AC Milan face Sassuolo tonight at San Siro looking to end the year in the best way, and they are an opponent that have been a protagonist in Stefano Pioli’s time at the club plenty already.
As Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) reports this morning, Pioli arrives at the match after a difficult week, dampened by the Christmas break, in which he was questioned like never before since he arrived at Milanello.
The only possibility for the Rossoneri today is a win. It won’t be easy despite a packed San Siro as always, because it’s not just a moment where the team are suffering from a lack of confidence and inconsistency, but also countless injuries too.
A ‘bogey team’ await too. In their last four trips to San Siro to play Milan, Sassuolo have not lost and have actually won the last three matches at La Scala del Calcio. Perhaps only Inter would have been a worse opponent for Pioli at a moment like this when his future hangs in the balance.
However, the coach doesn’t back down, on the contrary he says: “I’m not afraid.” That is the right attitude, because this evening’s game also has important implications regarding the table heading into the new year.
Milan have dropped a lot of points in recent weeks, losing the cushion they had created in the first few games between themselves and fifth place. Now the Diavolo are level with Fiorentina and Bologna continue to pick up wins.
Thiago Motta’s team could overtake Milan with a victory and a simultaneous defeat for the Rossoneri. The Champions League is therefore at risk and the issue is close to the club’s heart not only for sporting reasons but also and above all for economic reasons.
Next year the new edition would enrich Milan’s coffers by up to €50m, so failure to qualify would be a sporting and economic crime in the eyes of the management.