How Would the Current AC Milan Side Fare in Champions League This Season?

If Milan were in the Champions League this season, they would've most likely gotten out of the group stage, only to get pummeled by a true contender in the knockout stages. 

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Since the Champions League isn't a certainty for Milan even next season with the way things are going for them in Serie A, let's have a bit of fun and wonder how the situation could've been this season for them in the Champions League.

This season was all about which group you'd be pitted into. By my count, Milan would've been in pot two had they qualified for a European position last season and things could've actually gotten a bit interesting.

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For example, they could've been alongside Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and BATE, which could have been a very winnable group for Filippo Inzaghi's men.

It's hard to argue that the Rossoneri had a better squad last season than the one we've seen in this recent campaign, yet that unit got out of a Champions League group that included Barcelona, only to go on and face Atletico Madrid, a team that surprised everybody by winning La Liga and reaching the European final.

This season, the Rossoneri could cause plenty of problems to a host of sides in Europe with their quick attack. With Stephan El Shaarawy and Jeremy Menez having plenty of pace, a counter-attacking style could have success if they were bogged down by better opposition.

The biggest problem would've been the defense. For a unit that has even allowed Manuel Pucciarelli to look like Rui Costa against them, just imagine the performance against a team like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. It could very quickly turn into an embarrassing blowout.

Milan fans have had a tough time getting accustomed to new expectations. For a side that went to three Champions League finals in the 2000s, witnessing the current drop is something that most Milanisti are simply not used to.

Milan actually managed to get out of the group stage in the previous three editions of the tournament under the much maligned Massimiliano Allegri, and it would be interesting to see how Filippo Inzaghi would do pitted against some of Europe's premier sides, ones he used to feast on himself as a player.

It's a completely different game for Inzaghi to coach in the Champions League, as tactics need to be perfected and often times it becomes the true showing of a mastermind coach. 

The Rossoneri have been able to ride the fan support from a packed San Siro in recent seasons during European encounters.

The atmosphere there during Champions League nights is enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine, and it often acted like the 12th man during the last few seasons as the squad has become increasingly modest and expectations needed to be lowered.

The only time we've seen the San Siro close to that level this season has been during Milan's games against Juventus and then Inter in the famed Derby della Madonnina.

Milan needs plenty of new signings to not only be able to get back into the Champions League, but to actually compete. As it stands, this would be a side that could have the odd great game at home but ultimately wouldn't be able to go through against Europe's new big boys in a knockout competition.