Patience has started to wear thin with Milan coach Stefano Pioli and reports suggest that the coming Champions League clash with Newcastle United could decide his fate at the club.
The Rossoneri fell in a painful 3-2 loss to Atalanta on Saturday, a result that leaves them nine points behind league leaders Inter after 15 matches. It was an incredibly disappointing result for Pioli and his players, who may have already ruled themselves out of the title race this season.
Milan’s position is no better in the Champions League, where they sit bottom of Group F with one match left to play. Pioli’s side need to beat Newcastle on Wednesday and hope Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain to qualify for the knockout stages.
As reported by Corriere dello Sport via TMW, Pioli is at risk of being dismissed should Milan suffer a painful defeat to Newcastle in their coming Champions League clash.
The club’s management have started to lose faith in the coach, who has failed to put up a fight either domestically or internationally this season despite a busy summer transfer window.
A recent report suggested that former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could help Milan in a post-Pioli era, possibly working closely with Primavera coach Ignazio Abate, who would become the caretaker coach until the end of the season.
No one is happy, but I’m not sure a change at this stage is a good idea. Unless you find a suitable long term replacement, it is counter productive and could write off the season. Milan cannot hire another up and coming manager. It has to be someone who has actually won something. A manager who has experienced success, and can instil a winning mentality into the players. There is more of a risk of missing out on top 4 if there is a change. Pioli has showed that he can overcome poor runs. A short term replacement might completely distabilise the squad and cost milan a top 4 finish.