A season-defining period has arrived for AC Milan, who have focused their energy and motivation towards a European competition once again.
As MilanNews writes, the media are talking about the idea of Inter being crowned Italian champions in the derby on 22 April, but at Milan the mental and physical strengths are now completely aimed at the objective that could actually save the season: the Europa League.
Continuing and trying to win this European competition should be worth much more than a derby victory, which in the end cannot change the history of a league season which has seen city rivals dominate.
The 2023-24 campaign, as well as the future of Milan, therefore depends on the Europa League, which could also mark an important turning point in Stefano Pioli’s fate beyond the end of the current campaign, even if he does have a better chance of staying now.
The evaluation of his work will depend a lot on what could happen in the next few weeks. This Roma side might be well behind in the table but they are full of confidence under Daniele De Rossi, though it must be said Milan have won seven in a row as well.
The derby may therefore mean a lot in the city for the two fans, but at Milanello the attention is much more focused on facts than on feelings, and the fact is that a derby win is worth less than the possibility of a major obstacle.
Obviously, to win the Europa League Milan first have to overcome Roma and then the eventual semi-finals and final, but this side are beginning to feel like they can do something which, as Alessandro Matri said, ‘could make Inter’s Scudetto more bitter’.
I don’t care two jolts about the derby this time, it’s not important at all – put out a team entirely of U18 goalkeepers and get hammered, I’d rather we were in a good position to play the second leg v Roma
I’m with you that this year the derby has less value… that said I wouldn’t put so little value on the derby, all the Pioli detractors keep repeating that he lost 5 derbies in a row, so sometimes that becomes harder to ignore even for Pioli…
Also being able to secure 2nd place in Serie A has its own monetary benefits.
I think (or at least for me), it has more to do with the fact that systematically losing the derby will compromize future chances of winning titles.
In recent years we faced Inter in the scudetto, coppa Italia, the UCL and the supercoppa and we were almost always eliminated. Heck in 21/22, if we didn’t win against them, we won’t have won that scudetto.
Losing every now and then is acceptable, but currently we’re at risk of just becoming a target practise for them, if we’re not already.
Losing a derby is heavy and it will mentally cripple you in another competition.
Losing derby and knocked out by Roma in EL already enough reason for RedBird to change coach at end of season. Pioli will do all his best to keep his job by minimum draw vs IM and knocked Roma out