Stefano Pioli is putting everything on the line in the return leg of the Europa League quarter-finals.
La Gazzetta dello Sport even opens its front page with: "Either you make it, or you close it", arguing that the top Milan executives do not accept defeat in the last remaining competition of this season. And, as the newspaper mentions, dark clouds are beginning to loom over the coach's head.
Between Roma and Inter, the most important match is at the Olimpico stadium. Clearly, avoiding seeing the second star Scudetto celebration in their faces is a priority, but at Casa Milan, they focus more on their own triumphs than others' defeats. And the Europa League must be a priority objective; otherwise, the trio of Ibrahimovic-Moncada-Furlani will have to start talks for a new coach despite the good personal relationship that remains with Pioli, as confirmed by the CEO on DAZN.
The Swede, then, will have to work with the supervision of Gerry Cardinale, who has always aimed for success in Europe. The AC Milan club owner will return to the stadium for Monday's derby, but it's unclear whether he will be present in the Capital to support his boys at this moment of evaluation. That week has arrived: Milan will literally be under everyone's eyes. Important evaluations need to be made.