On the field, Pioli’s team is fifth and not yet in the Champions League: interventions on the transfer market cannot be postponed
At the moment he is fourth, he is in the Champions League, but not everyone lived happily ever after. It is the effect of the black and white penalty, ten points less that rewrite a ranking that has never been so short in the hot zone. If the hierarchy were that of the pitch, Milan would be fifth today, two lengths behind Inter and with Gasp and Mou breathing down their necks. Without any certainty of tomorrow. Moreover, the calendar offers Juve and Verona in the last two days: the “fatal” overtaking could succeed at Atalanta (since we are on the Veronese theme). It’s one thing to go to the Champions League and consider at least fifty million in cash before starting, another to enter a Europa League which, hopefully, gives the winners around thirty million or so. We’ll find out in 180 minutes if the glass is half empty or full, but the overall judgment doesn’t change: it wasn’t the post-scudetto season that Milan expected. And now we need to run for cover. Going to the Champions League, everything would be easier.
Previous
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The last Italian champion to fall beyond fourth place was Juve twenty-five years ago: after the ’97-98 Scudetto, Lippi’s farewell during the current season and Ancelotti’s painful management decreed a disappointing seventh place and the end of an unrepeatable cycle between championships and cups. Milan had done even worse two years earlier: from Capello’s Scudetto in ’96 to eleventh position the following season, marked by the shock departure of Tabarez and the emergency call to Sacchi who, however, failed to raise another huge end of the cycle after dominating Italy, Europe and the world. With all due respect, Pioli’s Milan does not tell an epic comparable to Lippi’s Juve and Sacchi-Capello’s Milan. He won a Scudetto and reached a semi-final of the Champions League. The difference between the champions of the time and the interpreters of today is abysmal, but football has also changed. In order not to give the feeling that 2022 was an episode – but Pioli studied to bring this not exceptional team to the top – the club must intervene immediately. Better to spend a little more today than lose a lot tomorrow. The roots are deep: Maignan, Tonali, Leao, Bennacer, a more experienced Thiaw and a less tired and more focused Theo are the structure on which to set the future.
Forbidden to make mistakes
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Soon to read the next season but the scenario is already indecipherable. Napoli will change coach. Juve may need to be renewed downwards. Gasp’s farewell to Atalanta is not a far-fetched hypothesis. Roma could lose the Mou effect. Perhaps only Inter and Lazio will restart from consolidated technical bases, but Zhang’s accounts need to be adjusted and Lotito’s investments will never be “galactic”. On the other hand, it is known that, of the Italians who have entered into the Fair Play agreement with UEFA, only Milan has embarked on a virtuous path that allows them to spend. It’s never nice to talk to other people’s money, but the first to realize that it will be a deficit market is Milan. It seems there is a hundred million available, including transfers, saved salaries, various income. You can’t go wrong like last summer when Dest, Adli, Vranckx, Origi (all farewell), Pobega and Thiaw (useful) and De Ketelaere arrived, a living enigma who will perhaps be given another chance, unless unlikely indecent offers. The problem is that you need a full back, two central defences, a midfielder, two centre-forwards and an attacking midfielder: many, but this season he explained that without a bench you can’t win. The names at the next episode, after the final classification. Today, immediately, the project.
May 25, 2023 (change May 25, 2023 | 08:02)
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