Journalist Giancarlo Padovan has laid bare how important it is for AC Milan to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League and/or get into the top four.
Milan make the trip to the English capital with a one-goal lead to protect after Brahim Diaz’s early goal at San Siro and a brilliant defensive performance that followed, but it will be an even tougher task stopping Spurs scoring at home as they too are under severe pressure.
Numerous sources have reported that getting through to the final eight of the competition would be worth a figure of around €20m to the Rossoneri which would be a fantastic boost for the accounts, especially while a top four finish remains in the balance.
Padovan spoke during a column for Calciomercato.com and he did not pull any punches as to how important the game is for the Rossoneri in the English capital tomorrow night.
“Never as in tomorrow night’s match in London, Milan are playing for the present and future of the club and the team. Eliminating Tottenham is essential because, otherwise, the football season would already be compromised in March,” he said.
“The Rossoneri are currently out of the Champions League zone and out of the Coppa Italia. If they were ousted, in the second leg, even from the round of 16 of the top European competition, they would risk being downsized.
“It is true that Serie A has only put its twenty-fifth day behind it (there are thirteen games left to go), but the results of Lazio and Roma have taken away two places and a lot of peace of mind.
Unfortunately the unity of the technical triumvirate (Maldini, Massara, Pioli) has decomposed. Because, if it is true that the Milan squad probably does not have – as the coach thinks – suitable alternatives, it is equally true that last summer’s purchases have practically disappeared from Pioli’s intentions.
“I don’t know if it’s rancor [ill will] or necessity. I only know that in this way the teams run the risk of getting lost and with them also those who built or managed them.
“Now football has to do with it and money has to do with it. Milan must go ahead for prestige and to raise cash, but, knowing that they won’t win the Champions League, it is necessary to implement the emergency plan: save fourth place so as not to be swallowed up by the recession.”
