Journalist Carlo Pellegatti has given his take on things after Walter Sabatini suggested AC Milan will look at Luis Enrique when the time comes to replace Stefano Pioli.
Sabatini knows Massara well given that the pair were together for a year at Roma in 2016-17 before they both left to join Inter after Suning completed their takeover of the club. Yesterday, he suggested that the current Milan sporting director will almost certainly think about approaching Enrique if Pioli leaves.
Pellegatti spoke to Radio Rossonera and above all he discussed the hypothesis of Luis Enrique becoming the next manager, as well as the importance of qualifying for the next edition of the Champions League.
How much chance is there of seeing Luis Enrique on the Milan bench in the event of Pioli’s farewell at the end of the season?
“It depends on a thousand factors. First of all, Massara is very attentive to relationships and respectful of roles. At the very least, if there was the decision of others, knowing the Spanish coach, he could give his opinion.
“Already resigning my friend Stefano Pioli to the sack, however, seems a tad bit premature to me. We have to see how the season goes. He [Enrique] could be a name, but the question is always: how much does he cost? Milan don’t spend 7 or 8 million on the coach.
“Luis Enrique is an interesting name. I don’t know him, except as a coach of Spain and former Roma, but the first time he’s spoken about in relation to Milan, I’ll ask what the opinions are on him.
“He is an international name, certainly there are not many coaches of international stature around. And so he could be an interesting profile. Assuming and knowing the ownership’s philosophy, it seems more likely to go to a coach of that kind rather than an Italian.”
The fans are possibly asking for a leap in quality…
“Are they the same ones who asked for it after the last round with Tottenham? And above all, does the coach guarantee you this jump? There’s always the risk of going backwards, because then he loses two games…
“I, for example, have always said that I wanted Rangnick: he was a revolutionary, he catalysed great intuitions for the transfer market. Then, however, luckily Gazidis bet on Pioli. There are never certainties.”
It seems that Milan play without the fear of not qualifying for the Champions League, do you agree?
“It is a matter that interests the club a lot, but sometimes it is difficult and complicated to fight for a goal that is not a first place. The real Milan, as we saw in the Champions League and with Atalanta, needs these stimuli: it’s a fact.”
The Spaniard won two LaLiga titles with Barcelona as well as three Copa del Rey, a Supercopa, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. He most recently managed Spain and was runner-up in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, but left his job after a disappointing World Cup.
Sorry. Not impressed by Enrique’s record. He was nothing until hired by Barcelona, who had a world class squad with Messi still in his prime. It’s almost impossible for a coach not to win with a side like that. Then he got hired for Spain where he did nothing notable. He’s not going to be the right coach for us. We need De Zerbi or Sarri. Unfortunately the former is a hot favorite to take over at a big PL club thanks to his performances with Brighton and the latter is unlikely to leave Lazio if a Champions League qualification is achieved, which seems likely.
Alessio Dionisi would not be a bad option.
Pirlo too
Jorge Sampaoli?