As if it’s not bad enough facing a World Cup without Italy,
Milan fans might be looking at a season without Europe. Not that we haven’t had
our fair share of those seasons lately. But with an improved squad and a much
better season, the idea hurts. We finally seemed to be rebuilding, but this
just feels like a sucker punch. Most of all, it feels like we could be simply
missing out.
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| Last year, fans welcomed Milan back to Europe with passion, this year we could be missing out altogether |
I honestly feel like going without Europe for a year would
really boost our chances of a quick return to the Champions League. During the
2016-17 season, we discussed numerous time on the podcast how Inter were doing
so poorly so as to just miss out on Europa League for their shot at earning
Champions League this past season. And it worked. They did it, in spite of
themselves. Think of how much more effective this team would have been this
season without all of those Thursday games… we could have easily been in Champions
League this season instead.
Which begs the question, why is UEFA doing this? Returning
to Champions League was part of our business plan. Had we done so, we would
have earned tens of thousands of Euros, as well as the prestige. We missed out,
by two spots on the Serie A table, and now look at perhaps up to ten thousand
Euros at best? And yet they want to take that away from us. Would they have
dared to do so if we had reached the more lucrative and prestigious Champions
League? Because that would have looked even worse for them.
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| The irony |
It’s impossible to know what could have been, and we don’t
even know until next Tuesday or Wednesday what will be. That is when the UEFA
disciplinary committee will render their sentence on Milan, ironically based on
“uncertainties.”
Milan would have the chance to appeal, but time is of the essence. The Europa
League qualifying rounds begin in 5 weeks, and plans need to be made. If Milan
are not going to be in the competition, the other teams that would be impacted
need to know as soon as possible.
Without knowing what our sentence will be, Milan are also
missing out on the transfer market right now. All plans have been put on hold
pending whether or not we are playing in Europe, any fines and how much those will
be, or other sanctions, such as number of players that can play in Europe. And
despite reports of Yonghong Li frantically looking for a minority shareholder
to help find favor with UEFA regarding our financial stability, it is highly
unlikely that anything official could be announced in time for it to impact the
disciplinary committee’s verdict.
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| Milan's fate rests in the hands of people in these offices |
It just feels as a fan that no matter what we do, Milan keep
getting the short end of the stick. Last year, fans celebrated our premature
return to the Europa League, only now looking back to maybe see that it was
more harmful than helpful. Milan being disciplined for the last three years
under Berlusconi and/or for guessing what may or may not happen in October. Our
transfer market being impacted
once again by Yonghong Li’s finances
just adds insult to injuries. There is still hope, but all of that hope hinges
on the decision of a bunch of people sitting in Nyon, Switzerland. And one way
or the other, whether it be the transfer market or whatever consequences of
their decision, Milan are missing out.
This post inspired by the music of
Journey’s “Faithfully”