Massimiliano Allegri’s future as manager of AC Milan is hanging in the balance after a spineless 1-0 defeat to city rivals Inter last weekend.
After a nightmare start to the season they were tipped to lose to their bitter rivals, but the defeat exposed just how little influence Allegri has over this uninspiring side.
Just seven games into the new Serie A campaign, Milan find themselves eleventh in the Italian top flight and the latest football betting prices suggest they have very little chance of recovering from their current slump. Yet while Milan fans call for Allegri’s dismissal, it is clear the side has been severely affected by this summer’s transfer dealings.
For in one fell swoop Milan lost arguably their two best players to Paris Saint-Germain as the mega-rich French club continue their strides towards world domination. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – the only man with any sort of goalscoring nous in the side – was sold for just £15.7m and has caused a stir in Ligue 1 with 10 goals in nine games.
Rossoneri fans hoping the departure of Ibrahimovic would lead to a new superstar replacement were somewhat underwhelmed by Giampaolo Pazzini’s arrival – a striker who has netted just three times this season.
Also exiting the San Siro was Thiago Silva, whose £35.7m transfer bolstered Milan’s coffers yet the board have appeared unwilling to spend big on a substitute. Without these two stalwarts in the side Milan looked abject on Sunday evening, conceding a sloppy goal while appearing totally unable to contrive anything up front against 10-men Inter.
If Allegri cannot infuse his players for a Milan derby then some serious squad changes need to be made in January. It would be folly to sack the manager because he has an understrength and non-inspirational side just yet; instead, the boss should be given the funds generated from the summer’s exodus to mould his team into a respectable outfit worthy of wearing the famous red and black.
The biggest worry of all though, is whether that money is still there to spend.
Written by Alex Corcoran
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