Maldini reveals internal conflict at AC Milan

A year and a half after Elliot became the new owner of AC Milan the club lack a clear project with Gazidis, Maldini and Boban involved in internal conflict.

The derby defeat was enough, however sensational and emblematic of the difficulties of the last few years, to rekindle all the unknowns on the technical guidance of AC Milan. In a few days we read everything. Stefano Pioli who would be reconfirmed only in case of Champions League qualification or Italian Cup victory. Max Allegri who could return to the Rossoneri where he won his first Scudetto (as well as the last of Milan). A couple of candidates from abroad, from German Ralf Rangnick to the Spanish Marcelino.

No rumor comes out by chance and, except for those that are obviously improbable, all of them are useful to get an idea of what is happening at Casa Milan. The fact that the hunt for a new coach has already begun speaks volumes about the ‘blow’ at a psychological level by the derby defeat suffering a double comeback, after having literally canceled Inter from the pitch in the first half. Because the weakness shown on the pitch are reflected at management level.

It is useless to have illusions. AC Milan do not have a real project. There is a project idea which is being corrected month after month. First the idea of focusing only on young players, with a coach like Giampaolo who can teach football to promising talents. Then the sacking of Giampaolo followed by the inclusion of some experienced players. But even this was not enaugh to protect Milan from painful defeats like that of the derby. It has been said that Pioli was late in making substitutions after the 2-1. But what was he supposed to do: he turned around and who was on the bench?!

If the project is still to be built, it becomes inevitable that all the actors want the role of the protagonist. This also explains Paolo Maldini’s interview with Sky Sport. For example when he refused without thinking twice the possible arrival of the former RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick: “Honestly, as director of the sports area, with due respect, I don’t think it’s the right profile to associate with Milan“.

Now, since the choice of the German coach has been attributed to Ivan Gazidis, the message sent was laud and clear: the coach is chosen by the sports directors. Just as the sports area corrected the choice to focus only on young players by signing an old lion like Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “Those who have been footballers remember very well the difficult moments when the game changes. In those moments you always hang on to the more experienced players and in this sense players like Kjaer and Ibra give security but perhaps it is still too little to make our young players grow quickly“.

Furthermore, as in recent days differences of views have also been highlighted between Zvonimir Boban and the ‘usual’ Gazidis, it is equally evident that there is a sort of ‘political’ struggle within the club, with the two fractions having different ideas on what the sports project should be. Not the stadium, which everyone agrees on. But on what is the way to return to the top. In other words, Boban and Maldini are trying to draw a boundary where managers deal with accounts, revenues, stadiums and sponsors and directors with the players.

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