On the eve of Milan’s 4-2 win over Catania at the San Siro on Sunday, club supremo Silvio Berlusconi turned his guns on Massimiliano Allegri and hinted that the former Cagliari coach had his days numbered on the Rossoneri hot seat.
For sure, Berlusconi, being Milan’s president and owner since 1986, had every right to criticise one of his employees.
However, many Milan fans believe that Allegri deserves better treatment even though, in the end, their support to the coach could not be enough.
Last summer, Milan lost the services of two of their best players in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. Besides that, veterans Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso, Mark van Bommel, Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta also sought new ground.
Contrary to past campaigns, the club’s intent was to balance its books and establish lower wage ceilings. That move gave Allegri the chance to introduce young players to his squad.
And the Milan coach did well to launch the careers of defender Mattia De Sciglio and striker Stephen El Shaarawy, both 20. Not only did they become mainstays in Allegri’s side but both eventually got selected to the national team.
In the January transfer window, Milan offloaded the injury-prone Alexandre Pato and rep-laced him with Mario Balotelli.
The volatile striker reinforced Allegri’s attack in no small way and contributed significantly to Milan’s impressive comeback in the Serie A.
They are currently third on 62 points one ahead of a revitalised Fiorentina side. With four games to go, it is anyone’s guess who will be joining Juventus and Napoli in UEFA’s elite competition for clubs next season.
The Rossoneri were never involved in the title race in this campaign. Juventus simply run away unimpeded and their current 11-point lead over nearest pursuers Napoli amply testifies this.
Milan showed great improve-ment by the turn of the year and chalked up 10 victories and five draws, suffering only one defeat, at the hands of Juventus (0-1).
However, in February, Allegri was unable to steer his team past Barcelona and into the last eight of the Champions League and Milan were also ousted by Juventus from the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
Modest target
Milan were left with nothing to play for bar a top-three finish which guarantees them access to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
But, would that placing alone save Allegri from losing his job?
Berlusconi’s criticism could be justified on two counts.
Milan surrendered their title crown to Juventus last season at a time when they were widely considered as the best team in the Serie A.
Also, Allegri has failed to give the Rossoneri a European dimension like most of his predecessors had done since 1989.
In Serie A, the four matches left are not out of Milan’s reach.
On Sunday, they entertain Torino, who are coming from three consecutive defeats, before a trip to lowly Pescara and a clash with Coppa Italia finalists Roma.
On the final day, Milan take on Siena in Tuscany.
Three of Fiorentina’s last four fixtures – against Roma (home), Pescara (away) and Siena (away) – are identical to Milan’s schedule. On the penultimate day, the Viola have a tricky home match against relegation-troubled Palermo.
Overall, Milan have good possibilities to finish third. This season Allegri has taken the team as far as he could and the coach should be praised for that.