With the corona pandemic having threatened to cancel the Serie A season 2019/20, football in Italy is once again going to resume with the coppa Italia semifinals on June 13th with Milan playing away to Juventus in the Allianz Stadium.
A 2 month break has created quite a gap in the memories of football fans this season. With a chronological structure we would like to recap the season for the fans
1. Formation of the new management
After quite a painful end to the 2018/19 season, Milan looked to a change in the management to lead a revolution. Gazidis and Elliot believed the best way to go about it is to entrust the project to none other than “Mr.Milan” Paolo Maldini. Maldini took his time to accept the role and went about recruiting to form his team of managers. He brought in, former teammate Zvonimir Boban as Chief of Football and ex-Roma director Frederico Massara as the Sporting Director. Perhaps the most important decision of them all that he took was appointing Marco Giampaolo as the new coach of Milan which drew mixed reactions but had the blessings of legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi.
2. Good start, Stuttering journey and a complete catastrophe
Milan sold Fan favourite Patrick Cutrone to much opposition to wolves for €22M. But they managed to bring a total of 6 players in the form of Theo Hernandez, Gabbia, Bennacer, Krunic, Leao and Rebic. Milan however missed out on prime targets such as Sensi who joined Inter and Angel Correa who decided to stay put at Atletico.
Milan started well in the pre-season games playing the same fluid football played by Sampdoria but it all started off as a disaster in the first game of Serie A where Milan lost 1-0 to Udinese. Milan would go for 6 more games and Giampaolo would be sacked with a record of 3 wins and 4 losses in 7 games and only 111 days in charge. The shortest coaching stint in Milan. Maldini and Boban dipped their hand into the market and brought in Stefano Pioli despite “#PioliOut” trending worldwide on social media. Pioli would be in charge for rest of the season with a clause for an additional year if he qualifies for Europe.
3. Bad start under Pioli, resurgence and the beggining of the end
Pioli faced an uphill task of rejuvenation especially since he faced Juventus, Napoli, Lazio and Roma in the space of 7 matchdays . Draw against Lecce in his first match didn’t help and Milan lost to Roma and Lazio before grinding a win vs SPAL before losing to Juventus in a well fought battle and drawing to Napoli. Milan would then go onto be unbeaten in 4 games including Napoli before a scary trip to Bergamo beckoned.
4. The 5-0 loss to Atalanta, the loss of patience and a crucial return of a legend.
With Atalanta being a force to reckon in the recent seasons, a trip to Bergamo was always a daunting task. And boy, did Milan capitulate in style. 2 goals from illicic would complete a 5-0 rout of Milan making it Milan’s biggest loss since 23 years and a nadir for the clubs poor business of the last decade.
The paparazzi had a field day. Questions were asked of Maldini and Boban. Critics were all over the poor performances of players who were lauded as the pillars of the club mainly Suso. The owners have seem to lost their patience, piolis sacking was mooted. All this for the big return of the big Swede.
Milan finally brought back Zlatan Ibrahimoviç in a big ceremonious return and impact was instant with the swede netting a goal in a 2-0 win vs Cagilari in an away trip. The transfer led to an influx of confidence, experience and positive feelings into the clubs and led to the rise of other players such as Theo Hernandez, Ismail Bennacer and Ante Rebic.
Theo established himself as the best left back of Serie A and was the top scorer for Milan in the league until he was overtaken by Ante Rebic who until the game against udinese had only started 1 game in the league. A change in formation to 4-4-2 and benching of Suso gave more chances to Samu Castillejo who took his chance with both hands.
Milan also saw the emergence of Ismael Bennacer as one of the key players in new look Milan.
Milan brought in experienced CB Simon Kjær, Alexis Saelemaeckers, Asmir Begovic in the transfer window while re-calling Diego Laxalt from Torino.They sold Piatek to Hertha Berlin and loaned Suso, Caldara, Ricardo Rodriguez and Reina.
5. Progression in the Coppa Italia, controversial Semi-final, Dismissal of Key figure and Temporary Halt
Milan faced SPAL in the Round of 16 in its first appearence in the coppa Italia this season. One of the most easiest games Milan faced all season, Milan won the game 3-0 thanks a goal and assist from piatek (his last game for Milan before he left). Milan then won 4-2 against Torino in extra time thanks to a late surge from Hakan Çalhanoglu. Milan then progressed to the semi final and in controversial fashion against Juve Milan drew 1-1 where a handball was called against Calabria.
In a completely unexpected outburst, Zvonimir Boban gave an unsanctioned interview to Gazetta Dello Sport and spoke about how he and Maldini were not consulted by Elliot and Gazidis for selecting Rangnick as the next coach of Milan. This resulted in termination of his contract with the club and left Milan into uncertainty again. Milan finished with a 2-1 loss to Genoa before the season was put to a halt due to pandemic.
Milan will resume their campaign on the 12th June with the away leg with no Zlatan, Samu and Theo Hernandez.
The Milan Blog 