News has come from England that Manchester United are casting an admiring glance at AC Milan’s resurgence over the last two and a half years.
The Manchester Evening News cited the Rossoneri as a model that United can follow to get out of their own slump, as they will miss out on Champions League football for next season while the gap to rivals Manchester City and Liverpool seemingly continues to grow.
La Gazzetta dello Sport explains how Ralf Rangnick – who was at one time expected to be the man to lead Milan into a new era – has hired Erik Ten Hag from Ajax to try and take the club forward but the right project is needed in addition to tactics.
The fact that foreign funds are willing to pay €1bn+ to buy Milan shows the amazing work done by Elliott Management. From the CEO Ivan Gazidis downwards, Milan set the stance that no one player is bigger than the club and their ideas, letting Gianluigi Donnarumma, Hakan Calhanoglu and soon Franck Kessie walk on a free transfer because of their internal evaluations and salary cap.
Milan have taken another path to a lot of the elite in Europa and they continue to follow it. They have gone out to buy young players without breaking the bank in the hope of developing them into real gems such as Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez, Mike Maignan, Ismael Bennacer, Fikayo Tomori and Sandro Tonali.
None were really superstars, but the management trusted their scouting and the analytics at play, but most importantly they believed in Pioli’s work as head coach which has helped to increase the value of the squad through the development of the young players he has at his disposal.
Milan currently have Calabria, Tonali and Gabbia who are Rossoneri to the core, just like they had Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta, Filippo Galli, Evani and Albertini during the great era of the 90s and 00s.
Sir Alex Ferguson had Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Butt, Gary Neville and Phil Neville, to boast but now the time for nostalgia is over. The Red Devils need take a look around and catch up, and maybe Rangnick will have a look at Milan as a model to follow.
If we look objectively Milan’s project is actually what Ragnick wanted to do if he was hired by Milan. Build a team of young, unknown, unproven talented players. The only difference is that he wouldnt have kept old heads like Ibra and Kjaer, who honestly havent been much of use this year.
Cant judge Ragnick based on his ManUtd work because he came mid season and had to work with players who are opposite of what he wants.
Ibra and Kjaer bring very important experience and mindset. Which young players lack. So their contribution is very important and difficult to understand outside the field.
“he wouldnt have kept old heads like Ibra and Kjaer, who honestly havent been much of use this year”
Ibra scored 8 goals and 3 assist this season and those goals and assist are important especially the assist for Tonali against Lazio.
Kjaer played 14 matches and he played really solid until he got ACL.
Both players gave important contributions for Milan not just inside the pitch but also off the pitch. They’re one of the biggest reason why Milan did really well for the last 3 season!
Kjaer – while he was playing Milan was conceding shitty goals, his quote, and he was one of the reasons for those conceded goals.
Ibra – 7 mil a year would have allowed Milan to bring in younger striker who can play week in week out and contribute.
But they contributed off the pitch. Very well paid cheerleaders.
Keep your delusion bro, and your ‘fact’ to yourself. True Milan fans know what they give us over the years.
You are right AR
You are ungrateful
Who are not a Ac Milan lover I can see that, u are just a fan for God knows where!!!
@coco
Every solid defenders has mistakes including legends like Maldini, Nesta, Baresi, and Costacurta. No ones perfect. If you only judging from their mistakes then you should watch video games.
And who’s young striker that can make impact like Ibra right now?
Ibra is worth 7 million. Again, he gave a lot of impact not just from his goals & assist.
To keep Ibra and kjaer is motivation my guy, don’t just call they who honestly haven’t been much of use, do u know the goals Ibra have this season in how many games played and kjaer ovusly injury
Ibra as 9 goals this season and u call him not important or what did u say, the two of them are motivation to all
The crazy thing is there are somebMilan fans who still wants Pioli out and prefer Rangnick despite Pioli works definitely looks a lot better than what Rangnick did with MU right now.
Milan at 1st place and qualified for Champions League with less expensives players than what MU have.
VS
MU at 6th place and not qualified for Champions League with expensives players like Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo on their lineup lmao.
Can’t judge Rangnick based on that. That isn’t even his team lol, it’s Solskjaer’s team. He come in mid season and getting a team that is a mess inside out. He isn’t even getting the player he wanted in winter window. Hell, he is just a manager till this season end lol
Not saying I prefer Rangnick to Pioli, I’m glad at Pioli work for us. But it’s unfair to judge Rangnick for his time at United.
Am just saying oh, rangnick as no more a coach but a sporting director
Rangnick was not a coach but a sporting director when man.u called him, so what did u expect.
Nah. It’s fair to judge Rangnick right now.
Back in 2019 Pioli took over from Giampolo and the players aren’t world class nor his request. But Pioli can maximize what he have and got good results.
Meanwhile Rangnick got expensives and good players like Pogba and Ronaldo from the start. But he can’t even maximize what he have.
Sorry to say, you know nothing.. Ibra change Milan, Kjaer and Ibra is a leader. So much hate. Do you think Football win only by a season? Ibra rack goals and assist and Kjaer play solid in the first season. This year they are injured, but their leadership is needed in the locker room. You kids know nothing. Shut up
Pioli also didnt work with his team but finished second. Pioli is the best to me ok