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Ok, now we've got the 3 punti in the bag - time for a thread: my thoughts on Stefano Pioli and Ralf Rangnick
Before I dive right in, let's make this clear:
There's strong arguments on either side, and in all honestly I would have been happy with either outcome. So let's look at both arguments before jumping to a conclusion.
There's strong arguments on either side, and in all honestly I would have been happy with either outcome. So let's look at both arguments before jumping to a conclusion.
The Case for Pioli:
1. It took him a little while to get going, but once Milan signed Kjaer and Zlatan - we've seen Pioli and the team really start to gel, this has never been more evident than in this post-lockdown stretch. Honestly we're playing our best football since 2012.
1. It took him a little while to get going, but once Milan signed Kjaer and Zlatan - we've seen Pioli and the team really start to gel, this has never been more evident than in this post-lockdown stretch. Honestly we're playing our best football since 2012.
There was an great stat tonight that the Premier Sports commentator brought up, that Milan have now scored at least 2 goals in each of their last 9 games - for the first time since 1999.
We're literally in better goal-scoring form rn than we were when we had Kaka and Shevchenko.
We're literally in better goal-scoring form rn than we were when we had Kaka and Shevchenko.
This stat is made all the more impressive because Pioli hasn't had Shevchenko, Inzaghi, Seedorf and Kaka - he has Kessié, Rebic, 38 yo Ibrahimovic and Calhanoglu. This current form is indisputably not just down to individual talent. Pioli absolutely deserves a lot of plaudits.
2. Stability
Only a select couple of managers out of an absolute plethora have been given the opportunity to coach Milan for more than 1 season.
Say what you like, but there's no way such instability hasn't played a role in our misery this decade.
Only a select couple of managers out of an absolute plethora have been given the opportunity to coach Milan for more than 1 season.
Say what you like, but there's no way such instability hasn't played a role in our misery this decade.
Since Allegri:
Seedorf revived a completely lifeless squad and built positive momentum, did not get a chance to stay. Inzaghi's appointment did not go to plan.
Mihajlovic kick started the careers of many young players during his time here, and achieved a lot with what he had.
Seedorf revived a completely lifeless squad and built positive momentum, did not get a chance to stay. Inzaghi's appointment did not go to plan.
Mihajlovic kick started the careers of many young players during his time here, and achieved a lot with what he had.
He was sacked for Brocchi, an absolute criminal lack of judgement from Berlusconi.
Montella enhanced the foundations Sinisa left, brought us our first trophy since 2011 and qualified for Europe for the first time since 2013. His second season didn't go to plan though.
Montella enhanced the foundations Sinisa left, brought us our first trophy since 2011 and qualified for Europe for the first time since 2013. His second season didn't go to plan though.
Gattuso took over in a very difficult situation, but made it work and salvaged what he could in his first campaign. In his second, he came only within 1 point of UCL qualification - all with a complete lack of creativity in the squad.
Giampaolo's appointment didn't go to plan.
Giampaolo's appointment didn't go to plan.
So now, here we are - we have a coach that's doing phenomenally well, and also a sporting director (Maldini), who has more than surpassed expectations.
Gazidis has decided that he doesn't want to throw all that down the toilet, to change the trend of premature coaching changes.
Gazidis has decided that he doesn't want to throw all that down the toilet, to change the trend of premature coaching changes.
The Case for Rangnick:
Ralf Rangnick has built an incredible legacy at Leipzig - one of many clubs that he's built from the ground and brought to great success - Leipzig are a phenomenal side that are in the UCL quarter finals.
Ralf Rangnick has built an incredible legacy at Leipzig - one of many clubs that he's built from the ground and brought to great success - Leipzig are a phenomenal side that are in the UCL quarter finals.
Tactically, Rangnick's biggest idol is Arrigo Sacchi, and along with a few others, helped pioneer "gegenpressing" which is now made famous by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Rangnick wasn't just coming to coach though, his area of expertise covers so much.
Rangnick wasn't just coming to coach though, his area of expertise covers so much.
Rangnick is undoubtedly a fantastic coach and one of the best-respected figures in modern German football.
Gazidis wanted to bring in Rangnick because he completely fits the Elliott bill: low cost, young players, high profit and exciting football.
Gazidis wanted to bring in Rangnick because he completely fits the Elliott bill: low cost, young players, high profit and exciting football.
If you want to build a club around scouting young talents - Rangnick is the Rolls Royce of this expertise.
The plan most likely would have been to set things up his way in his first season(s), then hand over the reigns to another coach like he did with Nagelsmann at RB.
The plan most likely would have been to set things up his way in his first season(s), then hand over the reigns to another coach like he did with Nagelsmann at RB.
The Case Against Pioli - Why Rangnick is a Better Fit:
Pioli doesn't have a track record of stability. He rarely will complete two whole seasons at a club. This has been the case in his last 3 coaching gigs.
Rangnick has the complete opposite track record.
Pioli doesn't have a track record of stability. He rarely will complete two whole seasons at a club. This has been the case in his last 3 coaching gigs.
Rangnick has the complete opposite track record.
In this regard, keeping Pioli could be a massive risk. Why gamble on a coach who has been sacked by his last 3 clubs?
Rangnick has all the credentials to bring the club stability where Pioli does not. This is also indesputable.
Rangnick has all the credentials to bring the club stability where Pioli does not. This is also indesputable.
The Case for Keeping Pioli (in light of Covid-19)
As we all know, the pandemic has changed everybody's life in some way or another, and Milan is no different.
There is now only going to be about a month's break before the start of the new season -
As we all know, the pandemic has changed everybody's life in some way or another, and Milan is no different.
There is now only going to be about a month's break before the start of the new season -
This is an incredibly short period of time to learn and adapt to a different coach who has different ideas - I really think this is part of the reason why Milan has changed their mind about Rangnick.
Maybe it's not the right decision to bring in a new coach with such a short period of time before competitive action resume, especially when the current coach is doing so well. Maybe it's a risk we can't afford to take.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, it's 50/50. Milan are damned if they do, damned if they don't. If they signed Rangnick, and if we made a slow start (inevitable with a new coach) the fans/media would be very critical of the decision to sack Pioli. Likewise...
Ultimately, it's 50/50. Milan are damned if they do, damned if they don't. If they signed Rangnick, and if we made a slow start (inevitable with a new coach) the fans/media would be very critical of the decision to sack Pioli. Likewise...
Milan are keeping Pioli, and if he doesn't take us to the UCL promise-land, then we'll hear "why did Gazidis go back on the Rangnick deal - terrible lapse of judgement to keep a coach who had been sacked in his last 3 jobs!"
Either way, there's risks.
Either way, there's risks.
I think the short break in particular is a key decision, and also that the squad seems quite attached to Pioli.
This could mean Ibrahimovic will stay (certainly more likely with Pioli) and the players don't need to worry about adapting to yet another coach.
This could mean Ibrahimovic will stay (certainly more likely with Pioli) and the players don't need to worry about adapting to yet another coach.
Ultimately, only time will tell whether we've made the right decision.
Hopefully, fingers crossed...
Hopefully, fingers crossed...
