The 2016–17 season was a challenging one for AC Milan, marked by a transition period under the leadership of manager Vincenzo Montella. The team experienced a mix of highs and lows, with notable developments in both the league and cup competitions. Milan’s season began with hope after a summer of significant investment by the club’s new Chinese owners, who had taken over in April 2017. These changes brought expectations of an improvement from the previous seasons, but Milan’s results were inconsistent throughout the campaign.
In Serie A, Milan finished in 6th place, securing a spot in the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. This was a disappointing position for a club that had higher aspirations, and Montella’s side struggled to find a consistent rhythm, particularly in the second half of the season. Despite promising individual performances from players like Suso, M’Baye Niang, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, Milan was unable to challenge for a top-four finish, which would have qualified them for the Champions League.
In the Coppa Italia, Milan had a solid run, reaching the final, where they were defeated 2–1 by Juventus. The final showcased Milan’s growing potential, but it also highlighted the gap in quality between the two clubs at that time. In the UEFA Europa League, Milan failed to qualify for the group stages after a shock defeat to the modest team, FK Austria Wien, in the qualifying rounds.
Montella’s job came under scrutiny as the season wore on due to the team’s inconsistent form, and rumors of a potential managerial change circulated. Ultimately, Montella was replaced by former Juventus and Milan midfielder, Gennaro Gattuso, in November 2017. Gattuso’s arrival brought some improvement in Milan’s performances, and he guided the team to a solid finish in the second half of the season, but it was too little too late to secure a higher position in the table.
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