RedBird and Gerry Cardinale had probably imagined their AC Milan journey to be in a better position than it currently is, and a report has been critical of their time at the club.
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Arriving in 2022, Milan have been trophyless since the arrival of Cardinale and RedBird, and this season seems likely to be another season similar to the last, if not worse.
Unfortunately, the second-place finish of last season means little in the long run, and a club of the Rossoneri’s size cannot focus on results like that when the current situation looks like it does.
Now, as Antonio Vitiello writes for MilanNews, this season looks like a ‘huge stain’ on the Rossoneri. A team that has never been in the Scudetto fight and the RedBird project cannot be looked at as anything other than a ‘flop’ at present.
“Seventh place in the standings, with an average of only 1.57 points per game, is truly a huge stain on Milan. The team has NEVER been in contention for the title since the first day of the season, but now the situation has become truly heavy,” he said.
“And having arrived at December 10, after a sufficient number of games played, we can make an initial assessment of the corporate strategies set up by the club in the summer. To date, Gerry Cardinale’s Redbird sports project is a flop.
“He has set up a structure that is leaking from every side and over time it will have the effect of people distancing themselves more and more from Milan because there is no empathy and communication.
“The American owner has made bad choices from the beginning. The first was to have entrusted Milan to Ibrahimovic when he was not yet ready. More experienced managers were needed.
“The statements made last June 13 by Zlatan at Milanello on the day of the presentation of the 2024-25 season and the new coach still sound cloying today. Six months ago Ibrahimovic spoke in these terms: ‘Now we are making history. As long as I am here, the future is bright’.
“While on the relationship with the owners: ‘We speak the same language with Cardinale. I would not have joined Milan without a project with these ambitions. RedBird is not afraid of challenges, I can guarantee this’.
“After six months we are here to comment on a Milan that if it goes well could finish in fourth place in the standings, otherwise it will remain out of the next Champions League and will be a disaster. In cascade the managerial choices were not correct, such as relying on Paulo Fonseca.
“Today the Portuguese is one of the scapegoats, but who chose him? Ibrahimovic, Furlani and Moncada said they took Fonseca to play a dominant game, but this dominance has rarely been seen.
“Here too there is data to prove it. Yet another choice made with presumption, where the role of the coach was underestimated. And we always return to the same topic, with many possible choices in the summer…
“The market is also incomplete, there is a lack of replacements in some main roles and in the long run the regulars will decline due to inevitable tiredness. Pulisic is the clear example, but also Theo Hernandez or poor Fofana who has to play them all by force.
“A series of significant errors. Now what can be done? First of all, qualify for the Champions League round of 16 without going through the play-offs, because the calendar allows it. In January, invest to cover the gaps in the squad. Try to win the Supercoppa (it won’t be easy), and finish in the top four.
“Then reset and make completely different choices for next season. Because if this is the sporting project, Cardinale would do well to pass the baton.”