AC Milan might have seen the top four slip away, but the have the obligation of trying to save face by getting a Europa League spot at least.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning, even the Europa League shifts the balance and Milan know it very well. After being eliminated in the quarter-finals by Daniele De Rossi’s Roma, the club decided it was time for a change in head coach.
It was only the ‘minor’ European competition, and not the Champions League, but Stefano Pioli himself realised that at that precise moment his Rossoneri story had ended. Since then, Milan have had two more coaches, and they have found familiar problems.
Earnings
In terms of the accounts, the Europa League is no match for the Champions League. Milan said goodbye to the tournament with a consolation prize of around €80m, which is €60m in prize money plus approximately €20m in ticket sales. All this despite a journey that ended at the play-off round.
The Europa League, as we know, is much less rich: €4.31m for participation and €450k for each victory, while the UCL gives €2m per win. The difference is clear. But there is more than just money, there is also pride.
For a club accustomed to great European nights, it is something that is priceless and cannot be bought. In addition, the Europa League is the only trophy missing from the trophy cabinet. Qualifying and playing it with the maximum ambitions would make sense.
For Milan, the years without European competitions are remembered, not the other way around. In recent history, they had missed the Champions League for seven years, from 2014 to 2021, an eternity.
From 2014 to 2017, they had not had an international showcase: a condition that the club does not want to experience again. In 2019-20, they were excluded from UEFA competitions by order of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne after failing to comply with the parameters of FFP. From there, a new Milan was born, competitive on the pitch and virtuous in the accounts.
A mission to complete
Today Milan still have a small hope of catching up with fourth place. Beating Lazio tonight would allow them to compact the table and continue to believe. Even more so if the path of the other Italian teams still in the running in Europe were to push all the way to the finals.
Fiorentina are in the Conference League and can aspire to win it, Roma are in the Europa League and even Inter in the Champions League, could help Milan. How? With the UEFA ranking that at that point could give Italy five places in the great Europe.
The initial premise is a climb up the standings: Milan must avenge the last two consecutive away defeats and pick up where they left off right here at San Siro: a 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona, with a decisive goal from Santiago Gimenez.
Speaking of Gimenez, he has already faced Lazio four times, all with Feyenoord (two in the Europa League and two in the Champions League), with five goals scored. Curiosity: Lazio is his second favorite European victim, second only to PEC Zwolle.
Rafael Leao will try to supply Gimenez, unless he wants to put his signature on the scoreboard: for Conceiçao and the Milan fans it would make little difference. Victory and three points are more important than ever.
Milan have not lost at home since October vs Napoli (our only loss at home in Serie A) and havent drawn at home since Feb 2 vs Inter (league wise). We also drew vs Lazio away given an abysmal couple mins where they scored twice to equalize amd then lead. Leao saved us from defeat then coming in as a sub. Feeling that a draw is most likely scenario, a win will be a surprise but a loss will be a huge shock and at that point will show the players have completely given up on the season. I truly think if we dont win this one, Milan will miss out on Europe completely next season, not evem making conference league and crashing out of copa italia vs inter. A win is not only needed points wise but psychologically and morale wise
2029 is club world Cup. No European games – no coefficient. Again no world Cup.