Scaroni discusses Pioli’s future, Milan’s season, relations with Maldini and the big disappointment

AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni stopped short of confirming that Stefano Pioli will remain as the head coach, while he reflected on the season and what has disappointed him about the campaign.

It is accurate to say that it has not been a very good recent period for Milan, who were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Roma in the Europa League quarter-finals this month and 2-1 by Inter in Monday night’s derby.

That means that the Rossoneri are heading into the final five games of the campaign with very little to play for, and the certainty of going another season without a trophy after the 2021-22 Scudetto success.

It was the loss against the Nerazzurri that really hit home and seems to have brought Pioli’s tenure to an end, given that it was the sixth loss in a row in the Derby della Madonnina and it handed Inter the title.

Scaroni was present at the Il Foglio Sportivo event at San Siro this lunchtime and he answered some questions from the journalists present, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.

How do you feel after the derby loss?

“The day before last at San Siro it was a heavy, difficult day. We would like to win against Inter every now and then, we have lost too many games in a row. But the season isn’t over yet: we have to fight to defend second place.

“But I consider the season good, maybe not excellent. We have had many injuries and we need to reflect on this. But all in all we got through this too. Inter fully deserved to win the title. I congratulate Inter, Marotta and Antonello.”

Can you confirm that Pioli will not be Milan’s coach next season?

“No, I won’t confirm it. Our coach is Pioli, at the moment and until the end of the season he will be the one. I’m counting on Pioli to make us win the matches we want to win to guarantee us second place.

“Then at the end of the season Pioli and the management will make assessments for the future, I would like to avoid this topic until the end of the season.”

Who disappointed you this season?

“It’s not that they disappointed me, every now and then I found the Milan defence in the stands behind me. Tomori, Thiaw, Kalulu: all injured and I thought about the defence there with me rather than on the pitch. It’s not just this, but it was an ingredient negative of the season.”

How are relations with Maldini?

“I never heard from him again. When someone looks at their past with a certain level of acrimony, it means that they are not living the present very well. I hope that this is not the case with Maldini. I wish Maldini a personal life full of satisfaction.”