Vitiello: ‘Revolution at all levels’ – the big changes expected at Milan without top four spot | OneFootball

The top four places risk accelerating away from AC Milan amid what has been a difficult season, and that would prompt some big summer changes.

There is a risk of 2024-25 becoming a very forgettable on for Milan, even if the current year started with a trophy win after beating Juventus and Inter in Saudi Arabia to lift the Supercoppa Italiana.

Having headed into the final round of the first phase in the Champions League in the top eight, a loss to Dinamo Zagreb condemned the Rossoneri to a play-off place, the round they ended up exiting in at the hands of Feyenoord.

Not only that, but Milan might not even have the chance to avenge the early exit next season given that they sit eight points behind fourth-placed Juventus at the moment, albeit with a game in hand.

Antonio Vitiello has written his weekly column for MilanNews and chose to speak about what is a huge week in terms of the games on Thursday and Sunday, plus what they might mean for the future.

“It was a very tough week with two significant blows. The exit from the Champions League against a clearly inferior team, and the defeat in Turin that ruined the pursuit of fourth place, were two ‘sporting tragedies’,” he begins.

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“We are entering another decisive week, that of the two direct clashes against Bologna and Lazio. In four days the Diavolo will play for everything. Although to be honest it would almost take a miracle to grab fourth place, and Milan has never given the impression of being able to do it.

“We are talking about a sick team, capable of any type of error (some defined as ‘circus-like’ by Conceiçao himself). In Milan’s matches, anything can happen.

“There are 13 matches left until the end of the season and to hope to recover 9 points from Juventus (we also consider head-to-head being in favour of the Bianconeri), they would need to win about ten matches. In other words, a streak of victories that Milan have never done this season.

“If the Rossoneri were to miss out on the Champions League, we would be heading towards yet another revolution, which this time will affect all levels. It starts with the coach, who would not be kept without fourth place, to move on to the players at the end of the cycle, even if the names could be significant. A necessary reset to start again.

Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

“It would also be necessary for someone in the club to take responsibility for this failure, because Milan have never been competitive in the fight for the Scudetto this year, not even from the first day of the season, and if the team were to fail to secure fourth place, it would be right for someone to show their face.

“The addition of a new figure to the management will be one of the first moves. The club’s top management is studying the most suitable profile to fill the role. They are looking for a field man who can help in choosing players in the mercato but above all in managing the daily life at Milanello. That is where Milan has a tremendous void. The current corporate structure has not worked and it is right to correct it in view of next year.

“After the matches on Thursday and Sunday against Bologna and Lazio we will have a clearer picture. Milan is on edge, the tension is high because without the Champions League the Rossoneri will lose about fifty million euros, which for a club that must support itself are literally vital.”