GdS: ‘United for the Champions League’ – Milan management form pact before judgement day

Amidst all of the external noise surrounding AC Milan’s future, in the present the management have made a pact to remain united.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning that there is a goal that unites everyone, more important than any individual’s claims or the prospects of individual players: the desire to get into the Champions League.

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A top four finish is an objective is shared by all parties, a fundamental sporting achievement that would reward the work of Massimiliano Allegri and the team, a crucial international stage for attracting new champions, and a huge revenue stream for the club’s coffers.

Everyone agrees on this. Max gathered the team yesterday to resume preparations and await the training camp that begins tomorrow. He and the management – led by CEO Giorgio Furlani – know a strong European campaign is huge from a sporting and financial perspective.

Yesterday, the coach and directors spent more time together at Milanello, before, during and after training. Both Furlani and sporting director Igli Tare were present, showing a closeness that is needed.

First the present, then the future

Milan have 180 minutes to decide whether they finish inside the top four or not. Any other evaluations will be postponed until the end of the month. The Champions League, as is natural, shifts the balance of power.

Verdicts will arrive for all the season’s key players, but the owners will wait until the season is over for final decisions. This is also because it’s a matter of waiting a couple of weeks, not months. In a fortnight the situation will be much clearer.

It’s unlikely that the rating for the 2025 summer window will improve in a couple of games. The large expenditures for Christopher Nkunku and Ardon Jashari have not yielded the desired results.

More generally, everyone is under scrutiny, the team and the coach, who after an excellent first half of the season found themselves at the centre of a troubled finale. Then there is obviously the club’s top brass who endorsed the decisions.

A ritiro for unity

A retreat has been implemented at Milanello after the home defeat against Atalanta and the away defeat against Sassuolo. Last week, Max had already inaugurated the resumption of training with a motivational speech that, judging by the pitch, wasn’t all that effective.

This time, the coach is adding action: a ‘ritiro’ to regain serenity and isolate themselves from external stress, the first since under Gennaro Gattuso in 2019. The retreat is also a solution that Allegri and the management have agreed upon.

Allegri will rely on younger players like Samuele Ricci, Davide Bartesaghi and Zachary Athekame (who will replace the suspended Alexis Saelemaekers) playing with energy and without fear. Leadership is expected from Adrien Rabiot, Niclas Füllkrug, Mike Maignan and Luka Modric (who could return).

Allegri will contribute: he’s accustomed to handling pressure and playing big, do-or-die matches. These are days in which Max is giving his all to lift the group and take the final steps towards reaching the finish line.