The Coppa Italia defeat at the hands of Atalanta has once again thrust Stefano Pioli’s future into doubt, with the most accessible trophy having slipped away again.
La Gazzetta dello Sport talks about Pioli’s tenure as a repeating film. First there is the crisis, then an improvement (often very clear) that deceives, and then a return to darkness. It happened yesterday in the cup after the sparkling 3-0 league win against Empoli, just as it had happened against Salernitana after the 3-0 win against Monza.
This is what Milan are in 2023-24 and it sends its supporters to the madhouse because it is clear to everyone that the potential for another type of season was there, leading some to suggest that the operator of the machine is no longer capable of getting the best from the sum of the parts.
Over the course of 90 minutes there is almost always a Milan that pleases and one that disappoints, one who believes and one who condemns himself, one who has clear ideas and one who is confused. The return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic hasn’t provided an immediate fix, either.
The main problem for the coach is that now the missed targets are starting to accumulate very dangerously. They fall one after the other like leaves in November: the Scudetto fight was done several weeks ago, Champions League elimination followed and now the Coppa Italia.
The cup is not the most prestigious of the lot but in such a season it could have been a suitable bit of satisfaction to give a bit of flavour to an otherwise very forgettable campaign, also because the bracket was not as daunting.
What remains is the Europa League – where nine games are needed to reach the end and there are opponents like Liverpool on the way – and the bare minimum that the owners demands: qualification for the next Champions League.
It is here – for the most part – this last factor is the key to understanding the situation and Pioli’s position. In terms of objectives, seeing three collapse in just five months would put any manager at risk, let alone at a club always called upon to compete to win.
However, RedBird’s Milan is a club that reflects on a broad spectrum. Gerry Cardinale represents an owner that does not base everything on the result, but on the whole project and that is why he is used making evaluations and decisions at the end of the season.
It is the reason why Pioli remained in his post after the 2-2 draw in Salerno, that is the moment in which the coach’s position – net of the usual unofficial denials – wobbled the most in his four and a half years in charge.
The lack of real alternatives also helped him. In those hours the club asked itself: if we change coach and give the job to someone else, who can guarantee that things won’t get worse? A look at Napoli teaches something.
Pioli’s navigation therefore continues despite the missed objectives, because the guiding light remains that of fourth place. Once that is achieved, the financial flow would continue in a virtuous manner but the increasingly looming feeling is that in the summer it will be more likely to see a separation from Pioli than the opposite.
Nothing has been decided yet, this must be underlined and is a fact, but Antonio Conte’s name is destined to hover until the end of the season and the current campaign has shown critical issues that are impossible for the club to ignore.
Inconsistency in results, tactical confusion on more than one occasion, questions regarding mentality and of course the injuries are all things that stack up against the former Lazio and Inter boss.
At the same time, Pioli continues to be recognised for his merits in the management of the group, in the approach to difficulties, obviously recognition for previous results and these days also for the launch of young players who are generating the beginnings of an interesting new cycle.
