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.
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.
Leao transforms from underdeveloped kid into MVP – “nothing to do with Pioli”
Leao doesn’t track back/ has an off game – “Pioli doesn’t know how to develop players”
Theo Calabria Mike win scudetto playing fantastic football – “Pioli did ok”
Theo Calabria Maignan howlers cost us games – “Pioli out”
Pioli has Milan top of the table after 6 rounds with full squad/ no injuries – Tumbleweeds…
Pioli has to deal with worst injury crisis in the history of football – “Pioli ouuuutttt” (admittedly we don’t know how much he’s to blame here)
Players vote to keep Pioli – Crickets….
Team has another off night – “Pioli’s lost the dressing room”
And yes I want a new coach next year… I just wish there was a bit more balance on this site.
Agree with most of this, but the injury problem has to be on Pioli. It’s not a run of bad luck, it’s been going on the entire time he’s been here. For him not to have addressed it by now is criminal and reason enough for termination.
To be fair, no one said that he has lost the dressing room. Regarding your other arguments:-
1. Calabria has never been a consistent player, he plays 1 good game, then again disappears the next game. Can’t say mush about him because I always thought he should be a backup choice for us rather than a starter. (His injury issues is also a reason for this)
2. Leao and Theo aren’t really improving, are they? Theo has been on a decline since the Scudetto season, and it’s quite evident with his performance now compared to at that time. I don’t think it’s right to blame Leao’s decline on Pioli because it’s quite evident he doesn’t have the mentality of a big player who wants to silence his critics with his performance on the field. Just check his latest story for reference, his altitude won’t take him anywhere.
3. What people hate about Pioli is his laid back attitude? He never takes responsibility for his player’s bad performances. The blame for these many injuries lies on whom? The Athletic Staff, of course. The same athletic staff who has been with Pioli for a long time. Actually, @IKWYDLS wrote a very good comment regarding this in a recent article.
“To be fair, no one said that he has lost the dressing room”…. um yes they have – I think one of them was IKWYDLS after salernitana draw.
Look at this tool! Point to where I said that. I’ll wait. I barely said anything after that draw. This is proof you don’t read or u guys just make up stuff in your head, the ol’ Giancarlo syndrome.
Okay calm down – I said “I think”….
I don’t think him, of all people, would say something like that without anything to back that. Maybe he said the management has lost the trust in Pioli which was reported in one of the article.
So why put out my name specifically if u “think” and now get called out for it? Just get your facts straight and call it a day. Do some actual thinking or reading and remembering next time. It shows u guys just carry perceptions around of people
Too many words, in short Pioli out and you can follow him.
Are actually trying to say that you think Pioli is a wizard – perhaps even one of the GOATS – who will magically make Milan play the most beautiful football and win trophies if given enough time & resources but are too afraid to say such a ridiculous thing aloud here?
You need to work on your reading comprehension. He literally said none of those things. It’s weird that people have to make up things rather than just debate what he actually said if you don’t agree.
What he is saying is that you can’t give him none of the credit yet all of the blame. We all think Pioli should go at this time but he does deserve credit for winning the Scudetto with probably the 4th best squad in the league. As well as developing the young talents of Leao and Theo and Kessie and Bennacer.
Let me guess all of the credit goes to the Great Maldini and all of the blame falls on Pioli, right?
Yeh I literally ended the post saying I want a new coach 😆. You’re right – same thing happens with Maldini – “everything would be fantastic if he was still in charge instead of these clowns we have now!”
“Pioli has Milan top of the table after 6 rounds with full squad/ no injuries – Tumbleweeds…”
Umm no that’s because u don’t read and make stuff up in your head. There were ppl here that saw the signs. I said exactly that we’ve only played teams at the bottom half of the table and that a little bit of calma was needed. This is while we’re at the top.of the table mind you
“IKWYDLS13 October 2023, 18:57 at 6:57 pm
…
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Apart from Inter, all of our other games were against teams in the second half of the table. We havent, by table standings, played a top 10 team apart from the snakes. Let’s be calm for a sec”
Your crystal ball predicted the injury sh*t show too I remember now……… Would we be in better shape as a team and in the table if we’d had a relatively full squad this whole time just like Inter and Juve? My point is – if unlike Sam you can read – that no one predicted this injury crisis and all I ever said was let’s see what happens- just like you.
Your point was no one was saying anything when we were on top the table. My point is there was. “Thumbleweeds “. Injuries or not, at that time , we weren’t as good as we thought we were. Its very simple. And this was when ppl were full of praise.
I don’t have a crystal ball but I’ve seen alot of football in my life. But so far my predictions have been spot on… yet again …for another year.
Yes but all this season game that we do well or as you said pioli. By watching the games you will see clear sign of something wrong. Please tell me what is wrong with our 4231 and why not buld the team around 4231
Our best players are better in 4231
What balance dou you want?
If milan win you praise pioli
If milan lost —> injury, howler, players fault. It is never be Piolis fault according to you
You only care about Pioli not milan..
Yes i agree one thing with you, i wish pioli goes at the end of season, so you can start posting at piolis new club forum
Also Pioli is maybe not having a perfect season but 3rd place in Serie A and in CL (on same points as PSG) is still in the normal range for this squad.
I mean let’s look at Roma, Lazio, Napoli, to a lot lesser degree Viola … if we are doing bad what are they doing? Sarri, Garcia, Mou are not no-names.
Pioli is Good for you to see what we have been crying about now, I fore saw your sack and also issues that surrounds you in Acmilan that’s why we the fans begged you not to implement 4-3-3 but you insisted you let us down and also the management if you had play 4-2-3-1 all the way I’m 100% confident that we will not only qualify but we will top the group and also top the serie a table but your selfishness and tactical error led us in this mess
Is Berardi going to be back for this match? Because if he is the chances of a Pioli KO increase dramatically.
Funny enough, he is
Pioli is already doing his part injuring every player he gets his hands on and giving zero tactical solutions to the team’s problems game after game. We just need a little push so we can replace the three stooges training our players rn with a staff that actually knows what they’re doing (or have better luck, for those delusional enough to believe the injury problems are due to bad luck) do it Berardi, we believe in you 🙏🏻🤣 Unfortunately, jokes asides I highly doubt Pioli will be sacked before the Summer, regardless of what happens in the weekend
People always talk about replacing Pirlo, even when we had Pirlo we never replaced Albertini. Seedorf was never a replacement for one of our greatest ever.
To get an Albertini today would be signing De Bruyne.