Stefano Pioli’s Milan are undergoing a difficult patch in what has been an impressive season so far by the Rossoneri, propelling themselves to a decade-high league position in the race for the Scudetto.
The weekend’s disappointing 3-0 Derby di Milano loss at the hands of arch-rivals and league leaders Inter, pushed them further four points adrift in the second place.
Now, with the club’s main talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic agreeing to spend his March midweek down at the Italian Riviera, singing and participating in the 80-year-old Sanremo music festival, and at the same time continuing his training in Liguria, former club legend Arrigo Sacchi has given his piece of mind while speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Strettoweb).
“If he goes to the festival, the others are also justified in going around Italy. Football at these levels is a serious matter. The club with its history and its rules comes before the team, as this comes before any single player.
“Leadership is shown with facts and the rules must apply to everyone. By now it’s too late to intervene, he should be the one to decline and make a gesture that would be enormous and appreciated by all the Milan fans. Otherwise I don’t think they would understand,” he said.
Speaking about the loss against Inter, Sacchi added: “Today’s Milan lacks the pressing, the organisation is lacking, that moving together reducing the spaces that allowed them to be in the lead for a long time. Milan began to feel too good and then the defeats came out. Not to mention Ibra in Sanremo.”
The Sanremo Music Festival is due to be held from March 2 to March 6, with several superstars in attendance, including Bologna boss Sinisa Mihaljovic who is in line to perform with none other than Ibra.
During that period Milan face Udinese on March 4 before taking on Hellas Verona on March 7, just a day after the conclusion of the festival.
No problem: let Ibra sing and let Leao play.
Yes
I just do not get why everyone is out on AC Milan’s case after 2 losses.We haven’t been in the UCL for a long time….and our aim going into the season was UCL qualification..and so far we are still on course…a great run made people forget where we’ve been for the last 10 years… That’s why this negativity by the media shocks me….even if we finish 4th…it is good season ….we aimed for the UCL and we are still in the hunt…I think Italian analyst s are holding Milan to a higher standard than necessary….based on our budget and squad we are performing at the right level…2 losses that we’ll get over don’t worry me…I think the media is desperate for an Italian team to compete with the European Elite and Milan is the only Italian club that has historically been able to do that.After all…only the Rossonerri fly the Italian flag in Europe…Inter and Juve always choke….hope we return next year to show them.how it’s done…
Thank you. Hit the nail right on the head. 4th would be fantastic. We’ve been punching above our weight plus the other real contenders for the Scudetto are only now showing their true self in Juve and Inter. Our squad is not Scudetto level. the run has made ppl think our problems can be solved over one season. Inter is vastly above us which the table is starting to shake out and also Juve.
We need to be in the UCL for at least 3 years running for us to really have bent the corner and fans don’t seem to get this.
good