Sky’s Peppe Di Stefano has explained why his outlook on AC Milan has changed from being worried to cautiously optimistic in the last few weeks.
It is not too long ago that Milan were thrust into all kinds of uncertainty, following the season-ending loss to Cagliari which resulted in missing out on Champions League football and the sacking of virtually the entire management.
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Since then, there have been big changes. Internal promotions have seen Hendrik Almstadt and Bobby Gardiner take a leading role. The real head men are the new head coach Ruben Amorim and the owner Gerry Cardinale, with the latter taking a more hands-on role than ever.
‘I saw something else’
Di Stefano spoke to Radio Rossonera about the first few days of Milan’s training camp at Milanello, which he was present to witness up close. His words have been relayed by MilanNews.
“This training camp was completely different from the others because it’s a Milan that will be a distant relative of the one we’ll see in 40/45 days,” he began.
“For me, the focus was more off the pitch than on it. It’s true that Amorim, Gila, and the new Milan were there, but I don’t think many of the players present these days will make the hypothetical starting XI. Only Bartesaghi, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Gila.
“In midfield, I don’t know who we’ll see among those present these days. In attack, perhaps Nkunku could be a perfect player for this style of football.
“For me, the news is more off the pitch. It’s a year zero for Milan and it’s Cardinale’s first year. I can honestly say that 30 days ago, I was quite worried about Milan’s inaction and the management wait.
“Then, I have to be honest, I saw something else. I saw a very active Cardinale, and for better or worse, those who take responsibility are always right. He is the face of Milan today and will be responsible for this new journey.
“He bought two good players, and in my opinion, they were very important for the value they brought away from Milanello, which is important. Today, at European level, they know you signed Gonçalo Ramos and Gila without worrying about the figures because you wanted them.”
Maignan (Torriani, Terracciano)- GILA (De Winter),
STONES (Gabbia), Pavlovic (Odogu)- Saelemaekers
(Athekame), EDERSON (Modric, Comotto), Rabiot
(Ardon, ???), LWB (Bartesaghi)- AMRC (ZANIOLO),
Pulisic (Nkunku, Cisse)- RAMOS (ICARDI, Camarda);
1) 22 + Fullkrug = 23
2) 23 – Fullkrug – Modric = 21
3) 21 + Kostic + Ramos + Gila = 24
4) 24 + 9 (back from being on loan) = 33
5) 33 – 2 (players for (a) loan- Zeroli + Kostic) = 31
6) 31 + Modric = 32
7) 32 – 12 (11 sold players + Bennacer) = 20
8) 20 + DC + LWB + DMC + MC + 2 AMRC + SC = 27
Gabbia, Bartesaghi, *Ardon (Ricci), Nkunku? No way.
Maignan and Rabiot (have) saved us five days of the transfer window by losing, this works to our benefit…
How have this saved us 5 days?
Think about it, what if they wish to leave? It really isn’t that complicated.
What I meant to say yesterday was the following (this): what if they wish to leave Milan (of course
I wasn’t talking about leaving the French national team’s camp before the final game), sorry for the confusion I may have caused.
What???
It’s ok, we all take Ls in life.
You think Maignan and Rabiot would just leave the national team to rest for 5 days on account of us? And even if it was, it’s just 5 days, it’s barely any recovery time anyways. there’s no logic to what u wrote. They have game on Saturday. It is what it is.
“What I meant to say yesterday was the following (this): what if they wish to leave Milan (of course
I wasn’t talking about leaving the French national team’s camp before the final game), sorry for the confusion I may have caused.”
OMG. I specifically and explicitly stated exactly the opposite, I was referring to their (potential and/or more or less hypothetical) wish and desire to leave Milan. They can finally take their minds off the WC, nobody really (frankly) cares about the third place.
Ako žele, neko za to treba dobro otvorit kesu dukata !SVE SE NOVCEM MOŽE KUPIT ILI ZA NOVAC PRODAT
I don’t know how they are selling this as year zero at Milan when Cardinale was at the help of the failure of the last four years…
This still doesn’t feel different. Yes, he spent money on direct targets, then… stopped to recoup that money needing the sales to balance it? If he opened his wallet, one would think they go after all their targets.
This club is still largely unfinished. Ramos and Gila are definitely two positions of need. But this team is deep with very limited players and ones that aren’t useful in Amorim’s very rigid system. We need signings that fit his system otherwise he he tries to play his system he’ll get destroyed in transition “a la Pioli” style. My best guess is that Cardinale asked if Amorim can work with the players here because he wouldn’t want to turnover the entire team for Amorim and the Portuguese must have said yes to get the gig.
I guess I’m not as optimistic as many here about the upcoming season because there are no significant indicators of change as this article claims.
I agree in general its not evidently a full change.
But I was so disheartened at the conclusion of last season, missing out on UCL and about to enter Banter Era 3.0
The bar is so low, let’s give them at least til the end of the transfer window to show their hand. Who knows maybe we sell 5x deadwood players and bring in another set of good quality.
For all the overpaying for someone like Ramos, gotta admit he and Gila are noticeable upgrades on what we have. Lets continue in that vein with Inacio , and the headline no. 10 (Leao replacement) perhaps we’ll get someone top class.
Agreed here. There’s no way this is a year zero. We’re not overhauling anything. Tbh It feels year zero the last two windows more than this one. In fact, and as you pointed out .. feels like targeted signings in areas of need this year. I disagree with how much we spent on Ramos but I do understand the transfer. Gila too I can understand as well even though I’m not sure about his price either both from a quality perspective and contract being in his final year (but I do get Lotitto not budging).
It feels like purchases are on hold because we’ll run afoul of financial regulations and we know how that ended in the past..
“…It’s a year zero for Milan and it’s Cardinale’s first year” come on Di Stefano, that’s BS. Did Gerry paid you personally to say this tripe?? Come on, who believes this stuff. He’s been the owner for the last 4 years. Does he think we don’t remember that he fired Maldini? It was a keystone moment of his reign so far. And since then, the club’s been in the dumps unless folks here want to praise 8th and 5th like they’re accomplishments. All the transfer windows, constant chopping and changing, having Foolani running the show,.the disaster that is the Futuro are all his responsibility. It’s HIS club after all. Him trying to course correct now while being relatively more friendly present doesn’t change all that has happened under his watch prior when he was less visible. I guess the investors who gave him the money to buy the club are nervous and probably applying the pressure on him. He didn’t realize top 4 was difficult to achieve in Serie A, as I’ve warned back then, much less a Scudetto and missing out on UCL money must hurt him.