Maldini’s ghost hangs over uninspiring Milan as top-four place slips from view. In a crucial end-of-season game, Milan’s Ultras left San Siro half-empty, yet they had already prepared for a post-game protest. Despite their performance, the Rossoneri fell 3-0 to Atalanta, marking seven points from their past eight games. Only three teams—Verona, Pisa, and Lecce—had performed worse than Milan in the same stretch, while two were relegated. Their grip on a Champions League spot feels absurd now, but before this humiliating run, they held the title race alive. They defeated Inter on March 8, a moment remembered by fans who wanted to see their team fight for trophies.
Milan exist in a different orbit, still fourth in the table, even if their league position feels precarious. The gap between them, with mocking symmetry, was seven points. It feels strange to say so now, but before this miserable run, they were keeping the Serie A title race alive. Their last successful appearance came in 2021-22, when they won the Scudetto for the first time since 1996.
Maldini’s legacy lives on through his leadership and achievements. He won seven Serie A titles and five Champions Leagues (or European Cups) as a player, extending the family tradition of success. However, his appointment as director in 2018 and subsequent promotions highlighted a rift in the club’s management. After being fired in 2019, he focused on squad-building, hiring players like Charles De Ketelaere. His successor, Giorgio Furlani, emphasized staying competitive within budgets, but the results were mixed. The arrival of Massimiliano Allegri in May brought renewed hope, though his focus on Italian football raised questions about how to balance domestic and international competition.
Allegri’s innovations included moving American talent to play as a center-forward. This approach worked initially but faltered when the team struggled to replace players like Modric and Leão. Physical injuries forced adjustments, and Milan’s form began to waver. The final two matches looked promising against opponents from the bottom half, but Genoa’s selection as manager in November introduced uncertainty. Fans remain skeptical about whether Milan will return to the top rankings in the coming months.
