GdS: The eight reasons Milan can dare to dream in the Champions League

AC Milan are in the final eight teams of the Champions League and there are reasons for them to dream about going even further, a report claims.

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below) has highlighted eight reasons why Milan can continue their journey in the top European club competition even beyond the quarter-final stage.

The first reason is tradition. For all their financial resources, PSG and Manchester City have never won a Champions League while Tottenham – who earn double in revenue and have a better equipped squad – were knocked out by Milan. The badge and the ‘7’ patch on the sleeve carries a certain weight, both for the Rossoneri players and for opponents. Milan are no stranges to special European nights.

The second reason is Milan’s style of play. The Sacchi-like education received by Stefano Pioli in his three years has seen him develop an intense style based on free-flowing football which won the Scudetto, and it has now evolved to a three-man defence which increased solidity but has not taken away from the threat that key individuals have.

The third reason is Pioli himself. The team follows his orders and they have always responded whenever he has concocted a solution to get through problems. The growth of players like Tonali, Kalulu and Thiaw confirms this. While Ancelotti and Guardiola are serial winner, there is much less difference between the coaches than there is between the squads.

The fourth reason is the defensive unit, which now seems back to its best. Milan have kept five clean sheets in their last six games (plus four in a row in the Champions League) after having conceded nine in two games against Lazio and Sassuolo. Thiaw’s explosion has helped and the big test in London was passed.

The star players Milan have are the fifth reason they could go further. Maignan was decisive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his save, Theo Hernandez is arguably the strongest full-back in the world and Rafael Leao has game-changing ability.

The sixth reason is the San Siro stadium which is packed and passionate, proving to be a 12th man in games such as the first leg against Spurs. The Santiago Bernabeu has the sacredness of a temple, but San Siro – with its history, charisma and grandeur – has nothing to envy.

The opponents are the seventh reason. Whule Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich remain in the competition as the strongest sides, it is also true that at the moment Guardiola is 5 points behind Arsenal, Ancelotti 9 from Barcelona and Nagelsmann tied with Borussia Dortmund. Stronger teams will enter the pot, but none are unplayable.

Finally, there is the element of fate. The final will be played in Istanbul, where in 2005 Milan painfully lost against Liverpool collapsing from 3-0 to 3-3. The Diavolo healed the trauma by beating the Reds in the 2007 final, but the Turkish city remains a demon to be exorcised.