Serie A - Jimenez s elbow strike is red, ten players Milan 1-3 Roma declares missed the European war!

In the heavy rain at the Olympic Stadium, AC Milan's European hopes were completely shattered with the final whistle. When Cristant's long shot penetrated Menion's fingers like a sharp arrow, San Siro's red and black fans had to accept this cruel reality: Milan missed all European competitions next season for the first time since the 2015/16 season. This 1-3 defeat was not only a tactical defeat, but also a complete collapse of the club's operating logic.

Red Card Shadow: Double Standard for VAR Punishment

The controversial incident in the 21st minute of the game became the key to the turning point. When Jimenez and Mancini were entangled in the penalty area, the Colombia forward's right arm suddenly raised and his elbow accurately hit the Italian central defender's face. The referee took out a red card after being reminded by VAR, and this penalty instantly ignited a public opinion storm. The broadcast footage then cut into the stands, and the dark face of Milan director Moncada was in sharp contrast to the pride of Rome Chairman Pinto. The focus of the

dispute is on the consistency of VAR penalty. Just a week ago in the Italian Cup final, Milan defender Gabia was elbowed in the face by Bologna player Buickma in the penalty area, but the same move did not trigger VAR to intervene. Former Serie A referee Marelli said bluntly in his commentary: "The movement amplitude, contact position and game scene of the two incidents are completely consistent, but the penalty results are very different." What is even more ironic is that the VAR assistant referee in both games was Mazzolani, and this "self-slap in the face" operation caused the referee's credibility to be severely damaged.

Tactical defeat: The chain reaction of ten people in response to the challenge

Milan fell into a tactical desperate situation after the red card. Pioli was forced to replace Chick with Fofana, and the formation deteriorated from 4-2-3-1 to 5-3-1. But Roma coach De Rossi quickly and targeted adjustments, Salavi and Dybala frequently switched positions to Milan's right, and Mousa's side guard became a breakthrough. In the 35th minute, Roma's corner kick tactics worked, and Mancini beat Tomori to score a header. This concealed goal exposed Milan's stubborn defense at high altitudes.

Although Felix equalized the score with a smart follow-up shot in the 40th minute, the disadvantage of one less gradually emerged. In the second half, De Rossi replaced Abraham to strengthen the impact, while Milan's defense line frequently leaked under continuous high pressure. Paredes' free kick world wave and Christant's long-range shot completely defeated the psychological defense of the Ross and Blacks. Data shows that Milan has a total possession rate of only 38%, and has lagged behind 8-18 shots, which is the first time since 2018 that he has doubled the number of shots in the league by Roma.

Financial Crisis: The chain reaction of absence from the European War

This failure made Milan's fiscal situation worse. According to football finance experts, missing the European game will result in the club's direct losses of more than 20 million euros in the European game bonus. Coupled with the floating clauses in the sponsorship contract, the actual loss may exceed 80 million euros. What’s even more serious is that the absence of the European war for two consecutive years may trigger the FFP red line, and both the stadium renovation plan and youth training investment are at risk of shelving.

management's recruitment strategy has also been questioned. The nine new players who spent 102 million euros this season contributed only 6 goals, and high-priced signings such as Pellegrini and Mousa are far from meeting expectations. What's even more ironic is that Jimenez, who was highly anticipated, was dyed red in the key battle, and his 18 million euro transfer fee is becoming a "disaster-level signing." The road to reconstruction: a comprehensive innovation from tactics to spirits. The locker room after the game is filled with a breath of despair. Gabiya choked in the mixed zone and said, "We disappointed the fans, and this pain is unspeakable." Reindez became one of the few highlights, contributing 4 key passes and 3 steals throughout the game, and was named "the only Red-Black man who left standing" by Sport Milan. But such individual performance cannot cover up the overall defeat - Milan was presented with 7 red cards this season and the out of control of discipline has become a microcosm of the collapse of the dynasty.

The management has started a full review. CEO Frani promised “all mistakes will be corrected”, but the specific measures have not been clarified. It is reported that Milan plans to sell Leo and Special O in the summer window to cash out, and focus on introducing local players to rebuild the lineup. At the tactical level, the three-center-back system may become a new direction, and the combination of Pavlovic and Tomori shows a certain degree of resilience when playing one less player.

Conclusion: Rebuilding glory on the ruins

When the final whistle sounded, the song "Forza Milan" in the stands was still loud. This giant team that won the Champions League seven times is experiencing the darkest moments in the past decade. Jimenez's red card, VAR's controversy, and tactical defeat are all just appearances. What really needs to be changed is the management's eagerness for quick success and instant benefits, the lack of leaders in the locker room, and the disconnection between the youth training system and the first team.

Perhaps as the editorial of "Milan Sports" said: "After experiencing this storm, what Milan needs is not a quick repair, but a resumption. Only by completely reinventing the concept of football can the Ross and Blacks fly back in the sky of European football." This 1-3 defeat may be the beginning of rebirth.