There are currently no signs of an imminent managerial overhaul at AC Milan, but if the minimum objective is not met then considerations would be made.
This morning’s edition of Tuttosport (via PianetaMilan) writes that both Stefano Pioli and Ricky Massara would be at risk if Milan do not hot the minimum target for the season, namely qualification for the next edition of the Champions League.
In order to reach the next edition of the top European club competition Milan must win the next four ‘finals’, i.e. the remaining matches in Serie A. It starts with tomorrow afternoon’s match against Spezia, then continues with the games against Sampdoria, Juventus and Hellas Verona.
Milan’s presence in the Champions League is vital for the club’s growth in terms of the sporting side of things but also the financial factor. Without it, the investments that Maldini asked for before the Inter game would be difficult to make.
Even Gerry Cardinale, in a recent interview with Sportico, explained that ‘from a business point of view I will not lose sight of the fact that we must also qualify for next year’s Champions League’.
Milan failed to win a second Scudetto in a row or even put up a fight for it, while they lost in the first knockout game of the Coppa Italia and were well beaten by Inter in the final of the Supercoppa too, with a Champions League win seeming very unlikely at present.
If fourth place does not arrive in the league and a spot in next year’s Champions League were not achieved, there would be a deep and articulated examination of the players to the coach through the management that built the team.
The summer transfer window will be very important for the upcoming Milan, not only in terms of addressing the gaps in the squad that were not fixed a year ago, but also raising the overall level of the team.
Maldini and Massara are under contract June 2024 while Pioli renewed until 2025, so finishing outside the top four would force everyone to face the direct consequences.
