Rosseneri Recapture: How can AC Milan reclaim their throne?

Seven European cups, 18 Scuddetos, five Coppa Italias, AC Milan are one of the biggest club sides in the world, a dominating powerhouse of football – with some of the biggest names in the game having pulled on the famous red and black stripes.

During this current decade, however, it has been a very different Milan side taking to the pitch at the San Siro. No league title since 2011, and no Champions League qualification since 2013. The state of AC Milan was at its lowest since the match-fixing scandal of 2006, but things appeared to take a turn for the better.

Chinese investors purchased 99.93% of AC Milan – €520million – as well as the refurbishment of financial debt, totalling €220million. And from here, Milan kicked on, and over the course of the 2017 summer transfer window they spent £175 million on new players; spending more money then any other Italian side and the total was only topped across Europe by Paris Saint-Germain.

Italian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, highly sort after full-back Ricardo Rodriguez and a forward with the world at his feet in Andre Silva; Milan had strengthened massively. Manager Vincento Montella had a huge selection of new players to improve his side throughout and potentially push for the title. After two wins from their first two games, however, Milan fell 4-1 to Lazio and since then it’s been nothing short of underwhelming from big spending AC Milan. Just 12 points from their first seven games places Milan in seventh position – nine points from the top.

After the huge investment, Milan have failed to capture the imagination of their fans. How has it gone so wrong? And what can be done to bring the famous red half of Milan back to providence?

Milan’s £175 million went on 11 new players this summer, with the majority expecting first-team football. This immediately presented a problem for Montella as he now faced the task of fitting the new additions into his system in a very short space of time.

This may be one of the nicer problems for a manager to have, but that doesn’t change the fact that it can take time for players to adapt to a new team, and a new league entirely for a number of the signings. Spurs proved that in 2013 when they spent the world-record fee they received for Gareth Bale on seven new players, only two of which are still at the club after the other five failed to settle in at White Hart Lane.

The Italian way of defending is long gone for AC Milan, who have registered just two clean sheets from their first seven league games – conceding ten goals in this time. This comes after assembling an almost entirely new defence in the summer.

So far in this campaign Milan have deployed a three centre-back system, with Fabio Borini and Ricardo Rodriguez acting as wing backs. Neither Borini or Rodriguez are natural wing-backs, with lung-busting pace who can get up and down the flanks. A very solid full-back Rodriguez proved to be during his time in Germany; but rarely an attacking one. Borini on the other hand – a striker by trade, often used as a wide midfielder, being played as a wing-back is just asking for trouble – an example of where the man in charge has got his tactics completely wrong.

Transitioning from defence into attack, and once again Milan’s huge investments failing to pay off. Hakan Çalhanoğlu signed for £20million, seen by many as a bargain for a midfielder with bags of potential. Playing mainly as one of three central midfielders, the Turk is not having the impact on the game you would expect to see.

Ahead of Çalhanoğlu is Portuguese forward Andre Silva; after picking up a knock at the start of the season, manager Montella has been hesitant to play the young striker, causing the Milan fans to question the decision-making. When Silva has played, however – despite being prolific in Europe and on the international stage – in his first two league outings, he has struggled to get into the game. Managing only three shots across the two games and failing to score.

Wide man Suso has been Milan’s shining light so far – with two goals and two assists. The Spaniard, however, found himself out of the team for Milan’s 2-0 home defeat to Roma, in place of another of the new signings. A very questionable decision by the manager, and one that has cost his side. Much like the decision to deploy two non-wing-backs as wing-backs, Vincenzo Montella has a lot to answer for.

Despite spending huge amounts of money in the summer, Milan look no better now then they did 12 months ago. This time last year Milan sat third in the table – just two points behind leaders Juventus.

Milan had conceded 11 league goals at the close of October, last season, but coming into October this time, they’ve already let in 10 goals; the defence may have improved on paper, but not in practice. They have the players, they have the financial backing but there is still something missing. The answer could be, not the personnel coming in, but one man in particular going out.

Vincenzo Montella has his tactics all wrong this season, right from the very first game. Particularity defensively, the insistence on playing the new signings appears to have cost Milan. Before a relationship was built between defenders – Bonucci, Rodriguez, Musacchio and Borini were all thrown in; and have been almost ever present since – a rotating fifth defender comes in and Milan look a mess at the back against the bigger sides, with Roma, Lazio and Sampdoria all finding it far too easy to infiltrate Milan’s back line.

So Montella’s tactics have cost his side, a change has to be made if Milan are to take advantage of the situation they find themselves in. All the money in the world and a squad full of talent, who can be trusted to handle it? A Milan legend.

Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian is the only manager in history to win three UEFA Champions Leagues – two of which were during his previous stint at the San Siro. Recently fired by Bayern Munich, the rumours are already flying. Ancelotti to Milan, one of the most successful managers in Milan’s history, coming in to lead the side to glory.

The Italian giants have already reportedly made contact with Ancelotti, and both the man himself and Vincent Montella have commented on the potential return. Montella joked in a press conference that the three-time European champion could be his No.2 at Milan; while Carlo mentioned a job share.

No official comment has been made from either party, with the board appearing to have Montella’s full backing. But as the pressure continues to grow on the man in charge, it could be a case of no smoke without fire.

A lot needs to be done to save Milan’s season already, but there are very few managers in world football with a track record like Ancelotti’s. A new manager is often what a side needs to find their form. History tells us major shift in surroundings often allows players to find an extra gear. With a man like Carlo Ancelotti at the helm for any club, success is almost a given. Taking back over at the club where he achieved his greatest successes as a manager, it is almost too good to be true.

Summer 2017 - Highlights so far of the craziest transfer window in history.

This years summer transfer window has seen an incredible amount of money spent so far. In the Premier League alone over half a billion pounds has been spent by the time of writing this, with last summers total finishing at £1.165 billion on 31st August 2016, it is looking incredibly likely we will have a new record for a transfer window in terms of spending. Now with the likes of Jordan Pickford signing for Everton for £30 million and Kyle Walker signing for Manchester City for upwards of £50 million it is easy to see how the figure has grown to such a large amount. But what are the highlights? We've seen some questionable spending so far, as well as some head turning deals including Dani Alves snubbing Manchester City in favour of a move to PSG. I'm now going to look into the main talking points from the summer transfer window 2017 so far.

James Rodriguez to Bayern Munich. (2 year loan with an option to buy.)

Perhaps a bit controversially I'm starting this piece on the summer transfer window with a loan move. However it isn't your typical loan, this isn't the young English striker going to the Championship to get some game time, this is the young man who won the 2014 World Cup golden boot despite being knocked out in the Quarter finals. The winner of the FIFA Puskas award from the same year. The man who Real Madrid paid approximately 80 million Euros to bring in. James Rodriguez. Now, the Columbia captain has been in and out of the Real Madrid side for the past couple of seasons, and has slipped behind Isco in the pecking order of the European champions. James only started 13 league games last season, coming off of the bench on 9 occasions. Despite this he managed to be involve in 14 league goals, scoring 8 goals and providing 6 assists, an example of the impact he can have when given the time. What makes this deal so ludicrous is the fact, that after paying a 5 million euro loan fee, Bayern have the option to sign Rodriguez for just £35 million. Less then half what was paid for him by Madrid just three years ago. And despite falling from the first team in the Spanish capital the Colombian attacking midfielder still has bags of potential. At just 26, he is coming into his prime, and under the coaching of Carlo Ancelotti I can see James proving to be the player we all know he can be. He was tipped as a future Balon D'or winner three years ago, the man is world class and a steal for Bayern Munich! Bayern already walk to the German title every year but where they want and need to be is competing for the title of champions of Europe. Since winning the Champions League in 2013, they have been unsuccessful at the Semi-Final stage every year since. Rodriguez has now been a part of two Champions League winning campaigns with parent club Real Madrid and that winning pedigree in Europe could be what Bayern need to prove that they are the best club side on the planet. Bayern's new number eleven is a truly world class player and I say with 100% certainty that he is going to set the world alight in Germany, Go back and watch his volley from the 2014 World Cup against Uruguay and remember the commentary. My word this boy's a star.

Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United. (£75 million + add ons)

From a deal which has cost virtually nothing to one which is the fifth largest in football history. The Belgian striker's move from Everton was pretty much a certainty when the Premier League season ended, but not many people would have predicted Lukaku returning to former manager Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese man was in charge of Chelsea during Lukaku's spell at the club, and it was Jose himself that saw him as surplus to requirements. However after impressing for the blue half of Merseyside during his time there, the big Belgian is Manchester United's newest number 9. With reported add ons and Wayne Rooney moving in the other direction also being part of the deal, the total transfer cost reaches an incredible £100million, and as it looks unlikely any club will spend more on one player this summer, for the second year in a row Jose will have out spent the rest of his challengers. However £75million on any player would always come under scrutiny, and with a lot of people claiming that the Belgian forward is not the finished article yet, maybe you have to question the decision making. When put one on one with any keeper, Lukaku is always the clear favourite and with his incredible strength and speed he is a constant threat. However his big criticism for years has been his first touch, and his ability to hold up the play. In a recent piece with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, the Englishman said that if he was to defend against Lukaku, he'd just give him a yard of space, banking on a loose touch from the attacker and then clear. This rings remarkably true with Romelu who was guilty on plenty of occasions last season of giving the ball away cheaply. His ability, or lack of, to hold up the play rarely effected situations at Everton last season. In the league he scored 20 more goals then his side's second top scorer, he was the constant and only real outlet. But United have the likes of Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, all of which who will be expecting Lukaku to use his size to hold up the ball and to bring them into the game, in a similar vain to how Zlatan did last season. Is it right to spend so much money on a player who may limit your style of play? Only time will tell how this deal will work out, Lukaku has been tipped for greatness from a very young age, everyone knows just how good he can be, and very importantly so does he. The Belgian knows he belongs in a top side, and being in Europe with Manchester United is a real opportunity to show the world what he can really do.

Leonardo Bonucci to AC Milan. (£35 million)

Now this one caught me, you and the entire footballing world off guard. The Italian defender is arguably the best in world football. Playing in arguably the best defence in world football at Italian champions Juventus and is being heavily tipped for a move to English champions Chelsea and former Italian National team coach Antonio Conte. So where on earth did this come from? Bonucci has officially signed for AC Milan, a side which isn't even featuring in Europe's top competition for the upcoming season. Now it is known that Bonucci and Juventus manager Allegri had a major falling out last season, which saw the Italian being dropped for a league game against Palmero, so it is understandable as to why he would leave. But to AC Milan? The 7 time European champions have been on an incredible decline for much of this decade and I'm sure would not even be considered by many of the worlds top players at this point in time. However, with the signing of Bonucci, Milan have taken their summer spending over the £100million mark, with the likes of Ricardo Rodriguez and Hakan Calhanoglu both coming in from Germany. The contract will keep Leonardo at the Milan club for 5 years, and alongside the other new recruits coming to the San Siro, maybe we could see the resurrection of AC Milan in the coming years. Not much more is known about the deal as it all came out of no where, but one thing is for sure, what a move by AC Milan. He is set to have his medical over the coming weekend but it all seems like a formality now. Coming from a Liverpool fan, a club with a big history involving AC Milan it would be a welcomed return to the top table of world football for the club, who last won the Champions League in 2007 and are still the second most successful side in the history of top level European competition.

Mohamed Salah to Liverpool. (£36 million)

The Egyptian Mo Salah is getting his second opportunity to show the Premier League what he can do after a poor showing during his all too brief time at Chelsea. However since becoming Liverpool's record signing, the potential of things to come is getting the fans excited. His stats from last season speak for themselves, the winger scored 15 and created 11 in 31 league games while playing in Italy's Calcio 'A' for Roma, beating massively hyped Argentine and Juventus youngster Paulo Dybala on both counts while he played for champions Juventus. His lighting pace and play style is very similar to that of Sadio Mane, the Senegalese winger proved to be an incredible signing for the red's last season and I'm sure they're hoping for more of the same from their newest addition. However, bringing Salah into the team is only half the story, the other being how it will effect the rest of the side. Salah has been given the number 11 shirt, with it's former owner Roberto Firmino made Liverpool's newest number 9, making it more clear that he will be the number one striker for the club in the coming season. Firmino impressed massively last season but only managed 11 league goals, a fact which was made more telling whenever either Mane or Philippe Coutinho didn't play, both of whom out scored the Brazilian, with 13 league goals each. The pressure was on Firmino to be an out and out striker which he simply isn't, he is no slouch in front of goal but will never be a 20 goal a season centre forward. This is where Salah comes into play. What Firmino does better then any other striker in the league in my opinion is the 'dirty work', closing down defenders, forcing mistakes and creating opportunities for his team mates. Liverpool looked unplayable with Mane, Coutinho and Firmino all playing, and with Salah in there as another outlet it takes more pressure off of Firmino to be the star striker, and he can focus on the main plus points of his game. Roberto will still score goals, but his running, chances created and assists will be where his quality is shown next season. Also with the addition of Salah into the side, Jurgen Klopp no longer has to restrict Coutinho to a wide position and he can instead play the Brazilian midfielder in his preferred number 10 role, one he plays as good as anyone in the world. In the last two games of the previous season the little magician returned to the position and put in a man of the match performances in both, scoring three goals. Inside he is given more space to roam, and more of the pitch to work with. Also with the additional movement coming from Salah, he can fully utilise his incredible range of passing. And finally just imagine the look of fear on a defenders face when they're closing down a loose ball against either Sadio Mane or Mo Salah. The pace of both men is frightening and Liverpool will have it coming from both flanks, the options going forward for the club is endless. If they play the rest of this window smart, improve at the back and add much needed squad depth, we could see potential title challengers.

Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal (£52 million + add ons)

Much like Bonucci this is a signing I didn't see coming, not because I didn't think the Frenchman would leave Lyon, but because of his choice of clubs. Lacazette fired in 28 league goals in 28 league games last season, and he almost single handedly got Lyon to the Europa League Semi-Finals. Before Atletico Madrid were handed a transfer ban at the start of the summer it looked as if the striker was on his way to Spain, however that deal obviously never came to be, but why Arsenal? The London club aren't even in the Champions League next season, and you'd think as Alexandre is one of Europe's top strikers he'd want to play amongst Europe's best sides and I'm sure very few teams would have turned him down. Lacazette has however said on record how long he's relished the idea of playing in England for, and living in London may have played a big part in his decision making as it does with many other players. What is also very big about this deal is it shows intent from Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. With star Alexis Sanchez reportedly on his way out as he is unhappy with the direction of the club, maybe this move might persuade him, and team mate Mesut Ozil, to stay for a while longer. On the flip side however, where does this move leave Alexis? Over the last twelve months the Chilean attacker has been moving in and out of the centre forward position, a position he claims to prefer. Lacazette will have been brought in to add goals to Arsenal and to fire them back into the Champions League, meaning Sanchez is likely to be back playing out wide, will he be happy about that? Especially after 'carrying' the side through a lot of last season. It is however no doubt a brilliant bit of business by Arsenal, bringing in a world class striker, something the fans have been crying out for, for years! It shows intent to not only the fans and the players, but also to the other Premier League sides, Lacazette is a big threat, and much like Liverpool, if the rest of the window goes in their favour, Arsenal could be in a very strong position for next season.

Antonio Rudiger to Chelsea (£34 million)

Shocking announcement video aside (Look it up, it really is that bad! So bad I'm asking you to go and watch it before reading on!) Rudiger signing could be the best 'under the radar' deal we will see in the Premier League this summer. Antonio Conte's Chelsea won the title last season based on a solid defence, and the adjective solid is perfect to describe his new German centre back. The now former Roma defender featured in 4 of Germany's 5 Confederation cup games, including the 1-0 win in the final, a game in which he kept Alexis Sanchez very quiet. After Chelsea had been linked with Bonucci for such a long time, the deal to bring in Rudiger came sort of out of no where, but one that makes perfect sense. The German played in 41 games in all competitions last season for Roma and Germany, demonstrating his incredible resilience, and throughout those games he stared as he played a key part in 14 league clean sheets. With Chelsea back in the Champions League next season the games are going to be coming thick and fast, and having a player like Rudiger who you can rely on to play each and every game you need him to play without signing signs of fatigue is invaluable. Possibly the least exciting of the signings I have mentioned so far today but also possibly the most effective. Just when you thought Chelsea's incredible defence couldn't get any stronger, they go an sign one of the best young defenders in Europe. At just 24 years old he has so much more room to grow, and under the guidance of his name sake Antonio Conte I feel the German centre back will prove his transfer fee to be pennies!

With over a month and a half of the transfer window yet to take place, there are a lot more potentially big deals to happen, including the rumoured signing of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig to Liverpool for an incredible £70 million. Juventus potentially losing another incredible defender in the form of Alex Sandro to Chelsea, and with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang's future still very much up in the air, there is still a lot of news to be made and a lot of money to be spent. It's getting to the point where money in football is meaningless, with every transfer a bit more crazy then the last, it should make for a pretty incredible upcoming season and I for one can't wait!

Champions League Final 2017 - Juventus vs Real Madrid.

This years UEFA Champions League final is one guaranteed to make history. Juventus, one of Europe's biggest sides, are chasing their first European title since 1996. And Real Madrid, the 11 time winners, are looking to become the first side in the Champions League era to retain the title of champions of Europe. Both sides have had very successful domestic campaigns so far. At the time of writing this Madrid need four more points to guarantee the Spanish title, and Juventus need to win just one of their remaining two games to win their sixth consecutive Scudetto.

Two true giants of European football will go head to head in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on June 3rd. This will be the 19th time the two sides have met in Europe, and with 8 wins a piece, so far there is no separating the Italian and the Spanish sides. The last time they met was in the semi-finals of the 2014-2015 Champions League, with then former Madrid striker Alvaro Morata staring and scoring in both the home 2-1 win and in the following 1-1 draw in Madrid, booking Juventus's place in that years final where they eventually lost to Barcelona. In fact, in recent history, Italy's most successful club have had the beating of Real. Winning 3 out of the 4 knock out ties since the year 2000, Juventus have proved difficult for Madrid to overcome. However when head to head record in the same time frame is looked at, Juventus have only a slight lead with 5 wins to Madrid's 4, and as a one of game is how the final in Cardiff will be decided, we could be in for a very close affair

The Champions League final is, without a doubt, the biggest and most prestigious club game of the season, and requires players who know how to shine when the pressure is at it's highest. Real Madrid have dominated this competition as of late, winning two of the last three Champions League's and with this being their third final in four years. In fact Real have played in five finals since Juventus were last crowned champions, and the Spanish giants have a 100% record in those matches, which includes a 1-0 victory against their upcoming opponents in 1998. Now Juventus have reached a very impressive four finals since 1996, however they have the exact opposite record to Madrid with a 0% success rate in those finals. In the big games Real step while Juve seem to struggle, the Old Lady have also only scored two goals across those games. Including the original iteration of the European cup Juventus have reached 7 finals, only winning two, where as Real have won 11 out of their 13 finals in European cup history, the most final appearances of any side.

History might put the ball firmly in Real's court, however despite history showing Juventus struggle on the biggest stage, this Juventus side might be the closest to the great side of 1996. Alessandro Del Piero, Fabrizio Ravanelli and current Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane just to name a few, the side that won Juventus's last European cup was littered with quality. However, while brought force and incredible attacking prowess won that competition, this years Juventus side have played with a style based on a rock solid defence. Leading into the final Juve have conceded just three goals throughout their campaign, with only one of those goals being scored from open play. With the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Mehdi Benatia, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro, Dani Alves and Daniele Rugani amongst others, Massimoiliano Allegri has had the opportunity to rotate his defence at his leisure without risking a drop in quality. The has been however the three Italians at the back, Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli that have played the majority of the games and proven to truly be an almost immovable object. This incredible defence will however, like any, be beaten. But in this position Juventus are as assured as any side that they will be able to keep the ball out with veteran Italian Buffon between the sticks. Italy's record appearance maker Buffon has been an ever present in the side for over a decade and has this season, proved that like a fine wine he has only gotten better with age. At the age of 39 the Italian is yet to decide when he will hang up the gloves, much to the joy of the Juventus fans, and fans of world football. Gianluigi is a true great and by adding a Champions League winners medal to his extensive collection, he could be considered the greatest goalkeeper of all time, that's if you really need any more clarification.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Need I say any more? Any side with the three Ballon D'or winner amongst their ranks will always cause problems going forward. Today, 14th May 2017, Real Madrid brushed aside Seville 4-1 in the league, and surpassed two goal scoring milestones in the process. As well as Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 400th goal for the club in just his 391st game, Zidane's side scored for the 62 consecutive match, a European record, surpassing Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich side from 2014. In all competitions five Real Madrid first team players have reached double figures for goals this season, and they have had an incredible 19 different goal scorers. When you look at their opponents in June, Juve have only two goalscorers on double figures. The likes of, of course, Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez, Isco (who is in a very rich vain of form at present), Former Juventus striker Morata and Garath Bale, Real have, much like Juventus have in defence, an incredible roster of attackers to call upon. And then you have Sergio Ramos. The man who would lift the famous trophy should Madrid be successful has a history of scoring big goals, including a stoppage time equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final. The Spanish centre back has 10 goals this season, a very impressive return for any non striker, let alone from a defender. If there is anyone who was going to trouble Allegri's defence in the air, it's this man. Then the case of personal pride slips in. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi. The biggest question in football and one which divides opinion like no other. Ronaldo is currently one goal behind Messi in the race for the golden boot in this years competition. Despite Messi's Barcelona being knocked out by Juventus in the Quarter finals, Ronaldo is yet to reach the Argentine's tally of 11 with Ronaldo still on 10 and you know that will be in the back of his mind on the night, for better or for worse.

Both teams involved in the final have two league games remaining, and both sides have the league title firmly within their grasps. Juventus need, as I previously mentioned, just one win to secure the Scudetto, where as Madrid need at least one win and one draw to pip Barcelona to the honour of Spanish champions. Juventus also have the matter of the Coppa Italia to deal with, on the 17th they will face off against Lazio for the first of what could be an historic treble for Juventus. Not only do they have one game more then Madrid in the build up to the final, Juventus's season runs for another week after Madrid's end, giving Real a week's advantage in terms of rest and recovery ahead of the game in Cardiff. Maybe however, this favours Juve as it will allow them to hold onto any momentum they create ahead of the showdown with Madrid. Should Juve win the domestic double ahead of the final, they have just 6 days to wait before playing to complete the treble, compared to Real who don't have a competitive game for over two weeks leading into the game in the Millennium Stadium. Neither side can risk resting their top players during the remainder of their respective run ins, and I'm sure both sets of players will have an eye firmly set on Europe's biggest fixture until the day itself.

Attack vs defence. Real Madrid vs Juventus. Spain vs Italy. We could see the Spanish champions vs Italian champions. The two best sides in their respective countries facing off against each other, this is exactly what the UEFA Champions League is for. It really is too close to call and we could be in for a classic, brute force vs tactical class.