AC Milan are planning to open an in-depth investigation into how the squad seem to suffer far more than their rivals when it comes to injuries, according to a report.
Tuttosport (via PianetaMilan) write that head coach Stefano Pioli will be consulted as part of the process, as the head of the staff who work with him on a daily basis at Milanello. The ‘areas of investigation’ into the injury problem at Milan are many and of different origins.
They range from summer athletic training to daily workloads at Milanello, through the management of post-game recovery to athletic injury prevention programs. Ultimately, a general evaluation of staff members is also envisaged.
Regarding that last point, it will enter a very ‘delicate’ area for Pioli and for those who have worked with him for years. It is not easy for a club to intervene and dismiss people trusted by the coach without causing some kind of upset, as it would ‘risk generating a question of principle’.
Milan want to try and avoid further instability after a difficult recent period in terms of form, but other scenarios could be opened up which might help. For example, new figures could join the working group who can fully take charge, on the pitch and at database level, the preparation of the team.
The idea that seems the most plausible at present foresees the current staff of athletic trainers – at the request of the management – changing their working methodology.
Then the changes will be evaluated to see if there are improvements or if the negative trend continues, when more drastic action could be taken.
They’re doing things wrong and that needs to stop. Too many injuries for years now and that is giving a huge advantage to other teams when key players are missing from week to week, season to season. If fixing that will cost someone their job then be it. The club is bigger than any player or staff member.
But personally I’d start with the Milanello pitch and renew that. Or actually start with getting a new head coach for next season…
Get rid of this Bum coach and all his staff
Osti was the one working with Pioli at Inter. When Pioli came over to Milan he brought him here
Unfortunately I can’t find injury data by club over years or else I’d like to see that correlation
I did some digging (very time consuming) and cross checked Inter’s 2016/17 team and the time Osti spent as their athletic coach at the time (about a year or so). Here’s the injuries which occurred during that time below. It’s interesting to note alot of them are muscular. However, must caution this is only one year so we can’t really directly associate the injury to the coach (unless across time but it’s time consuming), doesn’t really account for players simply being injury prone themselves and other factors.
Santon: 26 days, Hamstring
Gagliardini: ankle injury and hamstring injury, 37 days total
Ansaldi: adductor, 41 days
Miranda, muscle injury, 47 days
D’Ambrosio: internal ligament injury 28 days (but right after Osti left
Nagatomo, muscle injury, 16 days.
Joao Mario, muscle fatigue 10 days
Kondogbia, muscle fatigue, 10 days
Medel, muscular problems, knee surgery, 55 days
Brozovic, foot/toe injury, muscle injury, 28 days total
Palacio, muscle strain 30 days
Icardi, muscular problems, 23 days
Eder, Muscle fatigue, 3 days
Melo, knee bruise, 24 days
Ranocchia, Achilles tendon problems, 11 days
Injuries have plagued Milan since the days of Pato. Why are we just now looking into this? Are we scapegoating a bit here and not looking at the core of the issues at the club??