Fiorentina: Stefano Pioli returns only to… depart?

This weekend, Stefano Pioli will return to San Siro, a place where he was once hailed as a hero and champion. However, this visit will not be one of glory. Instead, the trip to face his former club Milan could determine his future, possibly marking both his first and last match as Fiorentina’s coach.

Pioli once reached the height of fame on this very ground, celebrating his first and only Serie A title with Milan. Now, he returns as an adversary, managing a Fiorentina side engulfed in turmoil. The purple-clad team has failed to secure a win in the first six Serie A matches, with three draws and three defeats. This marks their worst start since the three-point win system was introduced.

The disappointment deepens when considering the high hopes pinned on him. Last summer, Fiorentina worked hard to persuade Pioli to leave the "golden paradise in Arabia" and return to Italy, signing a three-year contract with a clear mission: to raise the team’s level. But so far, things have gone off course. Fiorentina has not only declined in results but also shown a weak, characterless, and psychologically fragile side. Pioli’s job is under serious threat. Bookmakers have slashed the odds on his dismissal to a very low level, and replacement names like Daniele De Rossi have begun to circulate. Another defeat at San Siro could be the breaking point, potentially ending Pioli’s tenure.