Max Allegri's A.C. Milan Look Like Champions Already

There is little doubt now. Milan look like a champion team. In their impressive defeat of Brescia, the Rossoneri were clinical and professional as Max Allegri’s side put in a performance reminiscent of champions.

In what was a dazzling first half display, the Rossoneri blitzed helpless Brescia with three goals and it could have easily been more. In the second half they closed out the game in an utmost professional manner, not allowing Brescia back into the game whilst they continued to dominate possession.

Notably, it was the movement and the fluidity of the Milan attack that was most impressive, especially in the first half. The whole side seemed to exude a certain confidence and swagger in their play which along with the out-and-out attacking intentions that were apparent from the kick off, made for some delightful viewing.

It has been sometime since such superlatives have been used to describe Milan. But it comes as a welcome change.

Allegri’s side had been building up to a performance like this. After a run of eight games undefeated, the Rossoneri have shown steady improvement in every passing match. Against Brescia on the weekend everything came together very nicely.

Allegri has done a magnificent job with this team. Milan have not won a major trophy since 2007 and they have even struggled to be amongst the contenders in both the domestic and European stage since.

This season, with a side that has remained relatively unchanged from previous years, Allegri has helped transform Milan into a side that look like champions. An incredible achievement when one considers that, for instance, the midfield three deployed against Brescia consisted of Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini. These three players have all been at the club for the best part of a decade, if not a decade, and they are all 30 years old or older.

Yet, against Brescia, these three players played their roles in one of the most convincing Milan displays in recent times.

There can be no denying, however, that the acquisitions of Robinho and, in particular, Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been crucial to the resurgence of Milan. Robinho has been slowly but surely showing the class the world knows he posseses whilst Ibrahimovic has been nothing short of a revelation for Milan. His masterful displays have been key to Milan’s successes thus far this campaign.

But here again, Allegri deserves much credit also. The young tactician has managed to get the best out of Ibrahimovic, as the big Swede has been scoring goals and creating them with regularity. This was something that even Josep Guardiola was unable to do.

The greatest achievement, however, of Allegri’s short but promising reign has been in reinstalling hunger and a sense of unity amongst the team. As a result, it is clear that the Milan players are now much more willing to work for each other, to hustle and to harry for the ball. These are crucial elements that underlie strong performances like what was seen on Saturday night against Brescia.

On paper Milan are a team that could do with the additions of a few quality players. Yet, in light of their recent performances and in particular this latest one against Brescia, one could argue that there is little need of this. For indeed, Allegri’s Milan are looking like champions already.