One more trophy in the cabinet and… not just that.
The Coppa Italia may not have the allure of a Champions League or a Scudetto, but for today’s Milan, it represents the only realistic objective left. And there are three solid reasons to aim for it, beyond the obvious sporting achievement—which, first and foremost, means getting past the semifinals against Inter (and needless to say, derbies are never just regular matches).
The first reason: as things stand, the Rossoneri would miss out on international competitions next season, but winning the Coppa Italia grants them a spot in the Europa League.
The second: even just reaching the final in Rome might be enough to secure participation in the next Italian Super Cup (more on that later…).
The third: it can generate revenue. Of course, the prize money isn’t as lucrative as in other competitions, but it would still be a nice financial boost—especially for a Milan side now far from the Champions League spots in Serie A. A quick calculation shows that winning the Coppa Italia would bring at least €11-12 million into the club’s coffers.
Derby - Milan vs Inter
The Rossoneri club has already earned around €3 million in prize money alone by reaching the semifinals. That figure would then be supplemented by the gate receipts from previous matches at San Siro against Sassuolo and Roma, plus the upcoming home game against Inter on April 2. Reaching the final would add another €2 million, which could rise to €4.6 million in case of victory. But everything hinges on the two-legged semifinal derby.
In Milan, beating their rivals doesn’t necessarily salvage a season, but still—if after the league win in the first leg and the Super Cup triumph in Riyadh, the Rossoneri also managed to eliminate Inter from the Coppa Italia, for the Rossoneri faithful, it would be more than just a consolation prize.
Milan aims for the European stage
As mentioned, the Coppa Italia could also be the most accessible route to European competition. The financial scale of the Europa League is nowhere near that of the Champions League, but between having nothing and something… better something. Participation alone guarantees around €4.3 million, with additional earnings from match bonuses (€450,000 per win and €150,000 per draw in the group stage), ranking-based rewards (€600,000 for finishing in the top eight, €300,000 for qualifying for the playoffs), and, of course, progression through each knockout round—up to a maximum of approximately €21.5 million for winning the tournament.
The Supercoppa
Beyond the Europa League, for Milan, the Coppa Italia is now the only way to hope for a place in the next Italian Super Cup. The Rossoneri are currently 16 points away from second place in Serie A, so to defend their title—won in January in Riyadh, one of the few bright spots of this season—they would at least need to reach the final in Rome on May 14.
And this opens another discussion, as the format of the next Super Cup is still uncertain: it could remain a four-team tournament—as in the last two editions—or revert to a two-team format (Serie A champions vs. Coppa Italia winners), as it was before 2024. In the latter scenario, Conceicao's team would have to win the final at the Stadio Olimpico to qualify.
The venue of the competition (Saudi Arabia or elsewhere?), the financial rewards for participants, and the prize money are also yet to be confirmed. In Riyadh, Milan earned around €11 million by winning the Super Cup. Naturally, if the competition returns to a two-team format, the prize pool would be smaller. Either way, mere participation guarantees around €2.5 million in the four-team format and €3 million in the two-team version—plus, of course, the chance to win another trophy.
By the way, Milan hasn’t lifted two trophies in a single season since 2007-08, when they won the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. This time, it could be the Italian Super Cup and Coppa Italia. In a bleak season, that would be a gift from the heavens.
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
