Vitiello insists Milan were ‘never’ in Scudetto race: “Is Cardinale okay with this?” | OneFootball

Journalist Antonio Vitiello has aimed scrutiny right at the very top of AC Milan after what has been a very poor start to the league campaign.

It would be accurate to say that Milan and Juventus did not serve up a classic on Saturday night at San Siro as they played out a 0-0 draw with only three combined shots on target.

The Rossoneri really needed to win in order to relaunch themselves in the Scudetto discussions and instead they mustered just one shot on target which came in the 95th minute.

The boos at full-time said it all as the fans made it clear that they are not happy with being nine points away from the Champions League places.

Vitiello published his weekly column for MilanNews on the day of the game against Slovan Bratislava and he rewound to Saturday’s boring draw with Juventus.

“A few days ago, at the photobook unveiling celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Club, in the book’s preface we read a phrase from owner Gerry Cardinale that read: ‘We are committed to preserving Milan’s legacy, with the obsession for the Club’s return to the top of European football’.

“The term obsession has remained in our minds. The obsession for winning and for bringing Milan back to the top of football. The intentions are laudable, but then you take a look at the Serie A standings and the reality is completely different, and then a thousand doubts and perplexities begin.

More Stories / The Match

CM: ‘There were negotiations with Milan’ – Rossoneri to watch Marcelli up close

26 November 2024, 14:05

GdS: Camarda expected to feature against Slovan – he has ‘unfinished business’

26 November 2024, 13:40

The five key battles that could win or lose the game for Milan against Slovan Bratislava

26 November 2024, 13:15

“But is the owner Gerry Cardinale okay with this situation? Is he aware that by continuing like this he is also risking a Champions League place?

“Because the current Milan seems anything but a team with an obsession for winning, in fact, it has a win rate in the league that does not even reach 50%. Milan have won only 5 games out of 12 in Serie A, and has already accumulated a 10-point gap to first place, and 9 from fourth place.

“If you analyse the team’s path, you notice that Milan have never been in the running for the Scudetto, since August. In the first three matchdays, the Rossoneri drew with Torino, lost with Parma and drew with Lazio.

“Two points in 3 games and it was already clear. Forget the Scudetto, now you have to pay attention to the Champions League placement.

“The whole team, including the coach, must become aware of the difficult moment and show their claws, because at this rate there is a real risk. Milan have not yet found an identity and we are now in December.

“In the last league game they needed to win to relaunch themselves in the table, and instead Milan did not even try, not even a shot on goal in the 90 minutes against Juventus.

“Tonight there is the Champions League and winning would be the least, against a team that still have zero points in the European competition.”