It’s all going wrong for the reigning Serie A champs

It’s all going wrong for the reigning Serie A champs

The wheels are coming off at AC Milan, whose 5-2 home loss to Sassuolo on Sunday likely signalled the end of any hopes of defending their Serie A title in Italy.

The defeat could also spell the end of Stefano Pioli's tenure as coach, coming less than a week after Lazio demolished them 4-0. It’s the first time in the club’s history that they have let in more than three goals in two consecutive league games and Sunday was the first time they have conceded five goals at home since 1997.

Pioli acknowledged that the tactics that secured Milan the Scudetto last season are no longer working. "I am certainly thinking of many things, as everything that worked so well over the last two years and allowed us to play beautiful and effective football, just isn't working right now," the coach said.

Director Paolo Maldini insisted the season "doesn't seem like a huge disaster", but the Milan icon has been criticised for flop signings including Belgium attacker Charles De Ketelaere and USA international Sergino Dest, whose displays at left back in place of injured and off-form Theo Hernandez have been calamitous.

On the injury front goalkeeper Mike Maignan didn't win AC Milan the league on his own last season, but he played a massive part. The Frenchman kept 17 clean sheets and conceded just 21 goals in 32 Serie A appearances. Somewhat incredibly, he proved an upgrade on Gigi Donnarumma, who sensationally left for Paris Saint-Germain in mid-2021.

That Maignan has not played for Milan since September because of a calf problem which simply refuses to go away, is hugely significant.

Defenders Simon Kjaer and David Calabria have been hampered by injuries, while midfield ace Sandro Tonali, so influential for so many months, has looked nothing like his usual self since the turn of year.

Simultaneously Hernandez and Olivier Giroud have looked off the pace since returning from Qatar 2022, although they could be forgiven for needing some time to come to terms with France's loss to Argentina in the World Cup final.

Milan's sudden slump has seen them tumble down to fifth and allowed Napoli to take a 13-point lead at the top of the Serie A standings.