AC Milan are undoubtedly experiencing their worst run of form under Stefano Pioli as all the previous certainties that made the team so good have vanished.
As MilanNews write, the derby coming up on Sunday is a real watershed moment on its own but then there is the Champions League last 16 tie against Spurs, the first leg of which will arrive in exactly two weeks.
The next two weeks of preparation will be absolutely crucial in helping prove that Milan deserve to be among the best 16 teams in Europe, given that the Coppa Italia campaign ended at the first hurdle, the Supercoppa Italiana saw Inter win 3-0 and the chances of defending the Scudetto are now virtually non-existent.
Last season the derby against Inter was played on February 5 and it represented the turning point of the season as Inter were beaten thanks to two Olivier Giroud goals in a few minutes, the game that many believe was decisive in the eventual Scudetto conquest.
After the match against Inter, Milan will host Torino in the league on Friday 10 February hoping to finally beat Ivan Juric’s side after a couple of defeats already this season. Then, a few days later the Champions League anthem will fire up again for the round of 16 first leg against Tottenham.
Milan will play knockout stage football in the competition for the first time in nine years. Europe is the last of the four targets left standing compared to the beginning of the season, and while winning an eighth UCL is near enough impossible, they want to get some satisfaction out of it.
Knockout stage football. I think that term describes well this situation we’re in. We’ve been constantly knocked out during the first half of first half. It’s “lights out” again after 5-10mins on Sunday. Followed by a similar knockout a week (and two weeks) later. Someone should throw in the white towel already before it’s too late.
“Winning an eighth UCL is near enough impossible”
Did Real Madrid, not win last Champions League, with an unproven squad?Manchester City and PSG, have been UCL favourites, for a decade.. But they bottle it everytime!
Not that we are, favourites to win UCL either.. But, never say never! After all we have, Champions League pedigree.. Nobody either, predicted us to win the Scudetto! While Quarter Finals, is best finish we can aim for.. But there are many underdogs story in Football!
NO WAY YOU ARE COMPARING REAL MADRID WITH WORLD CLASS PLAYERS IN ALMOST EVERY POSITION TO OUR TEAM
I am not comparing..
I have faith that we can get to the quarter finals if we play like I know we can play but unfortunately everybody is either burnt out or has broken legs because of Pioli’s training and terrible depth. Maybe in the summer we will be able to improve the squad but as of right now I am feeling pessimistic
I also have faith, that we can make it to Quarter Finals.. If Sporting got better, of Tottenham, over two legs, why can’t we? Sporting doesn’t have Messi, Neymar in their disposal! Most important; Conte’s record in Champions League sucks.. I read that, he has never made it to Quarter Finals..
Edit: Conte made it to Quarter Finals, of the Champions League in 2013.. That’s the furthest he have gone, in the tournament..
Which one of the Real Madrid players that won the UCL was unproven?
Courtois, Mendy, Alaba, Militao, Carvajal, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Benzema, Valverde, Vinicius.
Half of them got 5 UCL trophies
I said unproven squad.. Because, they were never the media favourites, to win the Champions League.. Instead, it was Manchester City and PSG!
They might not have been favorites by the media, but you can’t compare what their squad accomplished to Milan because none of our players are getting into that Real Madrid starting lineup and 90% of them wouldn’t even be on the bench
They have money, to pay their key players.. Even their bench warmers, earn more than, our starting eleven! They don’t, give the excuse of, sustainability to not sign players and pretending that, signings mediocre players, will bring you treble!
@Milan fan, now you are taking the conversation in a totally different direction.
You asked why is it impossible for Milan to win the UCL when Real Madrid did last season even though they weren’t the favorites.
Financials are another thing.
Milan current squad has no chance to win the UCL.
Let’s just hope they don’t embarrass us too much, especially based on how they have played the last 20 days