Leonardo: The Man Behind AC Milan's Championship Run

*SATIRE*

I knew it. Leonardo could never betray the Rossoneri.

The 41-year old Brazilian gave the best years of his career to AC Milan, representing the club 177 times from 1997 to 2001, scoring 22 goals and winning Serie A in 1999.

He left to play with Sao Paolo and Flamengo in Brazil from 2001 to 2002. He rejoined the Rossoneri in 2002 and retired as a member of the red and black in 2003 after winning Coppa Italia.

After his playing days, he continued to help Milan, playing pivotal roles in the acquisition of former Sao Paolo teammate Kaka, and later Milan frontman Alexandre Pato.

In 2008, he became the club's Technical Director and was named manager after Carlo Ancelotti left for Chelsea in 2009.

In his first and only season in charge, Leonardo had the task of taking a Milan team, crippled by the retirement of Paolo Maldini, the sale of Kaka and the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, back to the Champions League after a season in UEFA Cup.

He did so as the club finished third. However, it was not a brilliant season by Milan, and before the season was even over, the club and manager had agreed to a mutual split.

All was good with the world until Rafa Benitez, who replaced Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, left the Nerazzurri and was replaced by none other than Leonardo.

Milan fans were not thrilled by this act of betrayal, and even the great Maldini said he would never betray Milan in such a manner.

Leonardo has now been coach for 23 games and something is being made more and more obvious.

Milan could never say publicly, but they have finally broken behind enemy lines and have found a way to crush the five-time defending Italian champions.

Leonardo was paid by Italian Prime Minister and Milan president Silvio Berlusconi to take the job and sabotage the hated rivals of the red and black.

Operation Suck it Moratti is a go. Inter Milan are spiraling out of control.

It took until April, but Inter can thank the lesser opponents of Serie A outside the top six or so for being less of a challenge for the bigger clubs this season.

So far this month, Inter have been knocked out of the Champions League humiliatingly by Schalke 04, 7-3 on aggregate, and were absolutely run out of the San Siro by their all-time rivals AC Milan.

After the Schalke game, one Italian paper, one of the many slamming Inter's performance, described them as "but a shadow of last season's Inter."

What's to blame?

Leonardo.

Milan fans can rest assured their former star is still with them. His decision to leave Yuto Nagatomo on then bench for Maicon and the Ibrahimovic-like Christian Chivu is brilliant!

At this rate, that 32 goals in 23 games the defense has given up will keep rising and rising!

The more goals they give up, the less chance Inter has of catching up (Inter are five points back of Milan with six games to play). The less chance Inter has of catching up, the better chance AC Milan has of winning its first Scudetto in seven years.

This ploy by Berlusconi is sheer brilliance!

He sends in Leonardo to take the job, who leaves in the most washed up fullbacks in the league while leaving one of the future stars on the bench.

He also continues the tradition of playing Dejan Stankovic at defensive mid, instructs Andrea Ranocchia to play for the other team, and teaches his attackers that the best way to play is to always let Thiago Motta score.

This is one of the best signs of initiative by the Rossoneri I have ever seen!

With Leonardo at Inter's helm and waiting for the right time to instruct him to make Inter self-destruct, they have enhanced their title chances tenfold.

Max Allegri and Leonardo should share the Golden Bench Award this year. Both have been instrumental, especially recently, to Milan's success and potential Scudetto.