La Gazzetta dello Sport, once again this morning, delves into the depths of Milan’s crisis.
More specifically, the newspaper has, as the saying goes, "counted the money in the Rossoneri’s pockets." Milan ranks third in Serie A in terms of wage bill but sits as low as eighth in the standings, chasing teams that spend far less, such as Atalanta, Bologna, and Lazio, to name a few.
Milan, you're worth what you spend, but...
Pointing fingers solely at Paulo Fonseca might seem like the easiest solution given the Rossoneri's current struggles. However, if the saying "you’re worth what you spend" were always true, it raises the question: why did Milan choose to rely on a coach who, as of now, earns significantly less than his counterparts at other top clubs?
The Italian newspaper mentioned above has found an answer to this question, which is largely economic. When Fonseca was chosen, the Rossoneri club was still paying Pioli's salary and is still burdened by the wages of Origi and Ballo-Touré, two expensive players currently out of the squad.
Milan, something doesn't add up...
In recent years, Serie A hasn’t adhered to the rule that the highest spender wins. Otherwise, Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri and Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli would have needed binoculars to catch a glimpse of the Scudetto, with Juventus continuing its dominance as in prior years.
Football, however, doesn’t work that way. Planning, vision, calmness, and passion are all factors that play a role. At Milan, especially in this early part of the season, these elements seem to be lacking.
A disappointing transfer market window...
During the summer, Milan provided Paulo Fonseca with five new signings. However, in the end, the Rossoneri squad remains incomplete. There is no deputy for Theo Hernandez, and with Ismaël Bennacer’s injury, the Portuguese coach has been forced to rely heavily on Fofana and Reijnders due to a glaring lack of depth in midfield.
The fact that the Rossoneri club and coach often lean on the young players, more out of necessity than choice, highlights these inconsistencies for a club with the third-highest wage bill in Serie A, as relayed via Milannews.it.
