Losing the Coppa Italia for the 10th time, Milan's nightmare has only just begun

The reporter reported coldly Rome's Stadio Olimpico flocked to 68,500 spectators and grossed 5.5 million euros, a record since a single Coppa Italia final was won in the capital. Bologna fans in the traditional Lazio fan area on the north side witnessed history: a 1-0 win over AC Milan, the Bolognese won the Coppa Italia for the first time in 51 years and sealed up next season's Europa League qualification ahead of schedule. But for Milan, the final defeat in the epitome of the season may have been just the beginning of a nightmare.

Milan beat Bologna 3-1 at home in the league last weekend and built up enough confidence to lose their title hopes in midweek. Milan lost the Coppa Italia final for the 10th time in their history, setting a record for the most defeats in this cup final. The Rossoneri last won the Coppa Italia in 2003 and have lost all three of their previous finals (2016, 2018 and 2025). But at least in 2016 and 2018, Milan lost to then Serie A champions Juventus, and this time they lost to Bologna, who finished seventh.

Even the process of losing the trophy made Milan fans angry more than the result: the shots were 7 to 11, the shots on target were 2 to 5, and even when they fell behind in the 53rd minute, Milan actually played more invalid passes for 30 minutes. Possession of 54 per cent was mostly between goalkeeper and centre-back, with almost 10 per cent of passes forward across midfield. It wasn't until the last 5 minutes that the more meaningless blind long passes began. Bologna's high pressing left Milan at a loss and the team had no fighting spirit. This season, except for 5 times against Inter Milan with 3 wins and 2 draws, and won the "consolation prize" of the Italian Super Cup, Milan's season can be called a complete failure. After all, Inter Milan in the same city is competing for two heavyweight trophies in Serie A and the Champions League, but Milan was "humiliated" by Bologna in Rome.

Losing the Coppa Italia prevented Milan from qualifying for next season's Europa League and lost qualification for next season's Italian Super Cup. Milan's final straw for the season was Champions League qualification next season: eighth-placed Milan are four points behind fourth-placed Juventus and will play Roma three points ahead of them in the final two rounds before hosting relegated Monza. But Juventus only need to beat Udinese at home at the weekend to completely destroy the Rossoneri's Champions League hopes.

For Conceição, who has only been in charge of the team for more than five months, it will mean the end of time in Milan. After beating Inter Milan to win the Italian Super Cup at the beginning of the year, Conceição smoked a cigar in the dressing room to celebrate, and this time he was ready to roll up and leave. Since switching to the 343 formation in April, Milan have won five of six games and three in a row, rekindling hope. But the performance of the whole team in the final once again proved that there is no so-called revival, only anger. Before the game, the newspaper "Milan Sport" made a special reminder to beware of the winger Ndoye, who is of mixed Swiss and Senegalese descent, and he scored the winning goal.

If Milan end up missing out on next season's Champions League, there is no doubt that the Rossoneri will be in for a big shake. Ibrahimovic, who has returned to Milan management for two years, may be the first scapegoat. Ibrahimovic's return has thrilled Milan fans, who believe he will bring trophies to the team as he did when he was a player. Although in an interview with GQ magazine in February, he stated that he is not a Milanese employee and only works for the RedBird Group, but at the same time stressed that his responsibility is to lead Milan to success.

Although Milan won the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January, Juventus and Inter Milan won the trophy, the subsequent defeat made it impossible to believe that the "suit-wearing" Ibra had the super-dominance of the "shirt-wearing". RedBird owner Cardinale has decided to give more power to CEO Franey after losing to Feyenoord in the Champions League play-offs, with Ibrahimovic taking more responsibility for the new stadium, finance and commercial areas, and a new sporting director in charge of the sports area.

As for Conceição, after the Champions League exit and consecutive defeats to Torino and Lazio, there are rumors of Allegri's possible return. Some Milan fans even mocked Bologna coach Arno, who beat Conceição, as the right person for Milan's new manager. The 47-year-old Sicilian coach has led his side to four cup finals in 720 days, losing the first three at Fiorentina (the 2022/23 Coppa Italia final, the 2022/23, 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final), but this historic victory was enough to make him a qualified candidate for Milan's new manager.

As the Serie A champions of the 2021/22 season, they have retained Champions League qualification for two consecutive seasons, but the points gap to the champions is 20 and 19 points respectively. The season is currently 18 points, but there is no hope of competing for the title. Compared to the defeat on the pitch, Milan's bigger crisis is off the pitch. Cardinale, the owner of the RedBird Group, who bought the club for three seasons, is ready to divest and leave. With August as the final date for repayment of the 693 million euros that RedBird Group has owed to the Elliott Fund, the Elliott Fund is likely to regain control of Milan as a creditor. For the Rossoneri, such capital torture is the beginning of a nightmare.