AC Milan will not be in next season's UEFA Champions League, in a sporting and financial blow that is set to have major repercussions for everyone involved in this disastrous campaign.
The worst nightmare for AC Milan fans has become a reality.
The club has failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, a massive disappointment that was met with jeers and protests from the San Siro crowd following their final day defeat to Cagliari.
This failure is a setback on all fronts.
Financially, the Rossoneri will miss out on crucial revenue needed to plan for the upcoming season and the summer transfer market, while from a sporting perspective, missing Europe's top competition for the second consecutive year is nothing short of a complete failure for a club of Milan's stature.
As manager, Massimiliano Allegri stated in his post-match interview that a clear-headed analysis is now required.
This is seen as a collective failure, from president Gerry Cardinale, alongside the entire board, down to Allegri and his squad.
Every key figure from this season is now under scrutiny, with a major overhaul - another new project in just a few years - on the horizon.
Revolution at AC Milan: Who will pay the price?
What was supposed to be a night to build on, a stepping stone towards competing for the league title and in Europe, instead became a night of total collapse.
Owner Gerry Cardinale now faces critical decisions.
With CEO Furlani's departure all but certain, who else will be shown the door?
Cardinale had planned to rebuild the team with Allegri as a central figure in the new project, but failing to secure UEFA Champions League football has raised serious questions.
Both Massimiliano Allegri and sporting director Igli Tare are at risk, but who would be responsible for choosing their replacements?
More than ever, the club needs stability and a clear structure.
A new CEO must be appointed - a football man who understands the weight and importance of the Rossoneri shirt, much like Adriano Galliani, whose name has been mentioned in recent weeks.
The new CEO will be tasked with making the tough calls: stick with Allegri and Tare or initiate a complete revolution, to rebuild the team from the ground up.
Is a total overhaul what AC Milan truly needs?
A sober analysis, unity and a clear plan for a restart should be the cornerstones of any change.
Despite this, the foundation laid by Allegri this season cannot be ignored. The manager has created a base that can be improved with the right signings and a strategy led by experienced football figures.
Top clubs like Ferguson's Manchester United, Guardiola's Manchester City, Barcelona and even Arteta's Arsenal have faced setbacks. They responded by uniting the club, learning from their mistakes, and rebuilding from an existing core.
In the coming hours, Milan will decide whether to continue with Allegri and Tare or to launch yet another complete revolution.
This time, however, a definitive path must be chosen: one that leads to another failure or one built on a solid foundation and entrusted to people who understand what it means to wear the red and black shirt.
