Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani insists they have ‘full faith’ in coach Sergio Conceicao ahead of the double clash with Bologna, but the club might not hire a new director of sport after all.
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
These teams meet in Serie A tonight, while they will face off again in the Coppa Italia Final on Wednesday May 14 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Having already won the Supercoppa Italiana by beating Inter in January, some would say taking the Coppa Italia too would rescue the season, while others look to a side in ninth place in Serie A and feel nothing can make up for that.
“Since Sergio Conceicao arrived, he already won a trophy and on Wednesday could become the first coach since Carlo Ancelotti to win two trophies in one season,” Furlani told Sky Sport Italia.
“We have the utmost faith in him, we are concentrated on seeing how this season plays out, he is working well with the squad and we have faith in him.”
Milan future still up in the air
Nonetheless, Milan sit ninth in Serie A and their best chance of getting into the Europa League is to win the Coppa Italia.
“In a campaign like this, there is not just one reason, but many different elements. As CEO and as a fan, I am not happy with how the season has gone. We will not be in the Champions League, which historically is the home of Milan, and our focus is on getting back there as soon as possible.”
Milan have been searching for months to get a new director of sport, but after talks fell apart with Fabio Paratici, they were unconvinced by Igli Tare and found Atalanta unwilling to release Tony D’Amico, the plans changed.
Now Furlani admits the Rossoneri are not even necessarily going to bring in a specific figure for that role.
“The last time I was asked this, I said we were evaluating whether to hire a director of sport, and I also said the issue was not urgent, but more about finding the right person. I give the same response today.
“We are focused on seeing out the season, we are evaluating whether or not to bring someone in, and if we do, it will be the right person. Either way, it will not be before the end of the season.”
Considering the market is already in full flow for many clubs, who is taking charge of Milan’s transfer strategy right now?
“The market does not start on June 1, but many months before, so we’ve been working on it for a long time. The club sets the transfer strategy, even when the actors might change, but we are certainly not static on that score,” assured Furlani.
Milan are wearing special edition jerseys in honour of Mother’s Day, so the players have their parents’ maiden names on their backs this evening.
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