Calcio Debate: Can Milan Finish In The Top Four In Serie A?
Milan are languishing half way down the table and have a fixture list from hell heading their way. Gil Gillespie wonders if the most successful European club of recent times can do the impossible and avoid the unthinkable - not qualifying for next seasons’ Champions League.
The world and European champions are standing at the bottom of a mountain, looking up. Unless Milan can embark on a rapid ascent up the Serie A table, they are unlikely to finish in the top four and will miss out on Champions League qualification. Unless, of course, they lift the trophy for the second consecutive season, something they have already achieved in 1989 and 1990.
As things stand in Serie A, Milan lie in 12th position, 25 points behind leaders Inter and 11 points behind Udinese, who are currently occupying the fourth Champions League spot. Although the Rossoneri have three games in hand, the games from now until the end of the season come thick and fast.
The question facing Ancelotti and his players is do they concentrate on winning the Champions League or do everything in their powers to finish in the top four in Serie A?
The answer, of course, is they will try to do both. But their main aim has to be finishing in the top four in the league. It is a daunting task.
Carlo Ancelotti explains: “Our minimum objective in the league is that of obtaining the fourth place, whereas the main objective remains that of repeating ourselves in the Champions League."
The club's Serie A situation should all become much clearer in the next couple of weeks when they face two crucial fixtures that could effectively define their domestic season.
This weekend they travel north to the Stadio Friuli to play high-flying Udinese. Then on February 3 they travel to Florence for one of the toughest games on the Serie A calendar. If they lose either or both of these, a top four finish could become just about out of reach. They also have away games against Roma, Juve and Napoli to come, as well as the second Milan derby of the season against an apparently invincible Inter.
But before anyone condemns Milan to a dogfight for a disappointing UEFA Cup place, they should take into account the Pato factor.
Okay, the 18-year-old Brazilian has only played one game for his new club so far and it's important for the sake of the kid and the sake of the club that no-one gets too carried away. And yet his very presence in the starting line seems to have galvanised the team and given them back the same air of irresistible forward-thinking supremacy they showed when they destroyed Manchester United last season.
Suddenly, even the creakiest of Milanese legs have developed a whole new spring in their stride.
The key to Milan's success or failure could be whether they can maintain this level of rejuvenation if, or more likely when, Ronaldo gets injured again.
Granted, the buck-toothed legend is still a tad overweight and moves at about half the speed he used to but as he demonstrated in the 5-2 win over Napoli, there aren't many strikers in the world who can match his deadly eye for goal.
But can Ancelotti's side maintain the same level of ultra-confident attacking dynamism with Gilardino or Inzaghi up front instead of Ronaldo? Maybe. It's about time Gilardino finally delivered for the Rossoneri. He certainly has the ability.
Then there's Kaka. The best player in the world could be about to get better now he has someone to play alongside him who is quite possibly as skilful as he is. Kaka could benefit from the Pato factor more than anyone else.
Alessandro Nesta summed up what will be the Milan philosophy from now until the end of the season. "Our aim is to win as many matches in a row as possible and go on a positive run".
If they are going to make it into the top four by the end of the season, Milan need to win, win and win again. Perhaps more than anything else, they need to find some momentum if they are going to mount an unlikely climb to the summit, or at least the base camp, of Serie A.
Otherwise, they'll have to do it the even harder way and climb the Everest that is the Champions League again.
What do you think? Can Milan turn their domestic season around and get themselves into the top four? Or are they doomed to spend next season out of the European competition they’ve made their own?
Gil Gillespie
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