The Rossoneri club seems to have no clear objectives.
“This is the story of a man who falls from a 50-story building. As he gradually falls from one floor to another, to gain courage the guy repeats himself: “Up to here, everything is fine. Up to here, everything is fine. Up to here, everything is fine.” The problem is not the fall, but the landing.” This quote from “Hatred”, a masterpiece by Mathieu Kassovitz, is a perfect metaphor for the season of Milan.
Like the man in question, since the beginning of the year Milan seems to fall from one level to another, but with each level overcome, comforting himself, he tells himself that everything is fine, that landing is still far away. He remains suspended in a dazed precariousness, convincing himself that, until the impact, it is always possible to save himself. He did it in mid-September, when the five goals conceded in the derby they seemed like a blow destined to knock out even the most stubborn of boxers; from there Milan strung together four consecutive victories, reaching first place. He did it later Newcastle-Milan, when even the exit from the Champions League was belittled; on the other hand, there is still the Italian Cup and the Europa League, we can still save ourselves. He did it, again, on January 10th, afterwards the exit from the Italian Cupnamed as the primary objective by the environment and the coach. The championship remains: we need to win all the matches, hoping that Inter can slow down.
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The last plan was perhaps surpassed a week ago, when the four goals conceded in Monza established a potential distance of fourteen points between Milan and first place. So far, so good, there’s still the Europa League. For a short time, however, the Rohazon Park in Rennes did not transform into the Riazor in La Coruna: Milan conceded three goals – now a habit – but reached the quarter-finals thanks to the 3-0 in the first leg. So far, so good.
If Milan can afford to navigate by sight, changing seasonal objectives from week to week, it is because, at the beginning of the season, the objectives were not made clear. Or rather, everyone expressed their own opinion. At the beginning of the year Pioli indicated the scudetto as his primary objective, in addition to passage to the Champions League; today, with Milan having missed both objectives in December (Inter were already on the run), it seems that the Europa League, all things considered, may be enough to save their skin.
It’s the same President, Paolo Scaroni, in theory a representative of the club but in practice a voice that seems to continually deny managers and coaches, to remind us that the priority objective is qualification for the next Champions League. A few months ago, before Milan-Atalanta in the Italian Cup, a match indicated by Pioli and the managers as decisive for the purpose of winning a trophy that has become a priority, Scaroni had declared: “Every now and then I wonder if the Italian Cup is necessary…” Clear ideas, in short.
The same sense of precariousness affects the rumors about the future of Stefano Pioli. In this case we are faced with a total split between fans and the journalistic media. The fans, it is now increasingly clear, can no longer stand him; thanks to the disappointment of Inter’s probable second star, the same mistakes as last year are attributed to him: massacre of injuries, continuous involution in terms of play, failure to develop the high potential of the squad; on the other hand, with a contrast that now seems to have become ideological, as soon as Milan wins a match, the miraculous narrative of a Pioli who is multiplying loaves and fishes, despite the many injuries – whose fault is it if not Who underwrites athletic training? – and a deficit market – the most expensive in Serie A, with players wanted by Pioli himself. We have now reached the typical excesses of an overly Manichaean vision: on the one hand, the risk is that Pioli will be used as the only lightning rod, responsible for all the evils in the world. On the other hand, if – despite the failures and negative records collected in the last two years – with every streak of two or three victories he is beatified, and the value of the Milan squad is done unfairly.
The truth is that even on the Pioli issue, Milan seems to navigate by sight. After fifth place – which later became fourth due to Juventus’ penalty – last year, the owners had decided to confirm it, sacrificing Maldini e Massara as scapegoats, and giving the manager more powers in the transfer market. More players have therefore arrived at his court capable of providing bursts and runs with the ball at his feet, as he requested. We often talk about the lack of defensive characteristics in midfield, but who made the choice, if not Pioli himself?
In summer, while the Fenerbahce was pushing to bring him to Turkey, Pioli identified Krunic as the balancing pin of an attacking midfield. Only two months later, Krunic had already been left out of the squad and had become the starter in his place Yacine Adli, who Pioli himself had advised to pack his bags at the start of the training camp. If today we have arrived at the idea that Milan – quoting its coach – “he must think about scoring one more goal than his opponents”, because he suffers a couple of them, it’s because of choices endorsed by his coach. The narrative that attempts to portray him as a victim is therefore inappropriate: this Milan is the mirror of its coach’s football ideas, and was built and shored up in his image. Faced with this year’s results, it is right that he is given due responsibilities.
However, if, despite the objectives declared at the beginning of the season (Scudetto and Champions League round of 16), his permanence still appears possible, it is because confusion once again seems to reign in Milan. Last summer the owners made a drastic, admirable but daring choice: eliminating an AC Milan legend and an excellent manager like Paolo Maldiniin order to obtain unity of purpose in management. Months later, despite the coup, nothing seems to have changed. Many heads seem to reign in Milan, but every time one of them expresses itself, it seems to contradict what was previously said by the others.
It is precisely by virtue of this nebulous confusion that Milan can afford to say that everything is fine. Because yes, the goal was the Scudetto, but getting to the Champions League round of 16 is also fine; indeed, the round of 16 is important for revenues, but all in all the Italian Cup hasn’t been won for too long; no, come on, winning even just the Europa League, the season remains positive. An admirable work of self-conviction: so far, so good. A typical reasoning of those who navigate by sight, of those who are confused and wallow in confusion, because clear objectives entail clear responsibilities. There’s no escape. Furlani, Moncada and D’Ottavio, Ibrahimovic: Who will make the decision on Pioli’s future? Who will eventually choose his heir? But above all, does whoever will do it have the skills to do it?
In the meantime, it is necessary to note how, regarding the names for the post-Pioli team, rumors are circulating about the usual dissonant currents: it is rumored that Ibra would like Conte, while Furlani would not be convinced and who knows what Moncada and D’Ottavio think. Taking this news as true, it is difficult to understand who will prevail, for the simple fact that no one knows who, in Milan, has the most authority on these issues, who decides on possible dismissals or on the appointment of a new coach.
Furthermore, like every year when spring approaches, an evergreen such as the rumors about the change of ownership cannot be missing, a seasonal fruit that Milan fans now collect at least every two years. There is talk of the possible entry into the company of the PIF – Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund – with minority shares, helping Cardinale settle the debt with Elliott, and then perhaps take over the entire company. Obviously, if the rumors were to materialize, the entire management would be shaky, and Milan would risk facing yet another revolution.
Instability, precariousness, uncertainties. All ingredients that do little to match the desire to build winning years. The confusion expressed on the pitch, symbolized by the large gaps that Milan allows to their opponents, is a reflection of a systemic chaos that starts from the top levels of the club. This summer it was decided to cut off one of Milan’s two arguing heads, with the aim of ensuring cohesion and stability. The heads, however, even seem to have increased, and the feeling is that in the apparent silence, away from prying eyes, wars that are not good for the club continue to be fought on the upper floors of Casa Milan. In short, everything changes, so that nothing changes.