Milan are poised to leave their mediocre play behind after a victory over Fiorentina and the return of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Mario Balotelli.
AC Milan’s victory over Fiorentina could be a turning point for the club. Historically, the Rossoneri are soccer giants, and even a few years ago, the club had close Champions League games against the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal in the knockout rounds.
Milan are much more talented and complete than they get credit for. The club isn’t as crumbling as much as observers claim. Milan had enough money and appeal to sign a striker of Carlos Bacca’s quality over the summer, and youngsters like Davide Calabria and Gianluigi Donnarumma are cause for hope. Giacomo Bonaventura’s play as a fantasista is alone cause for hope. Looking at Milan’s roster, a very strong starting lineup can be easily put together, and there is even room for variation and player rotation.
If Milan use a 4-3-3 formation, then Kevin-Prince Boateng, Riccardo Montolivo, and Giacomo Bonaventura can start in the midfield, and that midfield is no joke even by the highest standards. Sinisa Mihajlovic has the option of starting an attacking trident of M’Baye Niang, Carlos Bacca, and Mario Balotelli, and those three would be a handful for the most elite of the world-class center backs.
Hypothetically, a Front Six like the one outlined above would cause problems for any squad, so already any talk of Milan being doomed to failure until more players can be signed is just not accurate.
Milan are 12 points back from Serie A leaders Napoli, but there is half of a season left to earn a Champions League spot. Surpassing Fiorentina and Roma can be the short term goal for Milan, and these two clubs are already within reach at 6 points and 3 point ahead respectively.
A stereotype about Serie A is that the league is all about defending and tactics, and Milan have the pieces for a strong defense. Along with Donnarumma in goal, Milan have four quality center backs in Alex, Cristian Zapata, Alessio Romagnoli, and Philippe Mexes. Mexes is a walking yellow card, but he’s a talented and experienced central defender. Alex and Romagnoli starting in the center of defense is likely Milan’s best option, and those two offer Milan a respectably central defense. Even though Alex is past his prime, Romagnoli is one of the best young central defenders in the world. Both Juventus and Inter Milan do have better defenses, but Milan is good enough to win a Champions League spot. With starting fullbacks Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio, Milan has quality in the center of the defense and on the flanks.
Writing off Milan for this season is a mistake, but Mihajlovic has plenty of work to do in improving Milan’s chemistry and organization. As soon as Boateng reaches 90-minute fitness, the Rossoneri will be a more formidable side, and Balotelli’s return to the Milan attack creates the exciting scenario of seeing Niang, Bacca, and Balotelli terrorizing opposition defenses together.