By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze has pointed to managerial instability as one of the key reasons behind AC Milan’s disappointing 2024/25 season.
The Rossoneri finished eighth in Serie A, missing out on European qualification for the first time in five years. Their struggles extended beyond the league, with early exits from both the UEFA Champions League and Coppa Italia.
The club’s only silverware came in the form of the Supercoppa Italiana.
Chukwueze reflected on the challenges the team faced, particularly with the mid-season managerial change.
“Starting the season with one manager and completing pre-season under him, then switching manager midway was quite difficult,” Chukwueze told SportsBoom.
“When a new manager arrived, everything changed—from tactics, formations, and playing style. The players were eager and hungry, but adapting quickly to new ideas and systems wasn’t easy.”
AC Milan parted ways with manager Sergio Conceição at the end of the season after just a few months in charge.
The frequent tactical shifts and lack of consistency reportedly disrupted squad rhythm and confidence.
Chukwueze, who joined Milan from Villarreal in 2023, endured a mixed season and has been linked with a possible exit from San Siro this summer amid speculation about a squad overhaul.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
