For the first time in 35 years, the Juventus and Milan teams will not participate in the Champions League. This happened because both finished in positions below expectations in the Italian Championship, with Juventus in 6th place and Milan in 5th. This unprecedented situation in the 21st century occurred after a championship that had Inter Milan, Atalanta, and Napoli as representatives in the competition. The last time this happened was in the 1991-92 season, when Sampdoria was the only Italian team to participate, still called the European Cup.
The Juventus, which was twice champion of the tournament, was eliminated in the playoffs for Galatasaray, while Milan, the second largest winner of the competition with seven titles, failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second consecutive year. This situation led Milan to start a process of internal changes, with the dismissal of coach Massimiliano Allegri, CEO Giorgio Furlani, sports director Igli Tare, and technical director Geoffrey Moncada. The team finished the season in disappointing fashion, after having occupied the top positions in Serie A for most of the championship. The final stretch was marked by inconsistency that culminated in a defeat in the last round, turning the season into a failure.
The next edition of the Champions League will have Inter Milan, Napoli, Roma, and the newly promoted Como as Italian representatives. Como is about to make its debut in the competition, which increases the expectation around the tournament. Meanwhile, Juventus and Milan will need to reevaluate their strategies to return to the Champions League in the next seasons. The absence of both teams from the Champions League will certainly have financial and sporting implications for the clubs.
The scenario for the next season promises to be challenging for both clubs, which will have to reorganize and seek reinforcements to return to competing in the European scene. The Serie A Italian will have a new scenario with the changes in the clubs and the Champions League is preparing to receive new representatives, bringing expectations and challenges for the teams that will participate. Juventus and Milan will have to work hard to recover their space and return to being a highlight in European football.
