Sampdoria v AC Milan Preview: Under-pressure Mihajlovic heads back to Luigi Ferraris
The 45-year-old returns to his former club in the Coppa Italia on Thursday with a quarter-final spot up for grabs
Sinisa Mihajlovic heads back to Sampdoria for the first time on Thursday as the AC Milan coach looks to ease the building pressure on his position with victory in the Coppa Italia round-of-16.
The Serb departed the Luigi Ferraris during the close-season to replace Filippo Inzaghi but a run of one win from the last five Serie A matches leaves Milan seventh, seven points adrift of the top three.
Despite only one defeat in their last nine in all competitions - 1-0 to reigning league champions Juventus - Mihajlovic's future at San Siro is reportedly under threat if things do not change quickly, and a cup exit could be the final straw.
"We have to react," said midfielder Andrea Bertolacci. "We have to pick ourselves up.
"We are a strong team, we have to get out of this situation together. We are targeting the Italian Cup, but it will not be easy because Sampdoria at home are a strong team."
Mihajlovic will take heart from the recent league meeting between the two sides when Milan convincingly brushed Samp aside 4-1, M'Baye Niang netting twice back in late November.