AC Milan were incredibly close to sacking Stefano Pioli during the December 2023 slump in form but the situation has changed in 2024.
According to a report from Calciomercato.com, the Rossoneri hierarchy almost pulled the plug on Pioli’s time in charge of the club when form had reached a new low and a place in the title race disappeared.
There had been a number of poor results that led to this thought process, but the one that saw Pioli come closest to losing his job was the 2-2 draw in Salerno against Salernitana.
The report claims that he was ‘practically sacked’ after that match, considering the Granata were bottom of the table and still are today.
Various leads were explored to find a new coach, such as Roberto De Zerbi, Antonio Conte, Thiago Motta and Julen Lopetegui, and those names are all still being linked with the job despite Pioli digging himself out of the hole.
Milan are playing well and winning games, and Pioli can still earn the right to coach the team next season. He needs to ensure that Milan finish the Serie A season no lower than third, but second is a clear possibility now.
As well as that, there has to be a strong showing in the Europa League given Milan are one of the main contenders to win it. All Milan can do now is keep winning and hope other teams don’t.
-In december we were third and we were out of the UCL. Our only hopes were Coppa Italia and let’s not kid ourselves Europa League is out of our league.
-Currently, we are still third, we are still out of the UCL. Update: we’re also out of Coppa Italia and we’re not in a more favourable position in Europa League.
We clearly improved by a lot.
I’ll still take Pioli over Conte any day. A mate of mine who’s a Spurs fan almost gave up supporting them because he was so bored / disillusioned with the team under Conte.
The team has clicked nicely into gear since Xmas despite the defensive injury decimation – there’s always someone to provide a bit of attacking inspiration, and we’re not too reliant on any individuals. Pioli deserves some credit for that. You can’t blame him for not winning games the team hasn’t played yet.
With regard to Conte, 100%.
I agree with Conte, no contest here.
This team “might” have improved a little since Xmas. In reality since december we only played 3 games against teams in the top 6. In january, Atalanta still eliminated us which kind of proves we still have problems.
So until we win against top 4 teams, I won’t rush to conclude that the team has improved.
✅💯
AGREEEEEEEEEEE
Seven wins in nine games is a pretty good improvement imo. During oct-nov we didn’t have almost any players. So it was partly not Piolis fault. I wanted him out then, but now I think our team has proven to have grown. Let’s not forget that it can take time to build a team and we had lots of new players, no Zlatan, no Tonali and a bunch of injuries.
Pioli isn’t perfect. We still have a pretty crappy attack without much patters of play. But somehow we are among the top scorers anyway so something is done correctly.
“Seven wins in nine games is a pretty good improvement imo.”
But against what types of teams ? We still have 0 wins against top 4 teams.
“During oct-nov we didn’t have almost any players. So it was partly not Piolis fault.”
The biggest injury crisis started around the return game with Borussia Dortmund which was played by the end of November.
And what you want? Did you except an early UCL return or what?
My point is: practically nothing changed since November, so why in november it was innacceptable everyone wanted Pioli out and now somehow it’s a great season and Pioli is on fire ?
Pioli needs to win big games untill end of the season. Still many games in Serie A against clubs he didn’t manage to win. Inter, Juventus, Atalanta from top 4, and games against Lazio, Fiorentina.
Plus Europa League, where every match will be difficult.
The fact we need a better coach still remains but taking a huge risk on a new coach may not be needed now. Pioli’s Milan is good for a month or two slump every year. The scudetto season was the only exception. A top team cannot have that consistent slump and expect to win trophies. If man city has a slump its bc they dropped 4 points in a month, we drop 8 or more in a month and knock ourselves out of ucl in the same month, not acceptable.
I wanted him sacked when we drew then lost our first 3 games in our group. back then we still had a chance a great chance to advance. which we really needed seeing the money and more importantly to help us secure our place for the 2025 world club. But now the damage is already been done, sacking him now doesn’t mean anything any more.
Stars are going to align this summer, with Milan is probably going to sell either Maignan or Leao (or possibly both?). If we’re just going to lose Maignan, there’s still a chance that the management would hold out for the status quo, waiting for Pioli’s contract to expire and sell Leao at that same windows, to provide the new coach with the warchest to mold the team into his own liking.
The wildcard here is Leao. Do PSG really, really wants him so much that they’re willing to meet the price set this summer? If they do, then Pioli might just be cut off a year early as I just don’t see the management would satisfy Pioli with the players he wants.
BTW, for some reason, I think Pioli would be a great match with ADL’s Napoli. If Napoli indeed came knocking, I don’t discount a mutual termination.
There wasn’t anyone to write home about to replace Pioli in the winter. it would have likely deterred the team more had a new coach come in.
Pioli is stringing consistent results again and can hopefully maintain this until we reach the summer and see how the cookie crumbles.
He is not too terrible of a coach, he could get wins, even consecutive wins. The problem lies within his personalities. He is a stubborn person so we know all too well his errors/mistakes/shortfalls WILL repeat. He is very concerned with “Pioli was right and the rest was wrong” and that is why most of his decisions are awkward and often times do not bring any good. It is alright to keep him, just keep in my that we are not going anywhere fancy and prestigious with such a limited personality like Pioli. Very limited in terms of a man.
I got the feeling Furlani already asked Cardinale to fired Pioli at the end of this season even if Milan finished 2nd and do well in Europa League. Some fans who keeps crying Pioliout will be very happy when it happened.