I don't get why Redbird needs to see improvement within like 3 months just because they had a big market and kicked out Maldini. A big portion of those transfers was necessary to keep a level somewhere between last season and scudetto season, I mean a Rebic wasn't serviceable anymore for example for example. It is a big difference if you sign Okafor to have a player who can offer what Rebic used to or if you still have a 2021 Rebic and buy Okafor on top.
If they win the CL, they'll be able to dunk on Maldini all day.
Maybe the injury situation clears up--well it won't anytime soon because Thiaw and Kalulu both have long-term muscular injuries and we have to bring in CBs in January--but let's say we get everyone back, Jovic becomes Sheva, Chuk is Salah, and Pellegrino is the next Baresi, and we crush everyone. Redbird can talk shit all they want.
However, as things stands, it looks like we are more-or-less on the same trajectory that was put on Maldini's shoulders for CDK and company. That's why there is anxiety among fans.
Maldini didn't have to say a word to make people annoyed at what is happening. Pioli did that himself with injuries and dropping points from winning positions, or losing to teams that hadn't won a single game yet before meeting him.
Prior to all the dirty laundry the consensus was that they gave Maldini a shot to do things more his way and also raised his responsibility. That still makes more sense than Redbird flat out doesn't like Maldini but was playing 4D chess to get rid of him.
Consensus from who? Maldini is being tagged with Origi, fine, I hated that move. But he's also being saddled with CDK, widely reported to be Moncada's darling (even by Maldini's biggest critics) so what does it seem like Maldini was given... extra?
Honestly, I don't think his role changed that much since he took over from Leonardo. Based on his interview, it doesn't seem like there was this gargantuan shift. Maldini's interview has forced me to reconsider whether Maldini wanted to fire Pioli, it seems that wasn't on the cards. This bothers me.
I also think signings like Leao--many of said it was Boban's idea--Bennacer, etc were the results of the group. Maybe Theo can be attributed more to Maldini? Or maybe he just closed the deal? All organizations have stories where one executive pushed for X player. Galliani had those stories, Perez does, everyone does. Every SD in the world talks about how they pushed for player Y and he became a superstar. They probably also pushed for player A, who became a bum, lol, but don't talk about it.
If Maldini didn't have control over signings, then why would Elliott be upset with Leao, Theo, and Bennacer? Or is Maldini lying about that? Maybe Elliott were mad about Giampaolo? Rightly so, Giampaolo was genuinely the worst coach I've ever seen at Milan. Genuinely.
However, when discussing Maldini, it is
supposedly all about his last year. When he was in charge. Okay. We got to the CL semi-final, the last time we got to a semi-final was 2007. Or is that Pioli's achievement? We got 4th, or 5th--is it 4th and thus meeting the Redbird minimum? Or was it 5th and saved by Juve? When does Pioli get responsibility for losing to relegation teams at fucking up 4th place and losing out a top 4 spot to Lazio?
This is all a game over where you allot the blame for what went poorly and where you allot the praise for what went well.
We haven't seen Maldini as a director of another club, not yet. Maybe he is the next great SD? Maybe he's the next Mirabelli? We don't know yet.
We are seeing Pioli continue as our manager without Maldini, however, and we are seeing many of the same problems, whilst seeing new ones emerge, as well.
Ultimately it's about where we deem the percentage of blame goes most. I personally put more blame on Pioli than Maldini for last year.
