the Champions League run over, but they are worn out by an intense season and there are therefore no guarantees that the team will win all three games, something that is surely needed to finish fourth.
The ideal is to qualify for the 2023-24 edition of the Champions League by finishing fourth, but even getting fifth could be enough as Juve are awaiting the judgment of the federal court of appeal, with the hypothesis of a penalty that would demote them from the podium.
If the Rossoneri were to limp over the finish line early next month then Gerry Cardinale would be forced into decisions. Pioli signed an agreement last October until the summer of 2025 at €4m net for season, so for a club that focuses on financial prudence paying two coaches wouldn’t make much sense.
In addition to that, Pioli enjoys the esteem of the property. He was the coach who picked up a team in confusion after the brief management of Marco Giampaolo, taking them to the Europa League and then to the Champions League, winning the Scudetto and reaching a semi-final this season in Europe.
He raised young players, from Tonali to Leao, and was helped by leaders like Giroud, Kjaer and Ibrahimovic. He was a coach, psychologist, friend and even a family member to some players, with Leao calling him a ‘father’.
The owners defended him even in the darkest moments, such as the January crisis. The leaders appreciate his low profile off the field, with how he behaves in front of the cameras and his personal and communication style.
However, the league table does not lie and sometimes the final standings make tough decisions much easier.
Ditching Pioli and the management right now would be a mistake. He’s narrowly missed the main objective (top 4) but gotten to a UCL semi final, which no-one expected. And he’s done it without the salary level of Inter or Juve or many top European clubs.
If we need to point fingers, I’d look at mistakes above him with recruitment, but there’s a lot of clubs trying to win out there – you can’t win everything every year.
Well. Said.
I was against Piolis contract extention at rhat time. Pioli is not such high profile coach who wanted by many top clubs. I always think, that Maldini should have first evaluated him for this season, then make decision.
However many fans decide to condemn the owner due to minimum budget. Yes, it would be nice to have owner like Man City, Chelsea etc. But a good coach is also required to succed.
They never put quetion to maldinis decision.
Now we would probably stick with him for the next 2 seasons.. quite worrying future for milan.
Yes absolutely agree. We need to continue with Pioli, and management should buy several high caliber players.
If they decide to stick with Pioli they’d better deliver proper reinforcements. And I do mean reinforcements and not some “future prospects with 5 years to develop into a decent player”. Half of the squad needs to be dumped ASAP. The ones the Pioli think are world-class and will field them no matter what (like having actually far better players on the bench as well).
Pioli won’t turn de ketelaeres or saelemaekersis into world-class superstars so the management absolutely has to deliver players who take the level much higher. 11 decent players aren’t enough – we need good substitutes as well. This season we had none.
Dumped like Darmian, Acerbi, De Sciglio, Çalhanoğlu, Locatelli…….who all now play for teams above us?
Have you not seen how the exact same players can perform completely differently from one season to the next?
Here’s Shevchenko’s form over 5 seasons:
Mian 02/03 39/10
Milan 03/04 45/29
Milan 04/05 40/26
Milan 05/06 40/28
Chelsea 06/07 51/14
How did Shevchenko go from 10 goals in 02/03 to 29/45 and the Ballon d’Or one season later?
What gives you the absolute certainty to rate and write off players?
Is it FIFA?
You picked the wrong player to make your point,
In 02/03 Shevchenko was dealing with injuries, thats why he didn’t have individually a very productive season.
Why didn’t you include the 2 years prior to 2022/23 when he scored 24 goals in each serie A season, winning Copacannoniere in his first season in Italy.
Sheva was great even before he got to Milan.
He was 3rd in Ballon d’Or voting in both ’99 and 2000.
Aren’t Origi and Rebic struggling with injuries?
What happened when he went to Chelsea?
Maybe it was a new club/new league?
Like, erm, CDK?
Or how about the whole Chelsea squad in 14/15, 15/16 and 16/17 when almost the exact same players went from 1st to 10th to 1st?
What happened to the great Mourinho that he was the best manager in the world in 14/15 and has done nothing since?
The point is we can’t have this great certainty. If it was that simple then football and life would be simple.
Do not compare a great player like Shevchenko with bums like Rebic or Origi or CDk.
Sheva had 10+ seasons of greatness behind him when he left for Chelsea. What do those 3 have? Sheva at CDK’s age , came from the Ukrainain league and was the best striker in the best league in the world in his 1st season in the new league.
He was 30 years old and beat up when he moved to Chelsea.
Also he was coming off of a back surgery.
Plus his numbers at Chelsea are 22 goals in 77 games, not that bad with everything that was happening. And still better than the 3 bums you compare him with.
That’s an asinine attempt by you to make a ridiculous point.
Just stop ✋️
“What gives you the absolute certainty to rate and write off players?
Is it FIFA?”
LOL. Haven’t played it for 15 years so… No. So probably it’s been longer since I’ve last played it than you’ve been on this planet.
With some players you can see clearly they’re not meant to be superstars. Good example was Niang. It was bloody obvious to anyone yet he was in Milan way longer than it was necessary.
Absolute certainty? There is no such things in life. By 20 everyone should know that already. Even at younger age.
It’s not written in the stones but if we’re totally honest I don’t see the potential in CDK either – as with Niang. He doesn’t have the mental strength and will to make it. It says a lot when you analyze his comments on why he quit tennis. He preferred football over tennis because when you lose in tennis it all on YOU. In football the blame goes to others (too). So basically he’s saying he cannot handle the pressure of losing without someone else to blame.
Sure, get back to me in 2-3 years and name-call me as much as you want but I’m sure CDK will never live up to the hype. Not in a big club anyways. He’d be better off playing for a small town club in some “lesser” league with less pressure.
“How did Shevchenko go from 10 goals in 02/03 to 29/45 and the Ballon d’Or one season later?”
Like said, Sheva had accomplished his status and was a world-class striker even before joining Milan and most importantly suffered injuries on the “only 10 goals”-season. 10 goals btw. Ten. That’s ten more than CDK. How many goals have Milan players scored in recent years? Only 2 has done double digits lately – and even then closer to 10 than 20.
I’m not sure Niang is a good example as he was a key part to Milan finishing in the top 3 in 12/13.
Many of that squad including the entire front line are still playing. We could’ve kept the majority of that squad for a decade.
But apparently none of them had the “mental strength”.
That “mental strength” really gets challenged when players are moved around like cattle. Actually cattle’s a bad example since farmers usually keep their animals for years to fatten them up.
What’s an example of an asset that is continually moved around for no apparent reason including “loaned” to direct competitors?
I guess that just unique to football….
“But apparently none of them had the “mental strength”.”
Read again. I never said anything about mental strength on anyone else than CDK. Don’t go twisting my words to suit your agenda.
Pioli is a “yes man” and that is why management likes him. He keeps his head down and doesn’t make waves knowing full well he is in a position that is way, way, WAY over his competence level and if he loses this gig, its only downhill from there.
Unlike M&M, he will do as he is told, say what he is told to say, and work with any crap player owners throw at him. All great qualities of a great housebroken dog.
Milan management should not be stingy break the bank and sign solid perfect player not loan or free transfer Milan are too big for that Milan should sign somebody like ritsu for play maker role to support Diaz then Moussa Diaby to support saelermakers Noah Okafor to support leao and not free transfer Milan are too big for that champions of italy
If you want Milan to spend so much how about you get out your own wallet and buy players yourself?
What right do you have to demand that other people spend money on football players to satisfy your superficial whims?
You’re not going to get any better than Pioli with this group of players. He’s performing miracles with this team.
No he isn’t you’re insane
Nah! I think Pioli should be sacked!
There are so many other managers available right now who can do a much better job than him.
If we stick with him longer, we will be just like Juventus and Allegri with the 15 points deduction except with a smaller budget.
I’m talking about the time period from when Allegri just took over from Pirlo at Juventus until now.