Journalist Franco Ordine has labelled AC Milan’s resurgence over the last two and a half years as a ‘masterpiece’ given the return to the Champions League semi-final.
Milan are back in the final four of Europe’s top club competition having not achieved that for 16 years and it testifies even more to how much the project that the club started four years ago with Elliott Management and are now continuing with RedBird is working.
Elliott saved the club from the abyss after the failed management of Yonghong Li and healed the accounts by raising revenues, reducing costs and relying on targeted investments. The work of Paolo Maldini, Ricky Massara and Stefano Pioli to turn that into a winning group also deserves praise.
Ordine spoke during his weekly column for MilanNews and he reflected on what was another important step forward taken by the Rossoneri back towards their historic place.
“In two and a half years an authentic double-nature masterpiece was completed,” he said.
“Elliott (the Singer family and the selected CEO Ivan Gazidis) have settled the accounts and relaunched the proceeds from sponsors, Maldini with Massara and Pioli have reconstituted a solid team group, made above all of shared values, then enriched by the growth of very young discoveries, then they cemented everything with a monstrous progression: 2nd place, Scudetto and Champions League semi-final.
“Now waiting for the month of May, Milan can and must devote themselves to recovering some significant successes in the league because the calendar is very tough and can reserve unpleasant surprises.”
I’ll agree only if they make it into the Champions League next season.
I dont mind if they play europa . They got the money now to solve weak positions for next season (ST, RW, CM). Try to finish as high as possible this season if not find new players for depth purposes. If Kvaratschelia only cost 10m, surely there are more talents out there
Learn how to appreciate.
Reaching Semi Final CL this season ain’t good enough for you? We are in the TOP 4 of Europe right now instead of having this obsession of finishing top 4 in Serie-A. It’s unhealthy and almost Lazio-like. Only qualifying just to get knocked out early and turn the focus back to finish in the top 4. Rinse and repeat.
Where’s the progression in that?
All people know how to do is complain.
I’m sure Maldini is on the edge of his seat waiting for your approval.
I criticize them a lot, but they’ve done well. There’s just so so much room for improvement.
Final 4 of the CL is amazing, credit to the team, but not making CL next year – its unlikely we beat City or Madrid, will be a big blow. Financially for sure, but in terms of player renewals and acquisitions too. Players want CL not Europa league, and there’s only so much clout our history and heritage gives us, especially as we can’t compete on wages with many teams around Europe.
This is why CL is so important. Saying that, if we don’t get it, i certainly would NOT call for Pioli to be sacked. We learn, move on, and prepare for next season.
I’m hoping next season we see Adli and CDK emerge like Tonali and Kalulu did in their second season, that would be like two new signings on their own.