Stefano Pioli Leading A Resurgence Of The Milan Of Old
Having previously failed at Inter Milan, Lazio and Bologna, no one would have foresee Stefano Pioli being offered another contract when AC Milan appointed him on October 2019, to see them through the rest of the season after the sacking of Marco Giampaolo.
AC Milan sacked Pioli's predecessor Giampaolo, who signed a two-year contract with the club in the summer of 2019, just few months into his first season after Milan started the season with just three wins and four loses in seven games.
The results are not befitting of The Rosoneri, who ranked among the best clubs in world football. However, they have been reduced to an average team, whose objective is to seal a Europa League finish, year in and out, since the past seasons.
The seven times UEFA Champions League winners, most by an Italian club, have endured difficulties on and off the pitch in past years. They have had three different owners since 2014 in former Primer minister Silvio Berlusconi, the Chinese group, Sino-Europe Sports and the current owners, American-based Elliot Management with the help of some other directors.
Their big money transfers did not live up to expectations. Leonardo Bonucci, André Silva, Krzysztof Piatek, Lucas Paqueta all came in on big money transfers but failed to justify their price tag. The Rosoneri have spent so much that they have to withdraw from the 2019-20 Europa League due to issues with Financial Fair Play regulations.
When Pioli came in, AC Milan were not one of the teams you will expected to win three games on the bounce but the Italian has turned things around completely. They have gone 24 games unbeaten in all competitions before losing to Lille in the last matchday of the Europa League.
There was a time last season, when Milan had an agreement with German tactician, Ralf Rangnick to take over from the Italian. However, the club reversed the decision and decided to let Pioli continue, minutes after they beat Sassuolo to seal Europa League qualification towards the end of last campaign.
The return of Zlatan Ibrahimović has also boosted the mentality of the team with the Swede helping young players on and off the pitch.
Zlatan Ibrahimović's impact can not go unnoticed be overemphasized, he has spearhead the club's attack expertly since his arrival, his 20 goals and seven assists in 29 games have been helpful for a club, who finished sixth in the league last season and currently in first position with seven games into the new season.
AC Milan have not win Scudetto in nine seasons. Their last time winning it was under Massimiliano Allegri in the 2010-11 season, they have also failed to make a Champions League place since 2012-13 season, when they ended the season in third.
Milan, under Stefano Pioli are slowly returning to the Milan of old. They have won five games and drawn two of their seven league games this season and lead the way, two points above second place Sassuolo with seven games into the new season while also doing fine in the Europa League.
Pioli has build a young energetic team, with Milan not having too spend much on transfers while they have also shipped out players that cost them handsomely. The Rosoneri Faithfuls will be hopeful that the team will continue to improve and reinstate Milan back into the the fold of top teams, in the next few years.
Having gone the last two games without a win in all competitions, AC Milan will be looking to bounce back after the International break in order to avoid a three game winless run when they travel to the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, to battle Napoli.
Milan confirmed recently that Stefano Pioli has tested positive for Covid-19 and may not be on the touchline when club football resume.
Should they be able to maintain their form since the later stages of last season, they could be crowned winners of the Scudetto come the end of the current campaign as they have earned more points than any other team in the league, since the return from the Covid-19 triggered lockdown.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
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