AC Milan's Long and Arduous Home Stretch

It has been quite a season for Milan. There have been some memorable moments and some incredibly disappointing moments. In all, it has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride for everyone associated with Milan, including and perhaps none more so than for the fans.

Despite the uncertainties such a season brought with it, there was always the hope that the ups could out-weigh the downs come the end of the season. There was, perhaps even still, the hope amongst fans that some unlikely silverware may even be won.

But any such hope of silverware has in recent weeks looked more improbable than ever. For Milan’s run of late has been poor, their displays devoid of inspiration, and determination. In short, Milan have not looked like a team capable of winning a title nor have they looked like a team that even wants to.

The roller-coaster ride that had characterised Milan’s season up till not so long ago has come to a halt as the team limp and stagger their way to the end.

Against Lazio the other day, Milan looked like a team short on ideas and short on legs. It was yet another showing that failed to inspire in what now is a string of under-par displays by Leo’s side.

By not performing in recent weeks, Milan have missed a host of golden opportunities to really make a claim to be Serie A champions. Ten days ago against Napoli, Milan could only draw at home when a win would have put them on the top of the table. Then against Parma, Milan succumbed to a one-nil defeat before yet again failing to make the most of another Inter stumble by only drawing with Lazio on Sunday night.

It is not hard to discern just why Milan have caved in at this most critical stage of the season. The reason for it is that this Milan squad is just not good enough. The whole squad lacks depth and quality and is severely short on hunger also.

For Milan’s season to have been a success, it was always contingent on key players like Nesta, Ronaldinho, and Pato all staying fit and largely injury free all season.

But, this of course did not happen as both Nesta and Pato picked up injuries at arguably the most critical moment of the season which was in the lead up to mission near-impossible at Old Trafford.

As expected, with injuries keeping out Pato and Nesta in recent weeks, Milan have failed to perform. The Rossoneri have just managed one win in their last six matches with their one win only coming thanks to a rather fortuitous last gasp strike by Seedorf.

With Pato and Nesta most likely to miss the remainder of the season,  as will Beckham, the lack of depth and quality in this Milan side has been exposed and it is no wonder why Milan have failed to make inroads in the table in their bid for the Scudetto.

Indeed, at the present time, Milan are still only three points of the pace with seven matches remaining. Mathematically, Milan have a more than reasonable chance of winning the Scudetto.

Yet, it is hard to see Milan improving anytime soon. Unless Pato and Nesta make a quick recovery, then it appears likely that Milan will continue to limp and stagger their way to the end of the season as they have done so in recent weeks.

It will certainly be a long and arduous home stretch unless Milan can find away to reignite themselves and prove that the roller-coaster ride is not over just yet.