AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani was present at training on Wednesday, and he had a chat with the head coach Sergio Conceicao.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Stefano Pioli’s fate was sealed exactly one year ago by a spring that was much worse than expected. The distance from the Scudetto battle was huge, the Champions League campaign ended in the group stage and the Europa League journey was brought to a halt by Roma.
To flourish again, Milan tried to entrust the new course to a foreign coach, first Paulo Fonseca and now Conceiçao. Furlani sent him a message, in a private conversation at Milanello, with the invitation to transmit the same to the entire group.
At the training ground the climate remained rigid: – 17 from the league leaders Inter, – 6 from fourth place, -5 from the Europa League. However, there is room to grow in the finale: the European climb starting in Naples, the second highest peak in Italy, and the double derby in the Coppa Italia.
Furlani reminded the team of the value of qualifying for international competitions, personally showing the closeness and support of the club, asking for a finale as protagonists to deserve their stay and appealling for unity.
The CEO was at Milanello yesterday. His ‘pitch’ is usually Casa Milan, the administrative headquarters: for the first training session of the full team after the national commitments he chose to be there.
With 15 players around Europe and the world, Milan have been the most represented Italian club in international matches in recent days: the same team is however ninth in the table, a decidedly more provincial ranking.
For technical, economic and visibility reasons, qualifying for a European competition is crucial: the Champions League is considered the natural environment, but a season of adaptation in the Europa League would also be fine.
It is a partially unexplored territory: it is the only trophy missing from the club’s trophy cabinet, which is why it can exert a certain charm. The circumstances are very different, in terms of earnings and appeal, but the important thing is not to be left out. First commandment of the CEO.
Among the roads that lead to Europe there is also the one that passes through the victory of the Coppa Italia: the journey will resume from the semi-finals against Inter, only one will travel to Rome, the venue of the final, and the winners will have guaranteed entry into the Europa League.
The seasonal derbies have gone well, a breath of hot air: the success in the first meeting in the league, the comeback in the Supercoppa Italiana (and the trophy that is wrapped in red and black) and the draw in the second match in Serie A.
Now a new do or die: for the first leg at ‘home’. The stadium is not yet sold out, on the contrary. A success when the season resumes could fuel the enthusiasm. Milan will be welcomed by Napoli and beating them would mean doing a favour to Inter, launching the black and blue competition for the second consecutive Italian title.
Above all, it would be doing a favour to themselves: for the standings and to try to make the atmosphere increasingly hot. The summary of Furlani’s speech to the team is as follows: “The others will slow down, if we do our job, we can achieve the objectives.”
For this reason, the group has the obligation to follow the coach, who with the last two comebacks has regained consensus. The club, always with Furlani at the head, are preparing a relaunch project to share with a sporting director and a new coach.
It is difficult that Conceiçao will stay, even if he manages to place the red and black flag in the Champions League zone. In any case, never say never. Furlani has renewed his trust in him, with the request not to be distracted by the rumors.
The club expects everyone to step up their game, on the pitch and in their pride. Physically, everyone is available: except Emerson Royal, but with Gimenez regularly available. It is on the team spirit and the unity of the group that Furlani wanted to leverage.
