AC Milan’s issues in the present moment can be split into a micro problem and a macro problem, according to one journalist.
Milan have gone from being in a potential Scudetto battle two months ago to a collapse that now threatens to see even Champions League football drift away. The Rossoneri have won just two of their last seven games, and they have scored once in their last five matches in the league.
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Everyone has come under fire after such a bad run, from the head coach Massimiliano Allegri to a struggling squad, as well as the directors that assembled it and the ownership that are watching Inter close the trophy gap rapidly.
The big and the small
Sky reporter Peppe Di Stefano spoke about the moment that Milan find them in with a top four finish becoming more complicated after the weekend’s results, and his comments were relayed by PianetaMilan.
“I hope that Casa Milan can draw inspiration from victories like Inter’s to forge a new path, because we’ve realised, by talking about it, that the path we’ve taken over the last three and a half years isn’t the right one, he said.
“The current pitch problem exists, everyone has their faults. I have my own ideas and I’m clear-headed enough to separate the two issues. I’ve defined the current on-field problem as a micro problem, which is there and exists, everyone has their faults: from the players to the coach.
“Something’s wrong if you’re first or second for two-thirds of the season, and then you find yourself with seven points in seven games. And this is a problem that needs to be solved: Milan must return to the Champions League.
“Then there’s a macro problem in my opinion: Milan must reorganise itself better. It must rediscover its DNA, its reference points, its credibility and above all, put one thing at the centre of its ideas, its meetings, its methodology: victory. Not financial stability.
“I understand, but if you’re in charge of Milan, you have a responsibility to the fans. And we’re not talking about a Milan that doesn’t spend, but a Milan that has spent badly. I’d add: beyond the money spent, we need clarity about roles within the club.
“I’ve never agreed – it’s not the first time I’ve said so – with the loss of key figures like Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara. I’ve disliked the relentless attack over the years against people, figures and coaches like Stefano Pioli, Sérgio Conceição, Paulo Fonseca, or icons like Davide Calabria or Theo Hernández.
“We shouldn’t find a scapegoat to divert attention, we need to find a solution to make Milan Milan again, regaining that DNA and those points of reference that are missing today.
“And there is one thing Inter has done well in recent years: it never gives in to the flattery of other clubs for their champions. That creates structure, mentality and loyalty among the people: the people of Inter today trust the Inter management.”
When Inter want a player they sign him. When Milan wants the player it is always embarrassing, offering half of his value and in the end paying the full price. Inter also knows how to sign free players, Milan thinks the player doesn’t deserve anything else after running down his contract so Milan signed 0 of those players. Thuram, Ndicka, Hermoso, Rabiot were opportunities in the past few years but Milan offered terms like Atalanta would. Milan is ran like Atalanta, so no titles.
Imagine if Milan offered a bit more and showed Thuram they really want him as the first striker. Or Ndicka, or Hermoso, or Manu Kone at that time. And so on. Roma outbid us on 3 of these players. LOL. Milan is Atalanta 2 since Redbird.
Selling your crown jewels create panic and instability hence you have players who are always open to offers elsewhere and not trusting our project. And that is the critical difference between us and our neighbour’s in blue. Haggling over salaries is another problem which makes us unattractive to top players to start with. It is a joke that midtier teams in the EPL compete with us in mercatos these days. We have lost appeal, and that is our undoing. We created the image of being a penny pinching buying team and not so smart at selling our top players at reasonable rates. Inter’s books came in at a handsome profit this past financial year, which says something about their revenue generating capabilities that does not entail selling their biggest assets. The more you win the more money you make that way you can balance your books. The poorer the project you lose your ability to generate income making you more vulnerable to lose players you should have build around. Do the math…unless we are contend at becoming a provincial team
Milan has many problems not just one, to name a few:
Offering too many $ for average incoming players, while not offering enough for key players, like a top center forward.
Putting profit over investment in quality players.
Hiring a coach that will not get Milan to the final
of any competition.
Letting one particular player negatively influence the whole team.
It’s too late to solve key issues this year.
All this sh:t we’re having to deal with is flowing downstream from a giant pile upstream. Absolutely everything started up top years ago… Poor planning, lack of competent sporting execs, lack of a clear plan and mercato strategy, even Futuro… And everyone kept their jobs. You can’t make this up.
And we’re wondering what the next mercato will be like and what CL will bring? What did it bring last time we were in it? Did we improve and strengthen? right…….