Qualifying for the Champions League was AC Milan’s main objective this season, but a poor start to the campaign could have damaging repercussions.
That’s according to Milan CEO Marco Fassone, who has been discussing the club’s start to the year and what that could mean for their plans off the pitch next summer.
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Vincenzo Montella’s side have slipped to 10th place in the Serie A table after three consecutive defeats, leaving them seven points adrift of the top four, and 12 off the pace of Napoli who sit top of the pile.
While the pressure is growing on Montella to ensure that there is no slip up against Genoa on Sunday, Fassone has delivered some damaging news as to how the club would cope with no Champions League revenue next season after spending significantly this past summer.
“I wouldn’t say qualification is obligatory, but the Champions League is fundamental in our plans,” he told La Stampa. “Failing to qualify wouldn’t destroy the project, but it would delay it by a year and we’d try to balance the lack of Champions League revenue by selling one or two top players.”
It remains to be seen who those top players to go would be, but speculation has continued to suggest that Andre Silva is being targeted by both Arsenal and Barcelona.
That’s worrying in itself as Milan don’t want to be forced to sell their top assets and stars for the future, as it would ultimately defeat the whole purpose of their rebuild last summer.
In the immediate future, all eyes will surely be on Montella to turn things around and get the Italian giants back on track. If he isn’t able to deliver the desired results, then not only will his future be in doubt, but so will key individuals in the squad it seems.