No respect, no Champions League: Milan and Juventus miss out on UCL on the final day

For months, the loudest voices in Italy weren’t coming from the top of the table — they were coming from the usual places: Milan and Juventus supporters (and plenty of pundits in their orbit) bragging about their wins against Inter, and confidently predicting Inter would finish “below them”.

No respect. No humility. Lots of chest-beating.

And then came the last matchday.

Both AC Milan and Juventus failed to qualify for the Champions League, missing out on the top four in dramatic fashion as Roma and Como secured their places alongside champions Inter and Napoli.

Milan’s collapse was especially brutal: a 2–1 home defeat to Cagliari slammed the door on UCL football. Juventus, meanwhile, were held to a 2–2 draw away at Torino in a match that was also delayed due to incidents around the stadium.

The punchline: they didn’t even meet their lowest targets

Here’s what makes it sting even more: this wasn’t supposed to be a “rebuild year” where Europa League is acceptable.

Both clubs invested heavily, and both clubs changed course with coaches and squad moves to force their way back into Europe’s elite. Yet when the season’s pressure peaked, the project delivered… a downgrade.

As CBS Sports noted, the final day left both clubs needing some serious reflection after a season that simply didn’t match the ambition — or the spending.

Meanwhile, Inter got “rated” below them

That’s the part Inter fans won’t forget.

When rival narratives are built on selective highlights — a derby here, a one-off win there — and used to dismiss an entire season’s work, football has a way of correcting the record. This time, the correction came in the most painful currency: Champions League qualification.

Inter didn’t need the noise. Inter needed results. And on the last day, it was Milan and Juve who learned the hard truth: predictions don’t qualify you — points do.

Cherry on the cake

Milan have sacked Allegri after failing to qualify for the Champions League. The club also dismissed:

• Moncada

• Tare

• Furlani

Are they preparing to shut down the club? 🤪

EUROPA LEAGUE pic.twitter.com/WeMMlwTbjy

— Pulcino Pio (@IM_theRox) May 24, 2026