Gerard Carey takes a look at AC Milan and Inter Milan’s current situation and questions if they will ever return to the forefront of Italian football.
On the 23rd May 2007, AC Milan walked on to the pitch at the Olympic stadium in Athens, proudly displaying one of the best line ups in their long history. A team containing Maldini, Nesta, Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf, Kaka and Inzaghi comfortably defeated a strong Liverpool side, winning their seventh European Cup and banishing the memories of Istanbul in the process.
Fast forward seven years and much has changed within the ranks of the Rossoneri. The world class defensive partnership has long since retired, the perfectly balanced midfield consists of Premier League cast offs and the lethal, consistent front man is now ….. Mario Balotelli.
Given the clear downsizing project over the last few years, it’s no surprise that Milan have struggled badly. Last season they sacked both Massimo Allegri and Clarence Seedorf, with the club’s ninth place finish deemed unsatisfactory within the corridors of power at the San Siro.
However, there are several reasons why Milan fans can be optimistic for the forthcoming season. The crushing disappointment of missing out on a Europa League spot, on the final day, could eventually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. A season free from the distraction of European football allows new coach Fillipo Inzaghi time to blood new players and develop his own footballing style.
On the playing front, Riccardo Montilivo is a class act in midfield, and is very much a player which Inzaghi can build a new team around. Stephen El Sharaaway is an outstanding prospect and now injury free, whilst Brazillian centre back Alex will add some much needed stability at the back.
There is also the hope that Inzaghi, a striker noted for his hard work and persistence, may be the man who can coaxe the best out of Mario Balotelli. When ‘Super Mario’ gunned down Germany in the Euro 2012 semi final with a quickfire double, it was rightly hailed as one of the best striking performances in recent memory and if he can get close to that level on a consistent basis, Milan will shoot up the table for sure.
The trajectory of Inter Milan over the last decade is somewhat similar. Few of the Continental treble winning team from 2010 remain, with Rafael Benitez, Leonardo, Claudio Ranieri, Andrea Stramaccioni all failing to cast off the shadow of Jose Mourinho. Its no surprise, given the managerial turmoil, that the club only managed 6th and 9th place finishes in 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively.
Walter Mazzarri took over in May 2013, and can claim much credit for stabilising the team and leading them to a commendable 5th place finish last season. Sticking rigidly to a 3-5-1-1 formation, Mazzarri has led the club back into European competition. With his pedigree of upsetting the big boys, (his Napoli team qualified for the last 16 of the champions league ahead of Manchester City) they could already be considered amongst the favourites to win the Europa League.
The signing of Nemanja Vidic will improve an already competent defence, allowing the Serbian to nurture the immensely talented but raw twenty year old centre back Juan Jesus. Fredy Guarin and new signing Hernanes provide a powerful and energetic midfield engine room, allowing Croatian Mateo Kovacic freedom to roam behind the strikers. Up front, Rodrigo Palacio may frustrate and delight in equal measure, but last season’s strike record of nineteen goals in thirty nine games would be the envy of many a striker playing in europe.
All things considered, both Milan teams should be looking to improve on last season. For the second and third best supported teams in Italy, challenging for the Scudetto is the minimum their fans will accept.
Milan have a club legend at the helm, who the fans support wholeheartedly, whilst Inter have a number of promising young players, and have a coach committed to fast counter attacking football.
It will be another fascinating season in Serie A, let’s hope that both of these clubs are at its coalface.
