What remained in these final 270 minutes of the season? What meaning do they have? Let’s not settle the issue with a now defined ranking: of course, a second place must be defended which is never a trivial placing, it certifies continuity at the top of the championship (yes sir, including last year’s, because if one cheats at the gaming table and is removed for this, his stake remains with the others having been damaged). The true meaning of the matches in Cagliari, Turin, and Salernitana, however, is the reflection that will have to be made on a competitive squad, but one that still needs to be improved decisively: the future is now. A bit like what Tonali said at the beginning of the 2022-2023 season (“We must think that we are not playing the last matches of last year, but the first of this season…”). Shake off the past: tomorrow is another day and it’s already today.
We know well that Pioli’s future or the name of the new coach are not at stake – in these last 3 matches: this is a choice that the club is making regardless, while I have already expressed my certainties about the swirl of names. Many of those that have emerged in recent weeks are the result of pressures, pushes, favors to the prosecutors of this and that, concessions – unfortunately – from some of my colleagues or some editorial staff in search of unlikely scoops.
It is clear that within a society where the structure is different from the canonical parameters, the reflections are collegial and not delegated to a single plenipotentiary. You are clear about the history of Moratti-Allodi, Agnelli-Boniperti, Berlusconi-Galliani, but if you have a little knowledge of the American reality you will have realized that in the USA not even the owner is the sole master of decisions: I will point out just a couple in this regard of films (“Air”, “Blackberry”) and especially the “Success” series. It is a way of conceiving corporate management, the life of a company, business, profoundly different from ours. Within those structures, the organization certainly foresees conflicts, discussions, even furious arguments before reaching a result.
I don’t say it or write it to sugarcoat the situation: it’s a way of acknowledging that things work this way now, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better or worse. It’s just profoundly different. One can object to the Italian sporting, footballing, AC Milan and cultural knowledge: however, I believe that in this regard, an imposing figure like that of Ibrahimovic and a proven technique like that of Moncada should provide a reference.
Zlatan’s role and duties are joked about on a daily basis, even in a vaguely offensive way about his cognitive abilities, experience or way of being a little removed from the fray. Sorry if it makes me smile: that very long presentation statement on the day of his entry as direct consultant to Gerry Cardinale, which aroused sarcasm even in Fabio Capello, certainly gave the definition. If we think that he should speak, explain, expose his ideas and his indications today, I think we are all off track. Ibra is still ambitious, he is still a centralizer: he doesn’t accept compromises, he doesn’t accept failures. At this moment they are the guarantee of a strong presence, the communication must – then – be studied and targeted.
In this scenario there is room for silent protest, the Curva strike which is not just theirs, but is shared by thousands of other fans who are demoralized and fearful for the future. A much more polite, composed and civil manner than vulgar barbs or unsuccessful hashtags: it is a clear and direct message on the expectations of the Rossoneri people, not only and not so much regarding the market and the coach, but about the presence and the weight that must be returned to have in the rooms that count. Not to obtain advantages, but to demand respect and to participate in Italian and European life outside the football fields.
A necessary clarification. In a YouTube live broadcast with Carlo Pellegatti (there are recordings) I never said: “Antonio Conte ‘accepted’ Milan’s conditions”, I don’t even know if he ever spoke to a manager. I simply repeated, as I had already done in recent weeks, that he was (is) available to coach the Rossoneri and that consequently, not being stupid, he knows perfectly what the philosophy is and what the current strategies of Milan are, alluding to salaries and market. Unfortunately, some things on social media – as often happens – have been distorted.
I conclude with an applause for Carlo Ancelotti, once again champion and finalist in the Champions League, although for some he is just someone who plays “Scratch cards”. And a round of applause also to Paolo Maldini for the contents of a recent interview of his, where the values of the man that I have personally always placed before those of the player first and then the manager emerge clearly.
