Pioli is safe, but not completely: Milan will turn to Ibrahimovic's wisdom to help them get back on the right track

After a challenging run of fixtures against Juventus, PSG, and Napoli, from which AC Milan didn't secure a single victory, the team is under pressure to get back to winning ways to prevent falling further behind Inter and Juventus.

Last weekend's home defeat against Udinese, and particularly a meek performance, put the alarm bells ringing at Stadio San Siro. Still, the club's leadership is standing firmly behind the coach, Stefano Pioli, despite recent criticism and a poor run of results, with the message being to look forward. There won't be a change in the coaching staff, and the looming PSG match also influences this decision. The club maintains faith in the project that was built with the goal of winning Serie A and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

The team gathered for their usual recovery training session on Sunday, with a video analysis of the Udinese setback and discussions held at the Milanello training centre. The general consensus is that everyone needs to step up. It was a significant day in its own right as the managing director Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada, responsible for transfers, didn't travel to Milanello, which is unusual for Italian club executives. This decision reflects the club's commitment to Pioli, who is considered the central figure at the sports centre.

Gerry Cardinale, the founder of the RedBird fund and a key figure in the club, will arrive in Milan today. He will attend the PSG match tomorrow night, and while it's not confirmed, it's highly likely that he will meet with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cardinale appears to be one of the main supporters of bringing Ibra back into the fold, perhaps as a personal advisor, but this decision is certainly delicate. On one hand, the team's performance on Saturday has generated calls for a strong figure to come in, make corrections, and change the team's fortunes. On the other hand, bringing him in now may give the impression that the existing project is insufficient. It's a decision that carries risks, and the club must proceed with caution.

The outcomes of the PSG and Lecce matches will be pivotal for Pioli's future. Two victories would put Milan back in contention for the Champions League knockout stage and keep them within a reasonable distance of Inter. However, two defeats would cast doubt on the club's European prospects and reopen the debate about Pioli's position. Regardless of the results, Milan cannot continue as they have over the past two weeks, and the players will be under the spotlight. The team didn't respond to Pioli on Saturday. The players appeared disjointed and lacked the clarity to organize a game plan and the intensity to compete. They need to respond immediately.

In these situations, players naturally discuss among themselves, and while there may not be a conspiracy against Pioli, there is a sense of confusion. In recent weeks, the coach has made decisions that didn't pay off. Against PSG, he had to choose between sitting back and not giving space or sticking to the principles established before the season kicked off: high pressing and one-on-one duels. He chose the latter, and Milan, after a promising start, struggled. Against Udinese, he opted for a double striker formation, and Luka Jovic failed to deliver. Noah Okafor didn't do much better in the second half. Pioli took responsibility for the results.

It's easy to point out the difficulties he faces, such as 21 injuries in three and a half months, a lack of goals from the attack, Tijjani Reijnders' decline, signings who are either unavailable or underwhelming, a reliance on Rafael Leao, and public comments from captain Davide Calabria and Olivier Giroud about the team's shortcomings. However, the crucial question is whether they can bounce back and transform this difficult period into a distant memory. Milan answered "yes" in January and moved forward, experiencing a modest revival in Serie A, securing fourth place and enjoying a memorable European journey. Football doesn't always follow a linear trajectory, and sometimes, tough decisions must be made to steer the club in the right direction.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 11

Friday

Bologna - Lazio 1-0 (0-0)

/Ferguson 46/

Saturday

Salernitana - Napoli 0-2 (0-1)

/Raspadori 13, Elmas 82/

Atalanta - Inter 1-2 (0-1)

/Scamacca 61 - Calhanoglu 40 pen, Martinez 57/

Milan -Udinese 0-1 (0-0)

/Pereyra 61 pen/

Sunday

Verona - Monza 1-3 (0-1)

/Folorunsho 86 - Colombo 41,73, Caldirola 84/

Cagliari - Genoa 2-1 (0-0)

/Viola 48, Zappa 69 - Gudmundsson 51/

Roma - Lecce 2-1 (0-0)

/Azmoun 90+1, Lukaku 90+4 - Almqvist 71/

Fiorentina - Juventus 0-1 (0-1)

/Miretti 10/

Monday

20:30: (2.20) Frosinone (3.50) Empoli (3.50)

22:45: (2.20) Torino (3.50) Sassuolo (3.50)

***odds are subject to change***