Milan crisis deepens: 2–3 to Atalanta, top four hopes fading, management in turmoil

Milan 2–3 Atalanta: another step toward disaster

Top four is slipping away. Milan lost 2–3 to Atalanta at San Siro on Sunday, their Champions League hopes now hanging by a thread.

Atalanta went two up in the first half through Ederson and Davide Zappacosta. Giacomo Raspadori also got on the scoresheet. The game was tactically exposing, with Palladino's rotations creating gaps in Milan's structure that Atalanta repeatedly exploited (2).

This came with the Curva Sud staging a protest against CEO Giorgio Furlani and the management before kick-off. The atmosphere inside San Siro told the whole story (2).

The board is shaking: Furlani, Tare, Ibrahimovic, Moncada all in the crosshairs

It's not just Allegri under pressure. Reports in Italy say the futures of Furlani, Igli Tare, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Geoffrey Moncada are all in question as the crisis deepens (6).

Tare is the most immediately uncertain. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports he is being discussed internally, with Enzo D'Amico, known for generating transfer profits at previous clubs, waiting in the wings as a potential replacement (1).

Despite all this, Furlani and Tare both showed up at Milanello to watch training ahead of the Genoa game. Whether that signals solidarity or damage control is up for debate (3).

Allegri's future: Conte, van Bommel, and Davide Ancelotti all in the frame

Allegri may not survive the summer regardless of results. Reports say Ibrahimovic has expanded the list of potential replacements to include Antonio Conte and Mark van Bommel, alongside names already being discussed (5).

Davide Ancelotti has also put himself in the picture. He openly admitted he would be ready to manage Milan and follow in his father Carlo's footsteps (7). Take that for what it's worth, but it keeps the Ancelotti name alive in the conversation.

The squad hasn't helped Allegri's case. La Gazzetta points the finger at Pulisic, Leao, and Tomori as among those who have underperformed in the final stretch of the season (4).

Pavlovic likely out, Jackson linked in

Strahinja Pavlovic could be on his way out this summer. Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign the defender, described as a Nemanja Vidic-type profile, after being impressed by his performances at Milan (8).

On the incomings side, Nicolas Jackson is being linked with a move from Chelsea to Milan. The Senegalese striker's move to Bayern Munich fell through, and Milan are reportedly among the clubs considering him (9). Both stories are at an early stage.

Fan reactions

The mood on r/ACMilan is a mix of frustration and dark gallows humour. The news that Allegri and the management have ordered a training retreat before the Genoa match is being read as a crisis-management move, with fans largely unmoved by the gesture. Antonio Cassano's defence of Furlani, arguing that the CEO shouldn't be blamed for poor performances and transfer mistakes, is going down poorly, with most fans treating it as missing the point entirely. Follow the Furlani debate here.

Sources

  • 1. news.google.com — Milan, Tare è in discussione. Alla finestra c'è D'Amico, re delle plusvalenze - La Gazzetta dello Sport
  • 2. sempremilan.com — How Palladino’s rotations created and targeted gaps: Tactical analysis of AC Milan 2-3 Atalanta
  • 3. sempremilan.com — Sky: Tare and Furlani present to watch Milan training at Milanello ahead of Genoa
  • 4. sempremilan.com — GdS: Pulisic, Leao, Tomori and the rest – the Milan players who have let Allegri down
  • 5. sempremilan.com — CM: Ibrahimovic adds Conte and van Bommel to Allegri replacement list
  • 6. football-italia.net — Furlani, Tare, Ibrahimovic and Moncada futures called into question amid Milan crisis
  • 7. sempremilan.com — ‘Would I coach Milan’ – Davide Ancelotti admits readiness to follow his father’s footsteps
  • 8. thepeoplesperson.com — United edge closer to signing next Nemanja Vidic after leaving rivals behind - report
  • 9. theprideoflondon.com — Chelsea star could be reunited with Christopher Nkunku at AC Milan