Why Pioli is risking his position at Milan

He Milan Its decisive week begins this Thursday, two all-or-nothing clashes that could turn the ‘Rossonera’ campaign into a nightmare: first, the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals against Rome, where he was forced to return to advance to the semifinals; and, on Monday, the dreaded derby match Inter where his national rival can win the ‘scudetto’.

Five days will serve as a measure of the level of this project Milan irregular team that, despite its ups and downs, is still in contention for the European semi-finals and comfortably finished second in the Italian championship.

All the doubts of the season will be determined in two games that can save the team now Stefano Pioli, his coach, in the spotlight; or make the campaign a failure by leaving the fight for the ‘Scudetto’ in mid-April and failing to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League, a minimum goal after last season’s Champions League success. Failure may be accompanied by possible consequences, such as firing the technician.

The first of the challenges may not be decisive because, even the first leg at San Siro (0-1) is a nonsense for a team like Milanthe eyes of Milan fans are focused, above all, next Monday, on the ‘Derbi della Madonnina’ where they want to win everything and avoid the embarrassment of seeing their biggest rivals crowned champions, historic say the least that happened then.

But the truth is that Europe continues to have a major value in the retina of ‘Diavolo’ fans. There were almost 5,000 present at the Olympic Stadium in Rome to support their team in search of a comeback. The match, with the result very short, was wide open, although Roma have not conceded a goal in the last 4 matches.

The victory will also give strength to face the derby against Inter. Otherwise, defeat or elimination will cause more pessimism for the rivalry against Interistas.

Because the sensations of Milan They are not good. There were two consecutive games without a win: the defeat against Roma in the first leg and a strange 3-3 draw against a Sassuolo fighting to avoid relegation.

But everything can change on Monday, regardless of the result before the Rome. Because in case of elimination from Europe, a victory against Inter will ease the situation; and if they reach the semifinals, losing in Serie A will once again unleash all kinds of criticism.

The truth is that it was for him Milan, from the moment you set foot in Rome, 5 decisive days begin. The entire season meets from Thursday to Monday. The two achievements go beyond solving the problem. Two defeats would prove failure. And a victory against Inter, Milan’s biggest worry, could be enough to tiptoe through a trip to Roma.