5 Reasons AC Milan Are Set to Move Up the Serie A Table
Following last week's 2-2 draw with Livorno in Tuscany, AC Milan sit in ninth place in the Serie A league table. Through 15 matches, positives have been few and far between, and the statistics are sobering. A goal difference of zero, and a now 14-point gap with third-place Napoli are but a handful of the signs that this has not been Milan's year to date.
However, there are some reasons for Milan fans to be optimistic. While a return to the Champions League looks increasingly difficult given the strength of the field in Italy (outside of a shock Champions League victory this year), there are many reasons why this Milan side looks a good bet to move up the table.
1) Mario Balotelli
1 of 5
Mario Balotelli is the key for AC Milan at present. His presence indisputably aided the side in their push to third place last year, with 12 goals in 13 matches in the league. It is important to note that after 15 rounds last year, Milan were in seventh place, behind teams like Inter, Roma and Lazio. Of course, they would not drop below seventh place after this time, yet it remains a point of hope for this years side, which finds themselves in a similar position.
After his exploits in the second half of the past Serie A season, Balotelli was being counted on to lead Milan's attack at the start of the new season. While he did not light up the scoreboards, he scored in three straight matches against Cagliari, Torino and Napoli. Unfortunately, in a moment of madness, he got himself banned for three matches following the Napoli match for dissent, and he failed to score again in Serie A until the match with Catania, a period of over two months.
Fortunately, he was able to score twice against Livorno, the second an absolute scorcher of a free kick, in addition to the Catania goal and his Champions League strike in Glasgow. Balotelli seemingly has found his form, and it is no coincidence that Milan have not lost since early November at Barcelona. Balotelli simply must stay on the field and perform consistently for Milan to break through this season.
2) Stephan El Shaarawy & Giampaolo Pazzini's Return
2 of 5
Milan welcomed back Stephan El Shaarawy against Catania, and with Pazzini returning to training, his return to the field will follow soon. Milan have desperately missed both, who combined to score 31 times in the league last season.
Unfortunately, with Alessandro Matri misfiring and Balotelli's uneven performances, there has been virtually nothing in the way of replacing that goal scoring output this year. El Shaarawy faded in the second half last year, yet still finished only behind Edinson Cavani and Antonio Di Natale in the scoring charts with 16 goals. Pazzini was not far behind with 15. Simply put, the lack of that production has left Milan toothless in attack far too often.
The great question remains whether El Shaarawy and Balotelli can coexist from a tactical perspective week in and week out, yet Max Allegri undoubtedly will find that a good headache to have, and will welcome El Shaarawy back with open arms.
Of course, following the Ajax match, it was revealed that El Shaarawy will be out of action until 2014 with a re-aggravation of his foot injury, leaving Milan with the worry that they may possibly have a redux of the Alexandre Pato situation. In all likelihood, however, El Shaarawy should return healthy for the second half of the season.
3 ) Reinforcements in January
3 of 5
The January arrivals of Adil Rami and Keisuke Honda will be of massive importance to Milan in a variety of ways. First and foremost, both are world-class players capable of staking roles in the starting 11 week in and week out.
Rami in particular, should stabilize a Milan defense that has been mediocre at best. Through the first 15 rounds of Serie A play, they have allowed 23 goals. In comparison, Juventus has allowed 10, Roma five, Napoli 17 and Inter 17. If Milan is to compete with these teams for a spot in the Champions League, they simply must be far stingier protecting their net.
It is no coincidence that Rami's presence at Valencia led to them having the best defense outside of Barcelona and Real Madrid just two years ago. Without him this year, Valencia has the 13th-best defense in Spain. His presence allows Milan to replace Philippe Mexes in the starting lineup, which has the dual effect of strengthening the starting 11 while simultaneously building up squad strength.
On the other hand, new number 10 Honda brings attacking flair to a team often far too unimaginative to break down opposing defenses. As with Rami, his arrival allows Milan to rest Kaká from time to time, ideally keeping the squad fresh as Max Allegri rotates his players.
Finally, the arrival of these two takes on added significance as Milan may struggle to sign top-class talent they would normally have little trouble securing over the summer transfer window if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. As such, it is especially vital that they sign players who can aid the team in both the short- and long-term as they build towards relevance in the league and Europe again.
4) Kaká
4 of 5
Kaká has been in sparkling form for Milan this year, playing a huge role in their progression in the Champions League and also in keeping them afloat in the Serie A standings. His return to Milan has, perhaps not coincidentally, revived his career following four injury-plagued campaigns with Real Madrid.
It is of vital importance that he remain fresh and firing for the second half of the year, given the inconsistency of the attack around him. With all due to respect to the likes of Valter Birsa and Sulley Muntari, Milan's options around Kaká in midfield are underwhelming at present.
Honda's arrival from CSKA Moscow helps immensely in this regard, and it will be up to him and Kaká to help jump-start the attack and keep Milan competitive on a weekly basis. If these two can build up a cohesion with Balotelli, El Shaarawy and Pazzini up front, Milan undoubtedly will have the personnel to have a world-class attack.
5) Mattia De Sciglio
5 of 5
De Sciglio clearly has the potential to be great, sometimes even being called the heir to Paolo Maldini. While that tag is certainly unfair for any 21-year-old, De Sciglio possesses top-class talent and has the capability to be a fixture in this Milan side for years to come.
His return from injury against Livorno and Ajax could not have come at a better time given Ignazio Abate's injury woes, and his form stands to improve as he regains his match fitness. A Milan side with Abate and De Sciglio as the full-backs is miles ahead of one with Kevin Constant and Daniele Bonera, two players who have performed admirably, but lack the quality needed to boost Milan past teams like Fiorentina and Inter in the standings.
With what will hopefully be an injury-free return to the side, De Sciglio allows Milan to trot out a defensive line of him, Rami, Zapata/Mexes and Abate come January. With such a defense, Milan will undoubtedly be in far better position in Italy and in the knockout stages of the Champions League to string together a good run of results.
