While the AC Milan fans and the media have lofty ambitions regarding the team and the targets for this season, the ownership are reportedly being far more cautious.
Calciomercato.com write about the two ways to read Milan’s situation at the moment, the first being those who see Napoli running away and wonder whether or not a player or two will arrive in January to make the squad stronger, if the gap will be eroded, if Leao and Bennacer will renew and if De Ketelaere comes back stronger from his World Cup experience.
However, the owners celebrate progress into the knockout stages of the Champions League as a victory because of the revenues it brings, and they also await with confidence the maturation of summer signings even if so far they have not been useful to Pioli’s cause.
Paolo Scaroni has said several times – even during the Scudetto battle last season – that getting in the top four is the real aim for the club, to keep playing the Champions League and remaining in the virtuous and rich circle of European football.
The last 10 games have not been good for Milan who picked up four points in their most recent three games against Torino, Spezia and Cremonese, which is five points less than Napoli and Juventus did in their last 10, and one less than Inter, who also lost against the Bianconeri.
The article poses some interesting questions: do we want to say that Milan are also doing less than they could and should have, as the reigning Italian champions? Do we want to say that the qualification for the second round of the Champions League was expected, given the level of the group, certainly the simplest among that of the four Italian teams? Do we want to say that today the team is less strong, less beautiful, less everything compared to the one that flew towards the Scudetto?
There are other factors to consider such as the injury crises that have plagued the squad, as two months with a reserve goalkeeper is not easy for any team, just as it hasn’t been ideal to rely so heavily on a 36-year-old Giroud in the absence of an alternative (Origi’s struggles are another mark against the market).
From 5 December, Milan will have a new CEO as Giorgio Furlani will take the helm, but not much should change with the passage of the club from Elliott Management to RedBird Capital, with Paolo Scaroni remaining as president.
Even though the operation totalled €1.2bn, the objectives do not change. Even if Milan fans immediately want the second star, the new owners that patience is needed for the investments begin to pay off and the Champions League is the competition that maintains the virtuous cycle.
Source sempremilan.com
