Since the derby defeat, AC Milan have received criticism on several fronts and above all their head coach Stefano Pioli. Almost everything, however, has been made up by the media.
It hasn’t been an easy period for the Rossoneri since the derby defeat, and although the Newcastle performance was positive, they only got one point. Therefore, the media switched attention from Pioli to Rafael Leao instead.
Gazzetta Dello Sport compared the winger with Mario Balotelli, which frankly makes no sense whatsoever, and this is just one example of the hostile attitude towards Milan. Something Luca Serafini has highlighted in his column for MilanNews.
“When you are fragile and evidently have an unappetizing media appeal, you also have to suffer allegations and headlines that fuel controversy. Thus, Ibra’s visit to Milanello becomes a certification of Pioli’s weakness, something that undermined the manager’s authority.
“Thus, a poor performance by Leao, in his fifth year with the Rossoneri after being elected as the best player in 2022-23, opens up apocalyptic scenarios and mocking comparisons even on the front page. The best answers are given on the pitch, but those who do my job talk, not play, so I say that bad faith is creeping around Milan,” he writes.
Milan will simply have to bounce back with a win against Hellas Verona tomorrow and, above all, ignore the laughable headlines. Anyone with common sense knows Ibrahimovic’s visit certainly wasn’t to undermine Pioli.
Whoever planned the visit or whoever publicized it, did not help matters. Ibra’s visit could have been done discreetly or he could have spoken on phone with whoever he needed to speak with. Does he have to hold a meeting with pioli in full public view? Of course it will be subject to scrutiny as the previous narrative spun in the media was that ibra was initially brought to Milan to improve the mentality of the players. So if he retired and shortly after, maldini leaves, Milan then lose scandalously to inter in their 5th derby this year: ibra is now seen with pioli, in the stands and even shooting a video… It’s natural that the story will read that ibra was brought to steady the ship. If not, why was he not around from the start of the season? The media team can do better.
He’s right about Leao though. A lot of attitude but not the same amount of result.
” Ibra’s visit to Milanello becomes a certification of Pioli’s weakness, something that undermined the manager’s authority.” Literally what I had said. The optics didn’t look good. Better to tell him to come a different because it would have been perceived as though Pioli “needs” Ibra’s qualities at that point when really Pioli should have looked like he can do it on his own and dispell the whole myth about whether the Scudetto was due to how..or Maldini/Ibra
This is why I’m not in favour of giving Ibra a role this season. Let’s see how mister does on his own and with the new management