Milan: Milan were given the silent treatment by thousands of disappointed supporters as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Genoa on Sunday.
Supporters displayed banners calling for the team to improve, while a loud crowd protested after Malik Tiaw’s 87th-minute own goal gave Genoa the lead in a game that ended all over the pitch.
A packed Curva Sud Ultras section at the San Siro, packed with thousands of supporters, missed an unfortunate error by Tiau, who fired shortly after Olivier Giroud had put Milan 3-2 up in the 75th minute.
“The sound of silence” is written on the back.
The protests spoiled the mood for the dying rubber, with second-placed Milan already guaranteed Champions League football and Genoa not being released.
The fans’ frustration stems from the 18 points that separate Milan from champions and local rivals Inter Milan, who won their 20th league title two days ago in their local derby.
It means Stefano Pioli, who guided Milan to the 2022 Serie A title after the Italians were kicked out of the Europa League by Roma, will step down for almost five years at the end of the season. .
Pioli told DAZN: “The fans have chosen a form of protest, and we have to respect that.”
“Our fans have always been very important over the years, and there will always be reasons for complaints.”
Pioli’s Genoa counterpart Alberto Gilardino is secure in his position after guiding his team back to the top.
Gilardino, who won the World Cup as a player with Italy in 2006, said he had reached a verbal agreement with Genoa to extend his contract until the end of this season.
Genoa, Italy’s oldest football club and nine-time Italian champion, is 12th in Serie A and has exceeded expectations this season.
“I want to continue at a club that gives me the opportunity to train and do well,” Gilardino told DAZN.
The battle for Champions League football continued under Milan as third-placed Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by Roma in a thrilling clash that saw each team create plenty of chances and hit the woodwork.
Juve moved five points clear of Milan and secured a place in Europe’s top club competition after Gleison Bremer’s 31st-minute strike set up Romelu Lukaku’s opener.
Despite winning just twice in 14 league games, Massimiliano Allegri’s side are nine points clear of sixth-placed Atalanta, who travel to Salernitana on Monday and have another game in hand.
“Football is a crazy sport because one moment things are going your way and the next everything is against you,” Allegri said.
“We could have done better this season, but we didn’t.”
Atalanta’s extra game leaves Roma in danger of losing as victory at Salernitana would move Gian Piero Gasperini’s side above Roma into fifth place on goal difference.
Roma travel to Atalanta next weekend, with Tammy Ibrahimovic’s late chance missed, as Bayer Leverkusen’s win on Thursday saw them lose hope of reaching the Europa League final.
Roma coach Daniele De Rossi said: “Conflict will not be useful for us, but I can be proud of my team, the way they play and the way they work together.”
“A little bit of luck and we’ll win.”
Verona boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina, which moved them five points clear of the relegation zone.
Sitting in the bottom three, Udinese can escape the relegation zone if they beat Napoli on Monday.
