Milan dropped a bombshell yesterday after they determined to sack Supercoppa Italiana-winning supervisor Sergio Conceicao and produce Massimiliano Allegri again to the membership. Quite a few Italian media shops detailed how the 57-year-old tactician met the San Siro hierarchy to outline the ultimate particulars of a multi-year contract yesterday afternoon.
Regardless of securing Italian Tremendous Cup glory for the primary time since 2016 and reaching the Coppa Italia closing, Sergio Conceicao didn’t earn Milan’s belief. Milan sacked the previous Porto supervisor after solely six months, confirming his rapid departure with a 25-second video adopted by a quick assertion (through The Sun).
Conceicao changed Paulo Fonseca in January and impressed the Rossoneri to the Tremendous Cup title in his first two video games in cost, beating Juventus and Inter to the throne. Nevertheless, Milan struggled throughout the board in different competitions, with their Serie A marketing campaign proving notably disappointing.
What occurred?
After 4 consecutive top-four finishes in Italy’s prime flight, Milan needed to accept a dreadful eighth place regardless of huge investments within the final two switch home windows. That’s their worst end in Serie A since ending tenth below Filippo Inzaghi in 2014/15.
Mlan deemed lacking out on European soccer for the primary time since 2019/20 unacceptable. Nevertheless, Conceicao nonetheless had a again door open, just for Bologna to close it down within the Coppa Italia closing, sealing the Portuguese coach’s destiny in Italy.
Somebody needed to pay the worth for Milan’s epic downfall, and Conceicao couldn’t dodge the axe. With the previous Inter winger gone, Massimiliano Allegri has been chosen to fill the emptiness and attempt to encourage the Rossoneri again to the heights of Italian and European soccer, aiming to revive pleasure at San Siro after a season to overlook.
Acquainted face
Allegri isn’t any stranger to the red-and-black half of Milan, having beforehand led the Rossoneri between 2010 and 2014. He gained the Scudetto in his first season within the dugout, however in all equity, that squad would’ve in all probability strolled to the title below every other supervisor.
Milan completed runners-up to Juventus the next 12 months. Nevertheless, Allegri’s managerial shortcomings would solely come to the fore after Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva departed the membership in the summertime of 2012. Certainly, they had been third in 2012/13 earlier than slipping to eight in 2013/14, which was Allegri’s final season at San Siro.
Throughout his earlier stint at Milan, Allegri racked up 91 victories, 49 attracts, and 38 defeats. Along with the abovementioned Scudetto, he led the membership to the Tremendous Cup triumph in 2011.
Enterprise or treason?
Unfazed by the everlasting rivalry between Milan and Juventus, Allegri swapped allegiances in 2014. Whether or not it was his approach to get again the Rossoneri for relieving him of his duties or just a career-driven transfer, his determination to affix Juventus raised eyebrows throughout the Italian soccer panorama.
No matter motive, Allegri went on to determine a dynasty in Turin. His first stint on the Allianz Stadium was an utter success. He gained the Serie A title in all 5 seasons in cost whereas guiding Juventus to 2 Champions League finals. Regardless of shedding each, he cemented his standing as some of the completed Italian managers.
Nightmare of a comeback
Juventus deeply regretted the choice to re-appoint Allegri in 2021. As a substitute of re-establishing the Bianconeri as viable Scudetto contenders, the ex-Sassuolo boss was fortunate to information the record-time Italian champions to the Champions League.
Writings had been on the wall after the primary two seasons. Juventus adopted a dismal fourth-place end in Allegri’s comeback marketing campaign with a disastrous seventh place in 2022/23. Regardless of steering the membership to a third-place end and Champions League qualification in 2023/24, they determined to half with some of the defensive-minded managers right now.
A comfort Coppa Italia win in 2023/24 wasn’t sufficient to disguise Juventus’ ‘hard-to-watch’ soccer throughout Allegri’s second spell on the membership.
Unwatchable soccer
Allegri bases his soccer philosophy on a defensive, typically damaging method. Stale, risk-averse, and admittedly unwatchable at occasions, Allegri’s sides have by no means been among the many most enjoyable. Worryingly, his cautious technique reached new ranges towards the top of his second spell at Juventus.
Usually booed off by the house followers, Allegri appropriately earned a tag as an ‘leisure killer.’ Juve’s greatest scoring report in a Serie A season was 57 throughout his final three years on the helm, accounting for a median of only one.5 per recreation. For example, Milan haven’t netted below 60 targets per top-flight marketing campaign since 2018/19.
Subsequently, for soccer lovers and, notably, passionate Italian followers accustomed to attacking, progressive soccer, Allegri’s inflexible system feels outdated. In an period of Jurgen Klopp’s well-known ‘gegenpressing’ and Hansi Flick’s ‘whole’ soccer, Allegri’s type stands in stark distinction.
Even his victories depart supporters underwhelmed as a result of a infamous lack of attacking intent. In essence, the incoming Milan supervisor appreciates outcomes however on the expense of spectacle. After an embarrassing season, the very last thing the Rossoneri want is to kill the enjoyable. If nothing, they’d a number of exceptional moments in 2024/25.
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