Shambles and shame to Scudetto and security: Was Pioli the perfect caretaker after all? | OneFootball

You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. That famous saying could not ring more true in Stefano Pioli’s four-and-a-half-year tenure at the helm.

The Rossoneri faithful have lived through just about every single emotion possible, but the nightmare past couple of weeks endured has forced many fans angrily on the verge of tipping point – and they have every right to feel aggrieved.

Personally, although many were sceptical of Pioli’s tactical awareness, especially in the crunch-time matches, in some cases the criticism directed at him was rather harsh. Let’s be honest, many were waiting eagerly on the edge of their seats to berate the Italian as soon as a defeat eventuated – but were quiet when the ship was resurrected as Milan’s back were against the wall on numerous occasions.

That said, six consecutive derby defeats – losing the Scudetto to Inter in the most recent derby – and an abysmal 180-minute performance against Roma in the Europa League quarter-finals means the club hierarchy has little choice but to part ways at the end of the season.

In the end, Pioli’s limitations were exposed to the point of no return and the tactical experiment with Rafael Leão as a sole number nine was ultimately the final straw. It’s clear he has reached his ceiling as Milan’s manager and the time has arrived for fresh ideas and a new direction.

With bitter rivals Inter Milan now celebrating their second star, the current anguish and pain for Milan fans is still incredibly raw – making it extra challenging to acknowledge just how far this once-fallen giant of world football has made steady steps to get back on the trajectory of competing with the elite.

However, it’s important to recognise it and distribute credit where it’s due.

More Stories / Features

Shambles and shame to Scudetto and security: Was Pioli the perfect caretaker after all?

25 April 2024, 21:00

Imminent vacancy and the De Rossi effect: What the Youth League could mean for Abate

19 April 2024, 15:30

Who leaves, who stays and who will arrive: Milan’s plan for the 2024-25 attack

4 April 2024, 21:00

When Marco Giampaolo’s disastrous spell ended before it even began, Pioli entered the frame, much to the revulsion of a disgruntled fanbase who judged the move as a downgrade. He was instantly branded a caretaker, with the promise of a more ambitious appointment to come.

Milan are a club that demands to win at all costs. When Pioli, a man who had previously coached the likes of Inter, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Bologna without winning anything, was unveiled as the Rossoneri’s new hope, it was challenging to envision any sort of success.

A humiliating 5-0 loss away to Atalanta in December 2019 would increase the heat more than ever until a 27-match unbeaten run in the league provided Milanisti a slight glimmer of optimism, something they had been searching for nearly a decade.

Finally, there was an identity in the style of football with an attacking-minded approach and free-flowing build-up all whilst picking up results.

A first full pre-season before the 2020-21 campaign would pave the way for further growth, becoming winter champions before running out of steam in the title race to Antonio Conte’s Inter. Yet, Pioli was overachieving.

And just when you thought Milan would regress down to the mean, there was another gear that Pioli found to motivate a squad filled with talent, but also inexperience – by no means an easy task.

From ‘#PioliOut’ tweets to ‘Pioli is on fire’ chants, Milan claimed a memorable Scudetto to break an 11-year drought and unexpectedly achieve the pinnacle of Italian football – so significant that Pioli commemorated the achievement with a tattoo of the Italian shield with number 19 on his forearm.

The classical underdog tag didn’t phase the seven-time European champions in the competition they possess in their DNA – reaching the semi-finals before succumbing to a better-equipped Inter outfit. That’s when the doubts around Pioli’s future officially took shape.

Young prospects such as Leão, Theo, Tonali, and Tomori were transformed into undoubtedly better-developed players as the transfer values of many have skyrocketed under Pioli’s watch.

The club were crying out for stability and consistency after settling with an unhealthy managerial merry-go-round of eight coaches since Massimiliano Allegri’s stint. Pioli brought almost five years of security.

Recently there have been some people commenting on social media that Pioli is a ‘fraud’ and a ‘disgrace’ to the organisation. Sure, he hasn’t been perfect, but to treat him in that fashion leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

He was deeply attached to the club and always defended his players like they were his sons. In 2020, he expressed his love for the Rossoneri, admitting if Milan were a woman: “She would be my wife. She is the love of my life, so it means that Milan is too.”

Pundits can argue back and forth about the 58-year-old’s managerial ability all day long, but there is no doubt that he is about to depart the club in a better place than it found itself since he walked through the doors of Milanello. The core foundations are set in stone for his successor to build on the work done both on and off the pitch.

The reality is that Milan has gone from celebrating top-four qualification as if it were a league title to now feeling utterly disappointed to finish in second place. The mentality has drastically shifted, and surely Pioli deserves credit for that.

Unfortunately, the sad reality is that Pioli will be remembered for dying on his sword rather than bowing out as a hero.