Eleven years since their last Scudetto, Milan are again the champions of Italy, with last season’s winners Inter finishing runners-up. An overwhelming 3-0 final-day triumph away at Sassuolo has been the icing on the cake.
Coming into the season finale, Milan were two points clear of second-placed Inter. Though even a draw was sufficient to crown the Rossoneri the new champions, Stefano Pioli’s side made sure to celebrate the long-awaited title in style.
Olivier Giroud’s first-half double followed up with Franck Kessie’s parting gift to the Rossoneri fans catapulted Milan to a routine triumph at the Mapei Stadium.
It was all Milan in Reggio Emilia from the get-go. Rafael Leao delivered a hat-trick of assists in another sublime showing, sending around 18,000 visiting supporters into a rupture.
After ending an 11-year title drought, Milan have equalled Inter’s tally of 19 Serie A trophies, with only Juventus (36) winning more. But who could have believed the Rossoneri would get this far, given the club’s chaotic state less than two years ago.
One such man must be Stefano Pioli, the man who has just won his first Scudetto as a manager. After wandering from place to place, the 56-year-old has finally found the right environment for himself.
Pioli fell short of Antonio Conte’s Inter last season and instead had to settle for a runner-up finish, ending Milan’s seven-year wait for Champions League football in the process.
Yet, not even the most die-hard Rossoneri supporters could have hoped for the Mister to go one better this term, especially following a relatively quiet summer transfer market.
However, Pioli defied the odds, inspiring his relatively juvenile squad to astonishing success. Milan have finished the season with an eye-catching 86 points, their best points tally in Serie A this century. Indeed, not even Carlo Ancelotti’s golden generation from the early 2000s’ had won more.
So kudos to Mister Pioli!