ROME, ITALY – MAY 14: Théo Hernández of AC Milan looks dejected after the Coppa Italia Final match … More
What’s next for AC Milan?
The club have endured a truly wretched season, despite winning a trophy and remaining unbeaten against city neighbours Inter.
When the history is written on the 2024/25 campaign, it’s one fans won’t want to remember in a hurry.
The Coppa Italia final defeat to bologna capped a horrible year, and the question now remains what will happen at the club in the summer.
Coach Sergio Conceicao is almost certain to leave at the end of the season, with the Portuguese manager only on a six-month deal.
Milan have little to almost zero chance of making the Champions League next season. Presently fours points adrift of fourth place with two games left, Milan would need all of Juventus, Lazio, Fiorentina and Roma to lose both remaining games, and Milan to win theirs.
Even a Europa League spot seems out of the question, with Roma or Lazio likely on course to nab the one spot.
There is rancour between the fans and the club, a perceived lack of ‘Milan DNA’ coursing through the veins of the organisation.
Milan’s most valuable assets could be offloaded this summer in order to make up for the financial shortfall of missing out on Champions League football.
Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao could be sold in the summer. Both have been relatively poor by their oen high standards this season, with Hernandez in particular looking light years away from the rampaging left-back he was in the 2021/22 title winning season.
Leao has, like Leao does, blown hot and cold. When he’s on form there isn’t many better in Serie A. Unfortunately, those days are more sporadic and like Hernandez, resembles little to the player who dragged Milan over the line three years ago to steal an unlikely league title.
Tijani Reijnders has been Milan’s star performer, and the Dutch midfielder is currently being linked with a mega-money move to Manchester City.
Reijnders has scored 15 times in all competitions this season, and he could be the sacrificial lamb this summer, just like Sandro Tonali two years ago.
Milan fans believe there is a lack of presence from the RedBird ownership in recent times, a cold frost has developed between the two parties.
Yet despite that the Rossneri fans have still flocked to San Siro to cheer on their team each week. Milan have the highest average attendance in Serie A this season with 71,645.
Milan posted a 2023/24 season profit of just over $5m, but given the lack of European football next season, that figure won’t be matched.
A revolution is needed at Milanello in the summer: players need sold, a coach changed and new sporting directors brought in.
In truth, Milan haven’t been the same since Paolo Maldini was sacked from the club in 2023. Maldini, who perhaps symbolises Milan more than anyone, knew what the club needed to move to the next level.
The ownership had different ideas.
What happens in the next few months will define Milan in the coming years. Can they get back to where they ought to be? The jury is out.
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