Milan chairman Paolo Scaroni said manager Stefano Pioli is the “face” of the Scudetto win and it justified their decision to stick with their coach.
The Rossoneri capped off a difficult decade with an improbable title success and Scaroni praised Pioli following the incredible turnaround.
Speaking on Radio Anch’io on Monday, he said: “Yesterday was an incredible day, an incredible emotion which made up for all of the anxiety I feel every Sunday from 24 hours earlier.
“The face of the success is without doubt Pioli. I remember the 5-0 [defeat to Atalanta in December 2019] in Bergamo. I was there and it was a really sour day.
“The kind of thing that managers are sacked for but luckily we decided the opposite and it kickstarted a great period which took us to the Scudetto and having the accounts always in order.”
Pioli was hired as a replacement for Marco Giampaolo in October 2019 and was not immediately considered a long-term option.
In fact, German Ralf Rangnick, who has since become manager of Manchester United, had been lined up to replace Pioli.
Following the coronavirus-enforced break in play, Milan’s form dramatically improved and Milan released a statement in July 2020 to announce they had broken off negotiations with Rangnick and had offered Pioli a contract extension.
Milan were unbeaten for the rest of the campaign following the COVID-19 break. The following season the returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2014 before improving still to win the Scudetto.