In just over seven days we will know a lot about how AC Milan’s 2023-24 season will be judged, and from that it can be deduced what the plans might be for the summer and beyond.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, Milan have in their four and a half years of Stefano Pioli’s tutelage regularly found a way to emerge from dark periods with total strength, and have also often finished seasons strongly.
Now the decisive moment is approaching on the horizon: from Thursday 18th to Monday 22nd April, first Roma and then Inter. Pioli will also experience his ‘five days’ with Milan, which could define his future and also how his tenure is viewed.
The umbrella of management
Milan fans have asked themselves more this season than any other season which team will show up on any given day. A run of seven wins in a row was followed by a flat defeat against Roma and a draw against Sassuolo with three goals conceded.
What is most worrying is that when Milan lose their way they seem to do so in an exaggerated manner. It was already known that the Euroderby with Roma and the Milanese derby would be two of the decisive moments of the season, but the fast pace between the victory over Lazio (1 March) and the one against Lecce (6 April) had calmed speculation about a summer revolution.
Translated into practical terms: if after the draw against Salernitana (22 December) the percentage of Pioli remaining was decidedly low, the percentage had gradually risen to a sort of tranquility threshold.
CEO Giorgio Furlani remarked the following: “No one from the club has ever spoken about the coach being at risk. Now it would be ungenerous to evaluate it based on the future path in the Europa League or the outcome of the derby, however important it is.”
President Paolo Scaroni backed up his words: “I have always said that Pioli stays, because I like coaches who win and, since we are doing well, I like Pioli.”
Two decisive games
In theory we are moving towards a Milan in 2024-25 that are still under Pioli, but at a club like Milan the confirmation of a coach must be based on the results that occur on the field and not continuity for the sake of it.
The last two matches against Roma and Sassuolo are once again a siren that sounds loudly in the presence of the four crucial days for the final judgment by the ownership. The scenarios are different, and with different degrees of potential consequences.
Let’s start with the Europa League: the defeat against the Giallorossi was not just a blow because it means a comeback is needed at the Stadio Olimpico, but also because of the way it happened. The idea of exiting the competition against a team 14 points behind in the league would be difficult to digest at the top levels.
If the Rossoneri also lost the derby against Inter and thus they celebrated their 20th Scudetto at the full-time whistle, it would also be (very) complicated to give full credence to the management’s words on Pioli’s future at Milanello.
The three options
Losing both games is obviously the worst possible nightmare scenario. Then there would be the middle ground: getting to the semi-finals of the Europa League but losing the derby, or vice versa.
If they were forced to choose, the fans are more likely to want to sacrifice the European path in order to halt the Nerazzurri’s celebrations. However, for Gerry Cardinale and RedBird Capital, it is European football that is considered fundamental.
The best scenario – a European semi-final plus Inter’s party postponed – would most likely instead allow the club not to ask itself questions about the coach’s future. Pioli would then gather energy and ideas to try lift his team again.
Wins against both Sassuolo and Roma were taken away by these funny little guys jogging around the pitch in powder blue shirts. Pioli and the players can do all they want in the return leg or the derby but these refereeing goofballs have the final say.
Mostly agree.
Whilst neither performance was good. They weren’t terrible. There were fine margins in both games and we were on the wrong end of some key decisions. We had good moments and bad in each game.
If we can cut out the defensive mistakes that will help a lot. As long as we start the next two games with Tomori & Gabbia we should solve most of those problems.
In a league that rewards forwards and makes it hard for defenders to do their job, VAR is sure helping, isn’t it…
@dejan10: Honestly we can’t always blame the referees for all our problems. During the 7 games in a row we won against Praga, Fiorentina, Lazio and Lecce,… many could argue that referee was on our side. IT’s sometimes with us, sometimes against us.
Just want to see the last of pioli magic to turn things around as he always does
Hi This is Ryan Reza I think Milan>Inter
Don’t forget the Juve match lurking behind the Inter-match. 3 losses would guarantee us a new coach next season. 3 wins would guarantee we “get to” keep Pioli.
So I guess there are pros and cons to every outcome here.
To be honest, if Pioli manages to win the EL and not screw the derby I think he will have earned another season.
I agree as the chances of that happening are 1 in a million. 😀