Stefano Pioli’s job is perhaps the most at risk it has ever been since he joined AC Milan, with the club’s leaders ready to make their move should the difficulties continue.
La Repubblica (via MilanNews) reports this morning that the draw against Salernitana means that the Rossoneri coach’s position is increasingly uncertain and the feeling is that the match against Sassuolo will be decisive, as well as the Cagliari Coppa Italia game and the trip to Empoli.
The section is headlined: ‘Pioli still in trouble, three games to save himself but Milan’s future belongs to Conte or De Zerbi’. If Pioli’s job is in immediate danger, that naturally means it is difficult to imagine him remaining at the club beyond the end of the current campaign.
The serious injury situation and the inconsistent results are two big marks against him. The club would like to make changes to the staff, many of whom Pioli is loyal to, and then also the poor performance of top players such as Rafarl Leao and Theo Hernandez is a worry.
This is why the owners are already thinking about names for the future, with Antonio Conte remaining a very attractive option. Another suggestion could be Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton, though attracting him might not be easy.
Had Christophe Galtier or Marcelo Gallardo been free, one of the two could have immediately replaced Pioli but the Frenchman is at Al-Duhail in Qatar and the Argentinian at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the solution of Ignazio Abate as an interim does not convince the management.
Milan would be willing to make an economic sacrifice to pay Conte’s salary, and to pay the amount due to Pioli until 30 June 2025. Ibrahimovic is mentioned as being a big sponsor of the Conte idea.
