With concern continuing to grow over Gennaro Gattuso’s future as AC Milan boss, speculation is rife over who could potentially replace him at the helm.
The Rossoneri are winless in their last five outings, failing to score in their last four Serie A games for the first time since December 1984.
SEE MORE: Inability to learn from setbacks pushing Gattuso to brink at AC Milan
On top of that, they’ve slipped out of the top four and were eliminated from the Europa League to compound what has been a miserable December for all concerned.
Injuries haven’t helped and neither has Gattuso being let down by key individuals who have failed to perform despite his unwavering faith in them.
Nevertheless, question marks have also been raised over the Italian’s tactics and decision-making in recent weeks, and it has undoubtedly contributed to Milan’s slide.
As seen in the tweet below, the consensus amongst Milan Talk Twitter users is that it’s time for him to go, and perhaps SPAL at the weekend will be his last game in charge regardless of the result.
Haven’t done this in a while. First of two polls…
Should Milan replace Gattuso? #ForzaMilan #FrosinoneMilan
— Milan Talk (@MilanTalk1) December 26, 2018
With the January transfer window upon us, if there is to be a change, then the hierarchy need to make a decision imminently to give the new boss time to settle and have an input with regards to transfer targets to fit his ideas and tactics.
Why Wenger is the answer…for now
Milan can’t afford to take another gamble with their next appointment. The experiment of appointing a club icon has failed time and time again, now they must bring in an experienced coach with a winning pedigree and a track record of delivering results.
While he came under fire in the latter years of his successful stint at Arsenal, Wenger ticks so many of the right boxes, while there is the obvious influence that Ivan Gazidis will have on the decision as well as Elliott’s objectives to consider too.
Milan aren’t in a position to compete for league titles and Champions League trophies right now. What they need is a coach who can get us back into the top four and a seat at Europe’s top table again, while playing a brand of football that excites the fans and lives up to the traditions and ideals that have become part of the culture at the San Siro.
Further, with the ongoing FFP concerns in mind, we need a coach capable of working to a budget and not needing big-money additions to bring success, while there is the seemingly never-ending storyline of our stadium situation which Wenger has been through and seen the results of with the Emirates Stadium.
The 69-year-old is unlikely to be a universally popular choice given his shortcomings and failures at Arsenal, but we’re talking about a different club, league, country and culture. It could be the fresh start that he relishes and reinvigorates him, and he just might still be capable of bringing fresh ideas to the table while drawing on his pool of experience to get through tough times.
As seen in the video below, he has previously labelled links with the Milan job as ‘fake news’. If Gattuso is sacked, Wenger might be getting a phone call from Gazidis to set up a reunion in Italy. While many will likely disagree, he’s surely the perfect man for the job that is needed to be done at Milan right now.
“Fake News!”
Arsène Wenger emphatically denies reports he will become the next AC Milan manager. #beINUCL pic.twitter.com/l1Ia0wrAnT
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 6, 2018
Other contenders
In a second poll carried out on Milan Talk Twitter, Antonio Conte received 60 percent of the votes and emerged as the most popular choice to replace Gattuso.
Who should Milan replace Gattuso with, if a change is made? #ForzaMilan #FrosinoneMilan
— Milan Talk (@MilanTalk1) December 26, 2018
Given his success at Juventus, Chelsea and with Italy, there is no doubt that the ruthless and passionate 49-year-old would be the big-name, proven candidate that we need too, with Calciomercato noting that he is still a top contender.
Nevertheless, would he really be interested in the job as we are right now? We’re looking at a man who is obsessed with winning. Given we’re barely able to keep hold of fourth place, it surely won’t be the most attractive job offer that he’ll receive in 2019.
Further, he lasted three years at Juve and just two at Chelsea. Equally as stubborn and perhaps more negative in his tactics in comparison to others, is he the right fit for us? His work at Juve to take them back to the top of Italian football of course makes a strong argument, but realistically, there are doubts he’s a viable target.
Elsewhere, the less the likes of Roberto Donadoni, Francesco Guidolin and Jose Mourinho are mentioned in the same sentence as ‘Milan vacancy’ the better, as it would surely be a disaster having any of that trio in charge.
In the likely event that Gattuso is replaced, Wenger is surely the right fit for so many reasons.
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