GdS: The five messages Milan’s future sporting director received in Milan-Fiorentina | OneFootball

While Saturday’s 2-2 draw between AC Milan and Fiorentina might have been entertaining for the neutral, it also sent some key messages regarding the future.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, the Milan fans entered San Siro talking about the next sporting director and left having seen 15 shots and four goals. At least three directors, somewhere in Italy and around the world, watched the match thinking about how they would change Milan.

Mentality: Mentality is the big priority; the technical aspects and the players come later. Milan conceded two goals in the first 10 minutes, and risked conceding even more. The team have been unreliable, incomprehensible and inconsistent since the turn of the year. How do you fix that? A new coach, and more leadership.

Coach: Speaking of which, the new SD must choose an experienced coach. Sergio Conceiçao has not solved Milan’s problems and arguably has made them worse, with incidents such as the spat with Davide Calabria and taking Yunus Musah off in the first half twice. An expert his needed, to give a jolt to the whole squad and raise the levels.

Centre-backs: A choice must be made with the central defenders. Since the beginning of the season, the Rossoneri have been changing the pairing in the middle of defence almost every week. The new sporting director will almost certainly have to buy a defender on the market and perhaps build the 2025-26 defence around them. There could also be some exits too.

Strikers: It’s time to make a strong choice about the centre-forward. Santiago Gimenez doesn’t score anymore, Tammy Abraham can’t be the starting striker of this team and Luka Jovic solves problems but together with another No.9. Gimenez should be at the centre of the attack, but a new signing could arrive to deputise or even compete for his spot.

Theo Hernandez: Theo’s performance encapsulated his season. He argued with opponents, had defensive lapses, created chances and wasted them. It makes no sense to continue like this. Milan can only renew him for €5-5.5m net per season and the new director knows that there is no middle ground: he must renew and get back to his best or be sold.