It has been an incredibly stressful task watching AC Milan this season. Yes I already had low expectations following their mediocre pre-season performances and their below par transfer activity, but when you see a once great team unraveling in front of your own eyes it's just something else.
Milan started the week with a home game against Bari, a club rumored to be worth around 30 Million Euros on the verge of a takeover. Yes half the price of Kaka'. You can buy his right side only, or maybe two thighs worth, or just the left leg of Ronaldo...you get the picture.
It was supposed to be a routine victory for Milan, playing at home against a newly promoted team even if Bari were punching above their weight recently. It was not to be. Giampiero Ventura's team outplayed Milan for most of the game. The quartet of Rivas, Barreto, Alvarez and Kutosov dominated the game and caused havoc on the counter attack forcing Storari to make a string of excellent saves. I found myself thinking that these four players might be useful for Milan to acquire, one of whom is a Milan reject. How times have changed I thought. Rivas however is a true gem. The 26 year old Argentine was phenomenal. He combined pace and flair to a fantastic effect. Although lacking a bit when it comes to finishing he has the ability to dribble past anyone. Just ask Gattuso....Abate and Nesta. He tormented the Milan defense until he ran out of steam and was substituted. Milan could do well by looking to Rivas come the end of season especially since he has what they are lacking in abundance, Pace. A 0-0 draw was flattering for Milan and on another day could have lost by 1 or 2 goals. The fans understood that and rightly applauded Bari.
Milan did not create any clear cut chances this game and frankly depending on Ronaldinho for the rest of the season is suicide. He is now officially in my opinion a has been. He always looks for the extravagant or the dribble, it used to work for him at Barca when he was focused and in shape, not so now. His attitude also rubbed me the wrong way. Every single tackle against him he fell to the ground smiling and complaining to the referee. It seems Ronnie has forgotten that we are not playing "Touch" football, but a game for men where tackling was allowed. Either he shapes up or we should let go of him, maybe Man City are still interested? How we could have used Gourcuff now...sigh.
Another disturbing thing was Leonardo. I was always making excuses for him due to his lack of experience and how he inherited an old lack luster team, but come one this is Milan. It's a team that has Nesta, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Pirlo, Pato, Inzaghi and Ronaldinho. Some of them maybe a bit old and past their prime. They maybe not strong enough to win the Scudetto, but they are more than capable of dispatching teams like Bari (no offense to Bari, they are a very good team on the rise and whom I will be supporting next to Milan this season). Leonardo has failed to utilize his team in any way and tactically they are lacking. During the Bari game he failed to turn the game around for 90minutes. Watching Milan you tend to feel that nothing is happening, tactically that is. Huntelaar has not got a goal scoring chance since he has arrived and yet he is blamed for not scoring. Leonardo is not up to par. He again proved how clueless he is against FC Zurich.
AC Milan lost to FC Zurich by 1 goal to nil at the San Siro. They failed to turn the game around for 80minutes. Leonardo again watched as any spectator. Yes they were better than the Bari game but FC Zurich is a weaker team than Bari. Milan did create chances but so did Zurich. Arguably Milan deserved at least a point from the game. I can't believe I wrote the last sentence. Milan deserved a point at home versus an unknown team? these are sad times indeed for all Rossonero fans. Milan now face elimination from the Champions League group stage. They will face the unstoppable Real Madrid in the next two rounds and realistically I don't see us grabbing a single point from those games. Madrid have a better squad and a much better coach. Leonardo must up his game or leave. He has inherited a somewhat weakened squad but this is no excuse to turn Milan into a mockery. I'm dreading facing Ronaldo and co. , but still I keep the faith. Forza Milan
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