Stefano Pioli has received a lot of criticism this year as AC Milan have struggled in the league. There are still reasons to believe that the manager can turn things around, though, as Franco Ordine argues.
In 2023, Milan have won just four league games and have collected 15 points out of a possible 36. As a result, a top-four finish is now at risk for the Rossoneri and missing out on the Champions League would be a huge blow to the club’s finances.
As highlighted by Franco Ordine in his latest editorial for MilanNews, the worry of the Milan fans with regard to Pioli is justified. However, the manager has earned the right to be given more time as sacking him now would be ‘madness’.
Since he arrived at the club, his key accomplishments are the following: finishing in second place in 2020/21, winning the Scudetto in 2021/22 and now reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season.
The three key reasons behind this season’s struggles, though, are the following: 1) Many injuries have prevented Milan from finding continuity. 2) The youth of the squad has been highlighted by the Serie A and UCL differences. 3) Certain players have failed to live up to their standards (such as Tomori).
All three of these cannot directly be blamed on Pioli. In all of this, he has never complained and has continued to work on the principles, in line with the vision of the club. Of course, missing out on top four would most likely get him sacked.
“3) Certain players have failed to live up to their standards (such as Tomori).
All three of these cannot directly be blamed on Pioli.”
Let me ask you this then: WHY THE F*** DOES HE KEEP PLAYING THEM THEN? E.g. Kjaer needs to start instead of Tomori. If something isn’t working, repeating the same mistake 100 times doesn’t fix the issue.
Honestly that january was enough to fire anybody but he survived, burned through his title credits there.. now there are no excuses left.
More time? How much more time does he need? We are in the final 3rd of the season, by now Milan should be a well oiled machine..
You know Napoli has an even younger squad than Milan according ot transfermarkt..
Excuses, excuses.
Should offer to quite and at least show some backbone after losing again and again…
Are you serious Ordine! Just last week you were arguing he should be fired. Although I agree he cannot be fired now it’s clear he’s not the long term coach. We’ve seen this pattern twice before with Pioli and it continues today. Also player regression is a huge reason why he should be fired. In fact given that Milan’s whole project depends on developing players, regression in the senior squad is an absolute sin. Lastly when two coaches in a row have said they know what Pioli is going to do before the start of the game that’s another sign that things have gotten bad.