What has been speculated for a long time, received official confirmation today – the match against Salernitana at San Siro on Saturday will be the last for Stefano Pioli as Milan’s head coach. At first glance, the second place in the Serie A doesn’t look that bad, although the city rival Inter is ahead by as many as 19 points. However, Milan’s results this season under Pioli’s command cannot be measured only through the prism of the domestic championship. The early and somewhat unexpected elimination from the Champions League already in the group stage, regardless of the fact that Milan’s group with Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Newcastle was by far the toughest this season, was quite disappointing. The Europa League didn’t provide comfort either. Milan managed to reach the quarterfinals, only to be eliminated by one of the greatest rivals from the homeland – Roma. Quarterfinals were, once again, fatal for the Rossoneri in the Coppa Italia, where the future finalist and Europa League winner, Atalanta, eliminated them.We just want to say Grazie, Stefano ❤🖤 pic.twitter.com/4H3Qn6aHq9— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 24, 2024 However, certain positive sides during Pioli’s time at San Siro can’t be neglected. The fans will probably remember him mostly as the manager who brought them the first title after 11 years in 2022 and helped the club become a regular participant in the Champions League after nine seasons. Hence, all in all, Pioli’s results this season were nowhere near good enough, especially considering Milan’s tradition and status. As the season progressed, it became more and more clear that the 58-year-old didn’t know the way to upgrade and improve the team’s performance, so parting ways was the most realistic option.From Benzema to Rafael Leao – Gallardo to take over Milan?’AC Milan extends heartfelt thanks to Stefano Pioli and his entire staff for leading the First Team over the past five years, securing an unforgettable League title and re-establishing AC Milan’s consistent presence in the top European competition. Stefano’s professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the Club’s core values from day one. Stefano Pioli expresses his gratitude to AC Milan for the opportunity to be part of the history of this glorious Club. He is deeply grateful to the ownership, management, team, staff, and everyone at Milanello and Casa Milan for their support and outstanding commitment. He also extends a special thanks to the many fans who have passionately supported AC Milan over the years, demonstrating unwavering dedication.’ Even though numerous managers have been mentioned as Pioli’s successors, it seems that Paulo Fonseca will be the one and that it is only a matter of time before he is officially appointed.##NAJAVA_MECA_8123999##
