With Napoli now favourites in the Scudetto race, Antonio Vitiello believes AC Milan are being shown their blunder in not going for Antonio Conte.
Milan’s season is a strange paradox, given that they are ninth in the Serie A table and were knocked out of the Champions League by Feyenoord, which represents two big red crosses next to the list of objectives for 2024-25.
Yet, there is the possibility of winning two trophies. After the Supercoppa Italiana triumph out in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of January, the Rossoneri will take on Bologna in the Coppa Italia final next month hoping to earn a European place that way.
Big changes are expected in the summer including the hiring of a new sporting director and also a new head coach too, with various names linked for each position.
Vitiello has published a column for MilanNews in which he dedicated a section – as he has done in the past two editions as well – to Conte, who he clearly believes was/is the right man for Milan.
“What really can’t be swallowed is how it was possible not to hire Antonio Conte last summer. The Napoli coach is first in the standings with 4 games to go and has a real chance of winning the Scudetto,” he said.
Here is what Zlatan Ibrahimovic said about Conte on the day of Fonseca’s presentation, last June: ‘Conte? With all due respect to him, but he is not what we were looking for. We wanted a coach, not a manager’.
“Conte would have gladly come to Milan, in fact, he waited for a call that never came. Nothing, not even the idea of going to get him. A sensational blunder by the Milan management, who underestimated the role of the coach.
“Perhaps they thought they could easily get into the top four, but the lack of ambition to win backfired. There is a way to fix it , for next year we need to rely on a great coach. The Diavolo must focus on an experienced coach.
“To forget this terrible season we need to react in the market with targeted purchases, a prepared sports director and a winning coach. Will Cardinale, Ibra and Furlani do it?”
They all talk about lessons like we missed on a second coming of Cruijff or something. He’s 3 points clear at the top but only plays one competition. Nothing special. He’s constantly whining and threating to quit and has no problem to actually abandon his team and players if he suddenly feels like. Too unstable and unpredictable. We above all need consistency and stability.
Have you seen the Napoli squad it is dire, remember no Osiman and Kavra!!!, if he had them it would be different, but with the squad he has to be this close to winning title is nothing short of phenomenal
They had Kvara for half a season. Plus David Neres and Lukaku are their main attacking outlets.
Sacchi was better the Cryujf on every level by the way
That’s not the point of my comment so calm your tits Nancy.
It was implied that Cruyjff was in a different plane, but just needed to point out that was the case, but you got your ‘fannypack’ all in a twist and felt compelled to retort
Yes, he is in a different plane. In comparison with Conte as I did. That triggered you and you threw Ancelotti in the mix. Cringe and childish.
I wants more of a say than he could get in the manage by committee philosophy here so I think he went where he fit in.
Conte vs 1 competition, fine.
Unfortunately Milan started this season playing in 4 competitions. Conte can’t handle 4 competitions.
That’s why he’s never won a single UCL knockout round match in over 12 years.
Terrible mistake not hire Conte, may be due to Zlatan arrogant.Conte is a charismatic coach not someone who can be influenced easily by Zlatan.Milan is bigger than anybody Mr Zlatan, leave your ego and go with a winning coach like Conte or Gasperini
Milan need to use conte not as a three year project or longer. Rather as a sick therapy reset to the team. Allegri’s Juve and Inzaghi’s Inter were both built on Conte’s back.
Bring him in for. Season or two at most. He will get the best out of these players and will unlock them. Then bring in whichever “project” coach feels right.
By then maybe we’ll actually have a competent ownership group. But with Conte as coach Elliott will sell Milan on a lot easier than without him.