APA Milan president questions ambition and lack of communication from club’s leadership

The lawyer Giuseppe La Scala – who is also the president of the Small Shareholders’ Alliance of AC Milan – has spoken about what he believes is a very confusing and chaotic moment.

Given all of the rumours that are swirling about the change in head coach and the protests from fans about the lack of clarity and communication from the club, it was be fair to describe things as turbulent at the moment.

In 2019, on the 120th anniversary of the foundation of Milan, the Association of Small Shareholders of AC Milan – APA Milan – was born from the Milanisti 1899 Association.

APA Milan operates in collaboration with Milanisti 1899, are the second largest shareholder of AC Milan SpA and brings together the small shareholders of the Rossoneri.

Their president La Scala spoke on Radio Rossonera about the Rossoneri’s rather difficult moment, the match against Genoa and the fans’ protest against the management.

We start with Milan-Genoa…

“I have the feeling that the uncertainties that the team showed on the pitch are the result not only of a coaching staff with respect to which, I don’t want to be absolutely ungenerous, it has evidently concluded its cycle, but above all of what we highlight in the management, in the top management. And this is regardless of the strictly technical side. It seems to me to be a component of our corporate culture, or rather lack of culture.”

What do you think about the Lopetegui protests?

“Lopetegui’s move to West Ham shows that he too is not the dog that some made him out to be. Lopetegui is a coach who is going to lead a good Premier League team. The fans at this moment seem as confused as the management.

“The problem is that the fans have the right and at this moment perhaps even the duty to be confused. The fact that they [the club] do not make themselves heard and above all don’t give the impression of having completed certain steps worries me.

“It is clear that the club cannot openly talk about the interruption of the relationship with Pioli and the fact that a selection of a new coach is underway. It’s done abroad, it’s true, but in Italy the labour regulations are also more severe.

“I don’t expect this, but that the club sends clear messages. Without being rude or inappropriate, I expect them to say three things. First of all, the project is to return to winning immediately, and the reason is clear.

“Milan won a Scudetto 24 months ago, 12 months ago they were in the Champions League semi-finals. Of course, a few things have changed: Kessié left, we sold Tonali (not that their success elsewhere has been extraordinary).

“But we haven’t lost on all fronts, there have been very high quality signings in these two years. But I believe that, even if it is necessary to add three or four players to the team who can help us make a difference, the project cannot be to restart a path that can bring us back to the top in three or four years.

“We are at the top, this year we are second despite a season that we all define as very disappointing, so I feel like saying that from next year Milan must say clearly: we want to win the Scudetto and we want to move forward in the Champions League.

“There’s no question: a coach who doesn’t give you guarantees or a summer mercato that is far from these logics cannot satisfy us.”