AC Milan's Darkest Hour: A Season of Struggle

AC Milan's 2024-2025 season has been a disaster, marked by poor performances, questionable transfers, and instability off the pitch. With no European football to look forward to, the Rossoneri are facing a bleak future.

The 2023-2024 season has been a stark contrast for Milan's two giants. While Inter Milan is on the brink of winning the Scudetto and will contest the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan's season has been underwhelming, especially after missing out on European competition. Inter's success highlights the struggles of their city rivals.

AC Milan's Disappointing Season

AC Milan's 3-1 loss to Roma sealed their fate, ruling out European football for the 2025/26 season. The defeat left them too far behind to catch up, marking a disappointing end to the campaign for the Rossoneri.

pic.twitter.com/tzo0cBI6hF

— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 18, 2025

Roma ended a 10-match winless run against AC Milan in the league with a 3-1 victory, their first win since October 2019. Leandro Paredes scored a direct free-kick, his first since May 2023, and his sixth set-piece goal in Serie A. The loss dashed Milan's hopes for European football in 2025/26, following a Coppa Italia final defeat to Bologna.

A Challenging Future for AC Milan

AC Milan's recent decline raises questions about who would want to take over as manager. With only three Italian top-flight titles this century, the club's fortunes have been waning. Milan currently sits 18 points behind Inter Milan and 19 points behind likely champions Napoli, making the team's prospects bleak.

The loss was another setback for AC Milan, likely marking the end of Stefano Pioli's tenure as head coach was not mentioned however Sergio Conceicao wasn't mentioned as AC Milan coach in the text, probably it is referring to him as the Porto coach. Assuming it is referring to the actual coach of AC Milan which is Stefano Pioli, The defeat probably signals the end of his time at the club.

AC Milan's current struggles are a far cry from their storied past, with the team being the third most successful in terms of league titles won. The club's financial instability since Li Yonghong's purchase in 2017 has likely contributed to their decline. At the time, Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, said, “Milan has now embarked on this path towards China,” as he sold the club he'd owned for over three decades.

Financial Instability Impacts AC Milan

AC Milan's financial struggles have significantly impacted their transfer activities. The club's ownership changes, including Elliott Advisors' takeover in 2018 after Li Yonghong defaulted on a debt, and the subsequent sale to RedBird Capital Partners in 2022 for €1.2 billion, have contributed to the team's current challenges.

Ibrahimovic's Influence

Stefano Pioli has a title win to his name during his tenure, but otherwise, his time at AC Milan has been marked by struggles. Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now a senior advisor to the owners, played a significant role in the departure of Paulo Fonseca after just six months, raising questions about his influence on the club's decision-making process.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's choice for Fonseca's replacement, Sergio Conceicao, hasn't fared much better. Ibrahimovic's bold claim at the start of the season, “I am the boss and I am in charge, all the others work for me,” now seems premature. When Fonseca was sacked, Milan were eighth, eight points below a Champions League spot; now they're ninth, seven points away with one game left.

Underwhelming Performances

AC Milan's on-field performances have been disjointed, with high-profile signings like Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez failing to impress. Felix, in particular, hasn't lived up to expectations, while the team as a whole has struggled to function cohesively.

Sergio Conceicao's performances were underwhelming, with just one goal in 16 games. The board's due diligence appears to have fallen short, given his inconsistent form at Barcelona and Chelsea. In contrast, Rafael Leão's stats are more impressive, with 11 goals and 10 assists, but he has struggled to deliver in crucial moments.