Serie A 2016-17: What must AC Milan do to become great again?
Winning - that is easier said than done. AC Milan have not won anything of note in the last 5-6 seasons, with the Serie A title of 2010/11 being the last trophy to be added to the cabinet. At the point, the team was of a better quality and the league was much weaker. That statement appears to have reversed at this point in time. Milan’s perpetual fall from the pinnacle of European and Italian football became hard to watch for fans of the sport, let alone for the fans of the club.
Over the years, Milan have disappeared further down the league table, dissolving into mid-table obscurity. Many factors have facilitated the breakdown of this once great football club. Haphazard management, a humongous addition and retention of average players and a revolving door for coaches are amongst the prime factors accelerating the collapse of this magnificent footballing institution.
Also read: Serie A could see a return to the glory days after revamp is planned
The recent takeover appears to have infused some life into the team and fans. Once again, big names are being linked with the club. Smiles are returning on the faces of the Milan faithful. There is hope, after all. Rejoicing aside, there are a few matters that the men in power must look into, if they intend to build Milan into being a force to reckon with in Europe.
1) Place faith in the coach
Milan hit the reboot button with Vincenzo Montella this summer. L'Aeroplanino, as Montella is fondly called, appeared to be biding his time at Sampdoria, while he waited for the call from Adriano Galliani. Montella arrived with the promise of ‘beautiful football’ on the agenda, a style of play he became associated with following his successful tenure at Fiorentina.
Milan have changed seven coaches since the UEFA Champions League triumph in Athens in 2007. Make that 8 coaches, if you were to count Mauro Tassoti’s brief stint as interim coach between 13 to 16 January 2014. This mindless shuffle distorted any sense of order within the club, frequently translating into a confused identity on the pitch. A team renowned for ‘champagne football’ became long-ball merchants capable of laugh-out-loud moments in defense.
Montella brings a clear footballing philosophy to the club, a distinct understanding of how football should be played. Moreover, he is a results-oriented man. He led Fiorentina to fourth-place finishes in the league in three consecutive seasons. No mean feat, that. La Viola had relative success in Europe by reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2014/15 and missed out on a trophy in 2014 by losing to Napoli in the Coppa Italia final.
Montella is undeniably capable of improving Milan’s footballing style along with meriting success along the way. However, in order for him to be effectual, he would require the necessary tools. A bunch of technically compromised players are unlikely to achieve the desired result. Patience is key, and the management must exercise the same with Montella, establishing a foundation for future success.