"Massimiliano Allegri and the AC Milan staff made the decision to enforce a 'ritiro', but history suggests they don't normally have the desired effect. As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, for a couple of months Milan have been in an existential crisis. They fell out of a Scudetto race and squandered a significant lead over fifth place, so against Genoa and Cagliari they must go all-in: two wins and they qualify for the Champions League."
"When Allegri talks about training camps, he never uses terms like 'punishment'. He prefers 'a moment of responsibility'. He last did it two years ago at Juventus to prepare for a match against Genoa. The result? A 0-0 draw that would be a crime to call thrilling."
"In the 2012-13 Milan season, the training camp worked out perfectly. The team had started terribly: five defeats in the first eight games, a lost derby, a defeat against Lazio, and Berlusconi in a fury he had rarely seen. A punitive training camp was triggered, something Milan had lacked for over 14 years. The first match after it was against Genoa, the result a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from El Shaarawy, and the season was back on track."
Milan will hold a “ritiro” from tomorrow until Monday evening to lift spirits during an existential crisis. The team has fallen out of the Scudetto race and lost a significant advantage over fifth place, leaving qualification for the Champions League dependent on winning their next matches. The retreat at Milanello is rare, with the previous one in 2019 under Gennaro Gattuso. Allegri typically frames such camps as a “moment of responsibility” rather than punishment. In 2012-13, a punitive camp preceded a 1-0 win over Genoa and helped stabilize the season, including progress from the Champions League group stage. Later retreats under Allegri have not consistently delivered immediate results.
Read at SempreMilan
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