AC Milan are back in Europa League action against Slavia Praha tonight, and the competition has become the number one objective to save a season that threatens to be very forgettable.
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) reports, Stefano Pioli also knows that his future is at stake because ending the year with a European trophy could be enough for him to keep his job as the head coach.
The objective of Pioli’s team this evening should be to exploit the home advantage and put the Czech side on the ropes, trying to win the first leg with a margin that can allow them to face the trip to Prague next week with less angst.
Slavia are a serious opponent who this year have already beaten Roma, last year’s finalist, in the group stage. If Milan manage to repeat ‘Operation Rennes’ then the Rossoneri could concentrate on the league and more specifically attacking second-placed Juventus.
Nonetheless, the Europa League and, more broadly, the conclusion of this season, will also be a good test for Pioli and his future. The management knows that to convince the club to keep him, winning a trophy is not only a good card to play but perhaps the only one.
Yet Pioli, also in order not to distract the atmosphere around the team, did not show much interest in these rumours when he was asked about them in his pre-match press conference.
“The judgments will have to be made at the end of the season and everyone will draw their own conclusions,” he said. Beating Slavia would be one thing, but Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool are another beast entirely.
“…trying to win the first leg with a margin that can allow them to face the trip to Prague next week with less angst.” Less angst? There was plenty of angst at Rennes. We shipped 3 goals FFS. Typical Pioli experience. We will need to win 5-0 or 6-0 for “less angst”.
Are you allergic to close wins? Does it need to be a 5 goal margin every time? Because you know that’s not our forte. 🙂
So maybe as long as we win?