Race for the CL: ‘Purgetory’ for Milan, CL for La Viola

By: Rob | May 18th, 2008

Prandelli’s purple jacket will be seen round Europe next year Amongst the excitement for the Scudetto and relegation battles in a dramatic final day in Serie A, one battle got a little lost, the battle for that final Champions League spot – which was grabbed in spectacular fashion by Fiorentina, who now enter the Qualifying stages of the Champions League, while Milan, like this year, have to make do with the UEFA cup.

Cesare Prandelli – probably the best coach in Italy at this moment in time – marvelled at the way that his side have managed to grab fourth against expectations, while Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti described the year as Purgatory.

“We have to look at the table and accept it leaves us out of the Champions League…It was a season of peaks and troughs, though we paid a particularly heavy price for our poor home record.We’ll have a year in purgatory, but will face it with the same enthusiasm as always, concentrating our energy on Serie A to become more competitive”

The key really was Milan’s home form – which was awful, particuarly in the first half of the season, where they struggled to score, let alone win. Asked whether this will provoke a revolution ala Bayern’s last year when they failed to make the Champions League, the Italian manager tried to keep things in perspective.

“We will not have a revolution, but there will be a few introductions”

If rumours are to be believed however, one of those introductions might be Jose Mourinho, who is reportedly in Milan, and the rumour mill is on overdrive speculating he’ll either join Milan or thier cross-town rivals Inter, who despite clinching a third straight Scudetto (well, technically at least) will probably part ways with manager Roberto Mancini.

Life is happier in Florence though, and after Fiorentina’s UEFA cup dissapointment, they can now look forward to the qualifying stages of the Champions League. Cesare Prandelli wanted to give all credit to his players.
“We will play the preliminary round at the end of an extraordinary season…Yet again I must thank these wonderful lads.Osvaldo [Daniel Pablo Osvaldo, who won the game with a spectacular bicycle kick] has these quirks and incredible tricks, but he needs to improve on the simple things…
We have achieved a very important objective and President Della Valle came into the locker room to compliment everybody. Tonight in Florence we will celebrate. In this moment in time I am very happy, it’s amazing how one goal can change everything. Now we will rest and then sit around a table to prepare for next season”

He has also been links with a move to a ‘bigger’ club, but he gave time to laugh off such rumours.

“Will I stay on? Absolutely!”

Off course he will. Otherwise he’d never be able to wear that ridiculous purple puffajacket again. Right?

Good news then for La Viola as they plan for next season’s Champions League, and can look to expand upon thier squad. Commiserations to Milan, but I’m sure after a year in the UEFA cup they will bounce back again next year.