(AC Milan ended their Serie A campaign with a disappointing 3-3 home draw against relegated Salernitana on Saturday in what was the final game at the club for coach Stefano Pioli and striker Olivier Giroud.
Rafael Leão and Giroud put Milan 2-0 ahead at the break, but Salernitana scored through striker Simeon Nwankwo in the second half before Davide Calabria restored the hosts’ two-goal lead with a head.
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However, Salernitana’s Junior Sambia and Nwankwo equalized with two quick goals in the final moments.
Milan fans have said goodbye to manager Pioli, who is leaving the club after five years following a disappointing season.
He led the Rossoneri to their first league title in over a decade in 2022, but they have struggled since and finished second this season on 75 points, 18 points behind visiting Inter Milan. ‘Hellas Verona for its last match on Sunday.
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The seven-time European champions crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage earlier this season before being knocked out of the Europa League by AS Roma in the quarter-finals.
“We lost together, we suffered together, we won and we rejoiced together… You have an energy that we tried to put on the pitch,” Pioli said thanking the supporters during his speech on the field after the match.
“You put a fire in my heart and it will always stay lit. I will not forget you.”
Pioli has the fourth most Serie A wins among all Milan managers (108), behind Carlo Ancelotti (163), Nereo Rocco (120) and Fabio Capello (110).
The hosts made a promising start when Leão gave them the lead with a simple close-range finish in the 22nd minute after capitalizing on an error by Salernitana goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo.
The Portuguese ran to hug Pioli after he scored and other players joined the 24-year-old around the departing coach.
Giroud doubled the advantage five minutes later, volleying home an Alessandro Florenzi corner.
The Frenchman, who will join Major League Soccer side LAFC after three years at Milan, scored his 49th goal for the Serie A side before being substituted in the 84th minute to a standing ovation from a packed San Siro .
Theo Hernández thought he had made it 3-0 with a pass from Leão before the break, but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
However, the hosts’ pace slowed after half-time and they ended up dropping points again, finishing the season with one win in their last seven league matches.
Salernitana returns to Serie B after three seasons in the top flight. They finished the campaign bottom of the table after suffering 25 defeats in 38 matches.
