5 Things Learned from AC Milan's 2015/16 Season
AC Milan endured another difficult season in 2015-16. They finished better than last year, moving up to seventh from 10th in Serie A, but they struggled for long stretches of the season, especially in the critical run-in, when they blew a four-point lead to cede sixth place—and a guaranteed place in the UEFA Europa League—to tiny upstart Sassuolo.
But the campaign also had lessons for Milan. Some of the things they learned were quite positive. Others were serious problems that need to be addressed if the Rossoneri's rebuilding project is to ever reach a successful conclusion.
What were the most important things we learned about AC Milan this season? Let's take a closer look to find out.
There's a Franchise Goalkeeper in the House
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Gianluigi Donnarumma's inclusion in Milan's first team this season was a surprise given his age—only 16 at the start of the season. Usually players that young stay in the youth sector, and the brightest prospects are typically sent out on loan to lower-division clubs.
But Donnarumma stayed with the main roster, and in October, he was called into action for Diego Lopez, whose underperformance at the beginning of the season was later linked to a lingering knee injury.
With the exception of one game against Chievo, when he was removed as a precaution after suffering a blow to the head, the teenager played every Serie A minute from then on.
His play was incredible. He made world-class saves on a regular basis, often saving points Milan may not have got otherwise. His play was so good he became the youngest player to be capped for the Italy under-21 team.
Did we forget to mention that he's not old enough to go to university?
AC Milan have the soccer version of gold: a franchise goalkeeper.
There are good goalkeepers everywhere, particularly in Serie A, but the number of true franchise 'keepers is small you could probably count them on two hands.
A goalkeeper of his caliber is a true cornerstone that can be built around. Donnarumma has his weaknesses—particularly in his distribution and his play with the ball at his feet—but time and maturity can correct these. If he realizes the potential he displayed this season, he could be the next Gianluigi Buffon.
If he stays at Milan, he could help lead them out of the wilderness. Only a fool would sell an asset such as this. Unfortunately, the club's management is populated by more than a few fools, so anything could happen.
But if he stays, Milan has one of the most valuable things any club can have.
The Youth Sector Still Works
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In the last five years, Milan has often been criticized for how it has handled young players. Promising talents such as Riccardo Saponara and Bryan Cristante were never given real chances in the team before they moved on.
Losing Saponara in particular was a grievous mistake. Since returning to Empoli in January 2015, he's scored 12 goals and recorded 14 assists from the attacking-midfield position. Given Milan's severe lack of creativity in attack this season, such a player would have been a huge asset.
The players who have gotten through have had uneven roads once they made the first team. The plight of Mattia De Sciglio, who broke out in 2012-13 but has fallen off since, is the prime example. Shuffled from right to left and not getting consistent minutes, the full-back has never been able to replicate the form he displayed in his first full season.
But this season showed that Milan's youth sector can still put out quality talent. Donnarumma is the best example, but another surprise inclusion on the squad, full-back Davide Calabria, reinforced it.
The 19-year-old only played six times in the league and a further two times in the Coppa Italia, but every time he took the field, he was excellent.
His most recent appearance, in Saturday's Coppa Italia final, was superlative. According to WhoScored.com, he made four tackles, two interceptions and two key passes.
Youngsters such as Donnarumma and Calabria coming through the ranks and succeeding in the first team means Milan's youth sector is still turning out quality players. That bodes well for the future.
If other players such as Manuel Locatelli pan out, the Rossoneri could have a young, homegrown core to build around.
Stability Required
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There was always an element of uncertainty surrounding former head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic this season.
Appointed to replace Filippo Inzaghi after last year's debacle of a season, the Serbian had the Rossoneri on the right track. They made the Coppa Italia final and were in position to make the Europa League regardless of whether they managed to beat Juventus for the trophy.
But Mihajlovic's pragmatic style never sat well with owner and president Silvio Berlusconi, who has always valued football that looks beautiful—sometimes over actually winning games.
Eventually, those differences became irreconcilable, and Mihajlovic was fired on April 12. Berlusconi seemed to confirm the main reason for the change was aesthetic when he highlighted style in a Facebook post. "Milan must return to a style of play and results worthy of our history," he told fans on the social media outlet (h/t Football Italia). Note the order of those two things.
Mihajlovic was replaced by youth-team coach Cristian Brocchi. If you think that has an unpleasantly familiar ring to it, you're right: That was the same position Inzaghi held before taking the helm.
Brocchi's seven-game tenure—six league games and the Coppa final—was a disaster. The abrupt change so late in the season destabilized the team, and Milan only won twice, dropping points against all three of the teams that ended the season in the relegation zone, including an embarrassing 2-1 loss to rock-bottom Hellas Verona. Sassuolo passed them for sixth place with two games to go.
Brocchi became Milan's fifth coach in four years. If he isn't retained next year, his successor will be the sixth in five.
It's not quite Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini territory, but the lack of stability is a major problem. Constant coaching changes—and consequent system changes—prevent teams from forging an identity, something Milan desperately needs.
Whoever coaches the team next year must be given a chance to stay long term and build his project. If Milan constantly resets, it'll never get back to the level it is hoping to.
Lack of Leadership
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Riccardo Montolivo has been Milan's captain since 2013, and in that time, the team has endured three of its worst seasons since Silvio Berlusconi bought the club 30 years ago.
It's becoming clear Montolivo doesn't have the leadership skills needed to be Milan's captain. When times got difficult, he simply couldn't inspire the team to a higher level of performance.
Contrast that with Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon. After a late-October loss to Sassuolo dropped the team to 12th place, Buffon ripped into the team in a post-game interview. What some Juve fans now refer to as the "Sassuolo address" had the desired effect. A last-second win against crosstown rivals Torino followed.
Juve didn't lose in the league again until they had already clinched the title following an unprecedented comeback.
Compared to Buffon, Montolivo has the leadership qualities of a turnip. But Milan's lack of leadership goes beyond the captain's armband. Juve's epic run was also spurred by a similar admonition from full-back Patrice Evra, and their locker room is teeming with other leaders such as Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci.
Milan has some players who have the potential to be influential in the dressing room. Giacomo Bonaventura and Luca Antonelli always play hard and have performed excellently for two seasons in Milan shirts. Donnarumma could develop into an important clubhouse presence.
These players need to start making more of an imprint on the team. If a change in captain is the way to get that done, then it has to be done. The team can't keep drifting with no one's hand on the tiller.
The Front Office Needs to Change
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Milan fans have been saying this for years, but any lingering doubts about the subject were expunged this season.
Berlusconi and vice-president Adriano Galliani could almost be given a pass the last few years. They've been operating under severe spending restrictions since Silvio's daughter, Marina, in her capacity as chairman of the family holding company, Fininvest, slashed the club's budget in 2010.
But this year was different. Milan opened up the checkbook again last summer, shelling out €75 million on striker Carlos Bacca, center back Alessio Romagnoli and midfielder Andrea Bertolacci. Overall, their spending was just north of €86 million.
Most of the individual signings did well. Bacca finished third on the Serie A scoring charts (18 goals). Romagnoli showed promise as a building block on the back line. Midfielder Juraj Kucka, acquired from Genoa almost as an afterthought late in the window, was an important contributor.
But Bertolacci was an utter failure, especially considering how badly Milan overpaid for him at €20 million. More important than the success or failure of any individual signing, Galliani once again failed to produce a balanced team that could sustain success over the entire season.
Beyond the on-field failures, Berlusconi has repeatedly shown he's stuck in the past. Earlier this year, he axed plans to build a new stadium, preferring instead to remain in the aging San Siro. In doing so, he completely ignored the example of Juventus, who have become the titans of Italy since opening Juventus Stadium in 2011. His incessant meddling in the coach's affairs made matters worse.
It's clearer than ever that Galliani and Berlusconi are holding Milan back rather than bringing the club into the future.
Milan fans must be hoping the rumored takeover of the club by a Chinese consortium—which China Central Television reported (h/t Football Itaila) is led by billionaire Robin Li—goes through.
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