Week 31: Milan – Fiorentina

The week 2-1 defeat at Napoli has effectively ended the faint chances of a top four finish. Being ninth with eight weeks to go means the already miniscule chances of European football are gone. Milan finances woe. The week 30 game itself was far from the worst Milan have played but a late flurry was needed to add positivity to the game. The game was followed by the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg versus Inter. The Coppa match ended 1-1 with more positive signs but Coppa Italia and indeed the derby games have not been the best measure of this (Serie A) season.

Fiorentina visit the San Siro with the Milan starting 11 remaining unpredictable. Players like Gimenez seems to have already lost their starting spots. Abraham looks to get more starts, for now at least. Leao didn’t get a start last week either, further confusing many. His second half introduction was not without impact. More spots remain in flux and oddly the center of defense is one of those. Any of Thiaw, Gabbia, Pavlovic and Tomori could start and only the closest observers can be confident in their prediction. Similarly a player like Jimenez who shows grit and promise is the first to be substituted out. Although very much outside of character Conceicao could be just riding out the season and depending on what happens above him remain or leave. As it stands the summer could be headed for a groundhog day type ‘year zero’, again.

Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina have somewhat impressed and it is inevitable that the coach’s name has become the subject of (less than reliable) rumours for next season. The rumour mill has spent a good amount of time in recent weeks speculating that Conceicao won’t last beyond the end of the season and the subject has also shifted to a Sporting Director position becoming available with names like Fabio Paratici high on the list. If rumours are to be believed an ‘Italianization’ of Milan might be on the cards. Time will tell if this changes much as the team needs more than just a few new faces, whatever their nationality may be. Structural changes in scouting, decision making and transfer business remain long over due.

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