If we had to make an effort to find a silver lining after a dark week, perhaps the darkest of the season, the answer would lie in time. And this is not just a figure of speech but a concrete truth.
While other coaches have had the luxury of training without a relentless 48- or 72-hour timer, head coach Sergio Conceicao hasn’t stopped for a second since his arrival, unfortunately, with all the pros and cons that come with it.
On one hand, the opportunity to compete on multiple fronts and dream of ambitious goals; on the other, the regret of never being able to seriously work on a team that desperately needs to absorb certain concepts.
Well, after the elimination from the Champions League, there is no doubt that time to work properly will be available. This is good news for Conceição, who in recent weeks has repeatedly emphasized this point in various press conferences. From now on, there will be the international break—during which several players will certainly leave—and then only one match per week.
Now more than ever, time is money. The Rossoneri must first make up the match against Bologna, and then Lazio will arrive at San Siro—two Champions League playoffs. After that, the break will be followed by a crucial trio of matches against Lecce, Como, and Napoli, in which points must be secured to close in on Juventus and the projected 70-point mark for a top-four finish.
This will be a major test for everyone, especially for the AC Milan coach.
In fact, the Portuguese boss is playing for everything in these months. His future will largely depend on the next two games and on a season finale that must change the minds of both the fans and the club.
Results will be needed, but also a credible playing identity—something that has been seen little to none so far. The 4-4-2 is still struggling to make an impact and find balance. In this regard, time is now on the coach’s side. After Torino-Milan, the blame was, rightly, mostly placed on the players, but by May, Sergio will also have to answer.
Now begins another decisive week for Milan as they face Bologna and Lazio...
In four days, the Rossoneri team plays for everything. To be honest, though, it would take almost a miracle to snatch fourth place, and Milan has never given the impression of being able to do it. We are talking about a weak team, capable of any type of mistake (some even labeled as "circus-like" by Conceição).
Anything can happen in Milan’s matches.
With 13 games left in the season, recovering 9 points from Juventus (also considering the head-to-head advantage in favor of the Bianconeri) would require winning about ten matches—a winning streak that Milan has never managed this season.
If the Rossoneri fail to qualify for the Champions League, another revolution will be on the horizon—this time, affecting every level. It starts with the coach, who would not be confirmed without a top-four finish, and extends to players at the end of their cycle, even if some of the names could be significant. A necessary reset to start over.
Someone in the club must also take responsibility for this failure, as Milan has never been competitive in the title race this season, not even from the first matchday. And if the team fails to reach fourth place, it would be only fair for someone to step up and take the blame.
The addition of a new figure in the management will be one of the first moves. The club’s top executives are evaluating the most suitable profile for the role.
They are looking for a field expert who can assist in player selection during the transfer market but, more importantly, in the day-to-day management at Milanello. That is where Milan has a glaring void. The current club structure has not worked, and it is right to fix it ahead of next season.
After the matches against Bologna on Thursday and Lazio on Sunday, the situation will be clearer. Milan is on the edge, and tensions are high because missing out on the Champions League would mean losing around fifty million euros—an amount that is absolutely vital for a club that needs to be self-sustainable.
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