AC Milan’s Champions League dreams are crumbling. A 3-2 home defeat to Atalanta on Sunday epitomized their slide, leaving the Rossoneri with just seven points from their last eight Serie A matches—a relegation-worthy run that only three worse teams have endured this season.
San Siro emptied early as fans lost patience. Ultras protested before kick-off with a choreography spelling “G.F. OUT” against CEO Giorgio Furlani. During the match, supporters held up Paolo Maldini shirts near the executive section, invoking the former director who built the 2021-22 Scudetto-winning side before being fired in 2023.
Maldini’s ghost hangs over a club that has underperformed despite heavy investment. Last summer, Milan signed Luka Modric, Christopher Nkunku, Ardon Jashari, Samuele Ricci, Koni De Winter, Adrien Rabiot, and Pervis Estupiñán, aiming to secure a top-four finish under new coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Allegri, brought in as a “guarantee” of Champions League football, initially delivered. By March, Milan were the last team to beat eventual champions Inter and kept the title race alive. But form collapsed: the team now relies on individual brilliance rather than system, and when key players falter, there is no fallback.
Injuries have taken a toll. Luka Modric missed the Atalanta match, leaving Milan without creative glue. Christian Pulisic was ruled out with a glute complaint after thriving as a false nine earlier this season. Rafael Leão played but looked a shadow of his best, failing to beat his man on four of five dribbles due to ongoing physical issues.
Atalanta exploited Milan’s disjointedness ruthlessly. Giacomo Raspadori’s blocked shot fell to Éderson for the opener, then Nikola Krstovic set up Davide Zappacosta for a 2-0 halftime lead. Raspadori added a third early in the second half, beating Mike Maignan at his near post.
With the score 3-0, most fans left, missing a late fightback. Strahinja Pavlovic headed in a free-kick in the 88th minute, and Nkunku won and converted a penalty. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Matteo Gabbia nearly equalized but headed wide from another set-piece.
The 3-2 final flattered Milan. A draw would have been unjust, masking deeper issues. Allegri acknowledged the pressure, stating he would be “happy to secure Champions League football even on the final weekend.” Milan currently hold fourth, but only on goal difference with two games left.
The next match is away to Genoa, a must-win to keep hopes alive. Yet the malaise runs deep: a disconnect between board, fans, and squad. The protest against Furlani and the nostalgia for Maldini signal that results alone won’t heal the rift. Without structural clarity, as Atalanta showed, Milan are a collection of talents rather than a team.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
