Inzaghi to be sacked unless Milan beat Verona

The 41-year-old has struggled to bring about improved results at San Siro and another failure on Saturday will see him lose his job

Filippo Inzaghi is set to be sacked as AC Milan coach if his side fail to beat Hellas Verona at San Siro on Saturday.

Speculation has surrounded the former striker for some time, but the club have finally lost patience with Inzaghi and are busy putting plans in place for a future under a new coach.

The Rossoneri currently sit in 10th position in Serie A, and while president Silvio Berlusconi and CEO Adriano Galliani were initially willing to give Inzaghi time to come to terms with the task at hand in his first senior job, their patience is now running thin after a string of disappointing results.

Berlusconi has not been spotted at a San Siro for some time, and it is not considered a coincidence. The 78-year-old, who jettisoned Clarence Seedorf in the summer of 2014 to bring in Inzaghi, has asked Galliani to set the wheels in motion for a change in coach should three points not be collected on Saturday.

The club hierarchy have been disappointed by the confused tactics displayed by Inzaghi’s troops this season, citing a lack of motivation and fitness for the team’s troubles on the field. They have also been left baffled by the travails of Milan’s strikers.

Fernando Torres scored only once for the club before returning to Atletico Madrid, for whom he has already struck three times, while Giampaolo Pazzini and Mattia Destro have just three goals between them.

The conversion of Jeremy Menez to a ‘false nine’ role bought Inzaghi some time with the board, but the return of only 37 goals in 27 games across league and cup has made for a damning indictment on the 41-year-old. And the success of M’Baye Niang during his loan spell with Genoa after being largely ignored by Inzaghi has been another point of contention.

The lack of positive results has brought about the possibility of recalling Seedorf, who remains on the club’s payroll.

However, a return for the Dutchman would cause a major loss of face for the club, Mauro Tassotti is expected to take temporary charge until the summer in the event of a sacking for Inzaghi. Thereafter, the board are thought to be considering Vincenzo Montella, Luciano Spalletti and Jurgen Klopp as candidates for the role next season.

Inzaghi himself has one last chance, but even a victory on Saturday would likely only provide a stay of execution with the club’s minds now seemingly made up to part ways with the popular club legend.