The latest on Pioli's future [Bonus article]

It was yet another disappointing evening for AC Milan as they lost 2-0 to Spezia, who won their first game in over two months. Understandably so, the Rossoneri fans are furious with the team’s performance and Champions League is truly at risk, so where does that leave Stefano Pioli’s future?

We wrote about the manager’s future at great length back in April (read here). The situation is indeed very complex and there are many factors that must be considered. Compared to a month ago, however, the situation has changed and just as Champions League qualification is at risk, so is Pioli.

The manager has a great relationship with the management, i.e. Ricky Massara and Paolo Maldini. Milan’s owner, Gerry Cardinale, especially trusts Maldini and knows that he’s an important figure for the club. But the American doesn’t have the same feelings for Pioli.

As has been made clear many times before, Cardinale is a man who prioritises financial success - sometimes instead of sporting success. These two often go hand in hand, but the reality is that winning the Scudetto or not isn’t the key point as long as you secure a top-four finish and thus Champions League qualification.

UCL qualification is, without a doubt, at great risk as things stand with just three games left of the season. And Milan already have one foot out of the Champions League, with a mountain to climb in the second leg against Inter, who lead 2-0 on aggregate and clearly are the superior team.

Let’s speak in clear terms, though: Pioli’s position really wasn’t at risk back in February (when Milan went seven games without a win) and not last month either. But it is now, as have learned. This isn’t merely a poor run of form; 2023 is all the evidence Cardinale needs to say that this is a high-speed car crash.

And the truth is that missing out on a top-four finish, as well as getting knocked out in a humiliating fashion by Inter in the Champions League, is a complete derail of Milan’s project. As said at the start, the matter is very complex and Pioli still enjoys the support of the management, but the final word will come from Cardinale and his stance has changed (and could become definitively negative in the coming weeks).