At the end of 2020, AC Milan were seemingly on top of the world. Literally. The Rossoneri were unbeaten in Serie A, and were on top of the league table, which helped them to head into the Christmas break as winter champions. While that designation is just a mere formality and doesn't count in terms of trophies, it still was a good time to be a Milan fan as the team seemed to be finally find its footing under Stefano Pioli.
Flash-forward to April and things have gotten pretty ugly. Milan have been dumped out of the Coppa Italia as well as the Europa League. They've lost seven games, all of these happening in 2021, and that includes a shocking defeat to debutants Spezia. And that's not to mention the whole kerfuffle after the European Super League controversy that had supporters all over the world up in arms.
On Saturday, Milan will take on Benevento, and the Rossoneri will come into that game having lost two on the spin. Pioli's men first slipped up in a shock 2-1 loss to Sassuolo - a team they'd though they'd finally gotten the better of - followed by a heavy 3-0 hammering at the hands of Lazio. As such, they now sit in fifth place, on 66 points, which is just outside the top four.
While all is not lost, Milan are presently joint tied with both Juventus and Napoli on 66 points, but if the season were to end today, it's the Bianconeri and the Partenopei who'd qualify for the Champions League, meaning that Milan, again will miss out.
And that means that, at least, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport as well as Calciomercato.com, Pioli's job is on the line.
Indeed, according to reports from both outlets, Pioli could be sacked if Milan fail to qualify for the Champions League. Why? Well, if this comes to pass, Milan would become the first club to slide from first place (as they were named winter champions) to ultimately finish in fifth spot in Serie A history. Not a designation the Rossoneri, who are hoping to earn a Champions League spot for the first time since 2013, would want on their CV.
Although Pioli signed a one-year contract extension that will see him stay at the Stadio San Siro until 2022, that may become null and void if he can't guide the Rossoneri back into a top four spot.
Calciomercato.com also claims that there are two potential candidates to replace Pioli. The first, Hellas Verona's Ivan Juric, probably won't really intrigue Milan fans too much, but the second, Massimiliano Allegri, just may get a few tongues wagging.
However, Allegri has also been linked with a move back to Juventus, so things are set to get pretty interesting over the next few months, that's for certain.
