AC Milan take on Udinese tonight hoping to begin a run that constitutes a dignified end to the season, but the noise around the club is deafening.
Quotidiano Sportivo writes how Milan’s season has been full of steps forward and steps backwards, declarations of intent and denials, internal and external. On and off the pitch a level of uncertainty continues to permeate that hasn’t been seen in many years.
Milan are nine points off the Champions League zone, eight from the Europa League and even seven from the Conference League, but it is ‘not a totally negative season, [because] we won the Super Cup’, as per Paolo Scaroni.
The hunt for the sporting director has begun. There has been a U-turn on Paratici, even if ‘he cannot operate because he is suspended until July, but he can be contracted’, specified the president of the FIGC Gabriele Gravina.
“Nothing has been decided, we are making inquiries, we will choose in the coming weeks,” was the line of Scaroni. He also commented on the rumours of a rift between Giorgio Furlani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, proving they are internally aware of it.
“I also read about different visions, but the climate is absolutely positive and the relationship is excellent. Ibra is a consultant for RedBird on loan to Milan, he was and is a champion, he is very important,” he said.
The new director will be too. In pole position now is Igli Tare, who stated on Albanian TV: “I can’t say anything, but the squad is worthy of the Scudetto. Conte and Allegri are the best coaches in Italy.” Then, he denied that he said it.
It will take time, which Paulo Fonseca didn’t have, who – in an interview with The Guardian – underlined: “In the last decade, Milan has won only one league title. The club is in a difficult moment, I’ve been fine and I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to continue.”
Conceiçao tries to continue amid all the external noise, without Santiago Gimenez who has not recovered after the clash with De Gea (Francesco Camarda called up) and without Kyle Walker, who underwent surgery on a fractured elbow suffered in training.
Mike Maignan will be there: on the captain’s shoulders is the renewal in worrying stand-by and not only. Last year this same fixture was suspended due to racist chants against him. In recent days in Udine a banner appeared and a statement from the Curva Nord suggested another tense evening.
Conceiçao responded: “We are not worried. If necessary, the competent authorities will be there.” The coach tried to hit the usual buttons of work, of the search for a different attitude, of good feelings.
He spoke of balance, something Milan have been chasing for a long time, on and off the pitch, which still seems to be so very far away.
