Stefano Pioli’s position as the head coach of AC Milan has perhaps never been under as much threat as it is right now, with rumours swirling regarding his future.
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According to what was stated in today’s edition by La Gazzetta dello Sport today for example, the draw against Salernitana forced the management to reflect on Pioli’s position as coach but after evaluating, they decided to give him more time.
The next matches will be decisive though of course, because Milan have already fallen 11 points behind league-leaders Inter and they crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages. A crucial stretch awaits, starting with Saturday’s match against Sassuolo.
A bogey side
Sassuolo are a team that in the past has proven to be a tough nut to crack for Milan. The last match was a 5-2 defeat at San Siro in January, a humiliating result and one of the lowest points of last season.
The match between Milan and Sassuolo has already been decisive for the dismissal of a coach in Milan’s recent past: following the very first match between the Neroverdi and the Rossoneri which ended 4-3 for the Emilians, the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri came. Between these two matches there is one constant: Domenico Berardi, a real bête noire for the Devil.
The article from La Gazzetta dello Sport picked out four ingredients which, mixed together, could put Pioli back on the right path and it starts with getting key performers back into their best form, such as Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez.
Mike Maignan and captain Davide Calabria must show their leadership, as must Olivier Giroud, but Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders are among the new signings who must pull their weight or continue to.
Of course, a lot will come depend on the defensive department which is once again in emergency after Fikayo Tomori’s injury. Simon Kjaer must demonstrate his experience, while young players like Jan-Carlo Simic and Davide Bartesaghi – if called upon – have to show their character.
Lastly, Pioli’s great mantra is needed: work. In past seasons, amidst many difficulties, Milan emerged like this: this year the crises have not led to rebirths and with Sassuolo it feels like a last resort in this sense too.
Do-or-die?
It is being made out like Pioli is facing a do-or-die game against Sassuolo, given the reports that circulating after the Salernitana draw, However, according to what we have learned from the Milan environment, even a defeat against the Neroverdi might not spell the end.
The coach’s fate will most likely – and barring a sensational collapse – be decided at the end of the season with RedBird Capital not wanting to rely on a caretaker solution like Ignazio Abate during the present season.
With the Scudetto ambitions now shelved, the only real factor that could save Pioli from certain dismissal at the end of the season would be winning the Europa League, the only trophy missing from the Rossoneri’s trophy cabinet.
That would allow the Rossoneri not only to play the next edition of the Champions League, but also to take part in the European Super Cup. Is Milan-Sassuolo therefore the last resort for Pioli? Probably not immediately, but his farewell at the end of the season appears very, very difficult to avoid.
