Chasing Glory: Milan’s Ambitious Quest for Champions League Spot, Just 6 Points Away!
La settimana della verità. The first of many, perhaps. The future of AC Milan hangs in the balance. At this moment, the league standings tell a stark story: they're languishing outside the European spots, trailing Lazio by four points and Bologna by six, though the latter remains very much in sight. Sergio Conceição is clinging to the remnants of hope for his managerial position. Last week, he was forced to operate with a thin squad, missing 12 players on international duty. This week, they’ll trickle back, with Chukwueze being the last to return, currently representing Nigeria. Mark your calendars for a crucial clash against Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this Sunday at 20:45. It's the first of five pivotal match-ups against teams above them in the table, followed closely by Fiorentina and Atalanta (sandwiched in between will be Udinese), while Bologna and Roma are left for the final stretch in May. Direct confrontations have been decidedly unkind thus far. Against the top eight teams, Milan has played 10 matches, eking out a meagre seven points: a draw against Inter, and solitary points against Lazio, Juventus, and Roma, with nary a point from Atalanta, Bologna, or Napoli. Conceição is keen to notch up a third consecutive victory after wins against Lecce and Como—a feat not achieved since September with Fonseca at the helm over Venezia, Inter, and Lecce. Despite the absences, the ex-Porto manager has been hard at work, particularly with Loftus-Cheek and Fofana, both of whom could see action against Napoli. The former returns from a lengthy injury lay-off and is held in high regard by the coach, who described him as “a beast.” The latter, once a staple under the previous regime, has had to adjust after coming off the bench recently: “Sometimes players need a breather.” Loftus-Cheek looks poised to step in for the suspended Musah, while Fofana could find himself swapping places with Bondo in the newly adopted 4-1-4-1 system employed in matches against Lecce and Como. It’s a tactical shift that has seen Joao Felix omitted from the starting eleven. With an eye firmly on that coveted fourth place and the Coppa Italia, Conceição strives to surprise not just his opponents but himself in the process. Furlani, fresh from his productive trip to Dubai where he rubbed elbows with seasoned and potential commercial partners, is tasked with steering the ship for the sporting director role. In recent weeks, Fabio Paratici seems to be the frontrunner, with interest also in Igli Tare and Tony D'Amico, though surprises from abroad are rarely out of the question. The coming days will reveal much.
