Filippo Inzaghi or Silvio Berlusconi: Who Is to Blame for AC Milan's Problems?

Make no mistake: Silvio Berlusconi is the main culprit of AC Milan's demise.

He found the club broken and trophy-less in the 1980s and saved it. That's exactly how any new owner would find it now.

You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the victim.

Berlusconi simply stopped spending and hid behind the illusion of Financial Fair Play.

The end was near when Milan sold Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2012. Back then, Berlusconi told Milan Channel (h/t Goal.com) that they didn't want to sell those players, but that the money—a total of €63 million for the pair—was too much to turn down.

"It was impossible for us to turn down Paris Saint-Germain's offer," Berlusconi said. "We had to accept it with weeping hearts. It has saved us a lot of money in transfers and wages, meaning our finances are secure for many years to come."

Now it is a few years later, and Milan are still in debt paying a mediocre team with the third-highest wages in Serie A.

These past few weeks brought some semblance of change. Milan finally plugged some holes, signing promising full-back Luca Antonelli, 23-year-old striker Mattia Destro and 21-year-old midfielder Suso. The team also has young forward Hachim Mastour waiting in the wings, so long as he is not sold either.

But they are still trying to dig themselves out of a hole years later, and Berlusconi was the one who first tossed them down.

The team at hand is not as bad as it seems. First-year coach Filippo Inzaghi simply lacks the experience to get the best out of them. They are better than eighth place, their current standing in Serie A, but they are not showing it.

Inzaghi has enjoyed two of the most fulfilling transfer windows since Silva and Ibrahimovic were sold. It's up to the coach to put it together, and he could himself face the sack if he doesn't push the team to Europe, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia).

Imagine he is fired. Milan would have their fourth coach in two years, proof that this team is not good enough to compete for a championship every year.

Berlusconi's net worth has actually jumped in recent weeks to $7.6 billion, according to Forbes. However, the finances at Milan are still so poor. Add it all up, and we see the real problem.