Paulo Fonseca’s Milan are 11 points below table leaders Napoli, although with a game in hand, and Gazzetta compares this season’s results with those achieved in the pre-Stefano Pioli era.
A 2-0 home loss to Napoli on Tuesday, pushed Milan to 8th placement in Serie A, 11 points below the Partenopei.
La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that the gap between the Rossoneri and the table leaders after 10 rounds is similar to the pre-Pioli era, essentially before Milan regrouped and began a new cycle, climbing the ranking in just two years and winning the title in 2021-22.
Comparison with Giampaolo era emerges as Fonseca’s Milan slip down Serie A table
Back in 2017-18, with Vincenzo Montella in charge, the Rossoneri were 12 points below the top of the table after 10 games. Things didn’t look any better a year later, when they were 10 points away from the top spot under Gennaro Gattuso.
The gap after 10 games was extended to 13 points with Giampaolo in charge (2019-20) but with Pioli in the dugout, the Rossoneri were the table leaders in 2020-21 and 2021-22. In the last two seasons, also under Pioli, Milan found themselves three points below the table leaders after 10 league rounds.
This time around, the Rossoneri have a game in hand after last week’s fixture against Bologna was postponed. However, Fonseca’s men have already lost three matches from their opening nine, conceding 11 goals and scoring 16.
Rather harsh on Giampaolo. Fonseca has a far better squad at his disposal.
Milan keeps declining since parting ways with Maldini. I wasn’t a big fan of his choices at times but truth should be told that since his departure the team is sliding back to what it was in the banter era.