The Rossoneri Slump

There's nothing like an Italian vendetta to exact sweet revenge, especially when it involves football. In the 2007 Champions League final an aging, yet domineering AC Milan squad beat the comeback kings Liverpool, who just two years earlier came back from 3-0 down against Milan. When the Milan players exacted their revenge on Liverpool that night they had one of the most impressive squads in Europe. Such talents like Gattuso, Inzaghi and Cafu were comparable to the successful Milan squad from the 90s under former coaches Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello. However, today that cunning and ruthless AC Milan side is no more as a worn out and mid table Rossoneri team is a far distant memory from the glory days. When comparing the two Milan sides from seven years ago to today, one can see just how faded these once contenders have become. Legends in defense like Paolo Maldini (considered the god of defending) and Alessandro Nesta once made Milan the most impenetrable back line in the world. Since their retirement Milan hasn't filled the gap in the back line with the team currently in 12th place regarding goals against in the Serie A. The team's main issue in defense is poor marking topped with too few players tracking back to mark the opposition. Call it lazy, but the truth is the team just isn't focused. If Milan want to climb back up the Serie A table then they need to first fix these issues through more discipline from the coaching staff. Still, with the departure of Massimiliano Allegri and arrival of former player Clarence Seedorf as manager the Rossoneri have taken on a major gamble. Seedorf was part of that vendetta squad seven years ago, but today he is faced with a team that can barely slice through a team like Hellas Verona. Owner Silvio Berlusconi (pimp, corrupter and by the way former Italian Prime Minister) has invested his fortune into the club throughout the years, but his recent legal battles have forced him to put the team to the side, which is why the current team looks like a group of washed up former talents. There's an aging out of his prime Kaka (also part of the vendetta squad) back from his spell at Real Madrid, where he did an exceptional job warming up the bench. Alongside is another faded Brazilian in Robinho, who just couldn't live up to his expectations at Manchester City and Real Madrid, so Milan is also no exception. The list goes on especially with the Italian contingent as the team recently got rid of unproductive Antonio Nocerino, who will try his trade as a Hammer. However, the biggest impact on Milan's form in attack are Stephen El Shaarawy and Super Mario Balotelli. With the former being injured and the latter being the circus show we all know entertains, but doesn't put forth enough effort, it's no surprise that Milan are currently in a slump. Beyond reorganizing the back line and whipping the mid into pushing back to defend and still create up top, the team also has its work cut out for them behind the scenes. The once mighty Milan Lab, where the latest technologies were used to measure player performance and bring up the young talents from the San Siro, has lost its endless funding and momentum. To compete with Europe's elite the heads of the club need to reinvest in the team's youth while still bringing in already proven talent. In general, the team need a new goal poacher or leader apart from Montelivo, who will inspire like when Shevchenko or Pirlo lit up the pitch for Milan back in the day. Seedorf might instill a new sense of understanding between himself and Balotelli, but the Italian is just a fuse waiting to blow that will never be the right type of influence the team so desperately need. My advice is to let the transfer rumors become reality and have Balotelli  reunite with Mourinho at Chelsea that way the team can refocus their strict model of discipline under a new star player. The addition of Michael Essien is a positive one as he is a proven force that will surely do more then Nocerino, but the key success in the mid is for new arrival Keisuke Honda to find his free kick form as he did at former club CSKA Moscow. Right now, I put Milan in the same boat as Manchester United. Both teams have failed to truly contend for their respective league titles, so the Champions League along with the Coppa Italia are the only tournaments left to win trophies. Still, what better way to exact revenge on the Italian media and all the doubters by being European champions like in the Rossoneri's glory days.