'We are not Americans' - AC Milan fans voice discontent as Serie A struggles continue

The San Siro welcomed AC Milan legends such as Franco Baresi, Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten, and Ruud Gullit to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary ahead of their Serie A clash against Genoa on Sunday night, but a celebratory mood ahead of kick-off soon turned into a cacophony of frustrated voices as the Milan faithful didn't hold back in expressing their anger and discontent at the players, head coach Paulo Fonseca and the club's American ownership following a 0-0 stalemate.

The result against Genoa leaves Milan in eighth position in the Serie A table with just 23 points in 15 games. It was their third draw in their last five league games, during which Fonseca and Co. have bagged the three points just once. They are now 14 points behind league leaders Atalanta with a game in hand, and also eight points off Fiorentina, who are in fourth position. The fans are understandably unhappy with the 2021-22 Scudetto winners, who look set to miss out on a Champions League spot next season, let alone the league title.

At full-time, the fans let out vociferous boos towards Fonseca and his players, but that was not the end of the story. The Curva Sud ultras gathered in large numbers outside San Siro following the game and protested against Gerry Cardinale, the club owner, and RedBird Capital Partners, the management group.

“You've pissed us off. We are not Americans. This club doesn't deserve us. Are you leaving or not? Incompetent management, a club without ambition," were some of the chants made in protest by the Curva Sud. They also put banners on display, one of which read: “We have waited and supported you to the bitter end, we have had enough of your mediocrity.”

Fonseca is under immense pressure to turn things around at AC Milan, given that he hasn't been able to build on the legacy left behind by his predecessor Stefano Pioli. Their next game is an away game against Verona in Serie A on Friday, December 20.