When AC Milan launched the Milan Futuro project in time for the 2024-25 season, not many knew what to expect from a results point of view. Unfortunately, it has been a difficult beginning to the campaign for the newly-formed side.
It was talked about for months as Milan made it clear publicly and to the relevant authorities that they wished to follow the path of Juventus with their Next Gen team and Atalanta with their U23s to form a second team to compete in Serie C
The project takes off
On their official website back in June the club announced that they have formally received approval for the registration of a new team in Serie C. They declared that it would be a team centred around ‘talented young players’ which will be named ‘Milan Futuro’.
The project was created with ‘the main objective of enhancing the talent of young players’ who have grown up in the youth sector with the aim of helping their ‘physical-athletic maturation process’ by playing against adult teams.
In addition to that, it was announced that Daniele Bonera will be the head coach of the side. He made 201 appearances for the Rossoneri as a versatile defender and got his UEFA PRO qualification after attending the course in Coverciano in 2020.
Possible issues
One of the problems that was foreseen was the fact that a young Milan side made up mostly of players who were in the Primavera the year prior would now have to compete against fully-grown adults in a very physical league. It was sort of going in blind, like gambling dice games.
These initial difficulties have come to fruition with two draws and three defeats in the first five games. It would be wrong to talk about an emergency just yet, but there is also the real risk that the team slip into a relegation battle which would not be the ideal way to start the project.
Having Francesco Camarda and Mattia Liberali available more after a couple of senior call-ups will help, as will talent like Hugo Cuenca and Chaka Traorè. However, Bonera’s side have not scored from open play yet and they seem to lack a physical edge despite some good technical play.
Bonera’s warning
The head coach was very honest after the recent defeat to Rimini as he stated that good performances must soon turn into wins otherwise there will be trouble when it comes to the league table.
“We certainly had a great first half, we also had some good situations, unfortunately in the last 25-30 meters we were not very precise. We had a goal disallowed for offside, but beyond that I think we have to work harder, in silence, because now we have to keep quiet and work,” he said.
“It’s five league games, we’ve collected two points and many compliments he continued. So now we either start collecting points too, because we don’t give ourselves many compliments.
“I think this is a bit like Serie C, we have to improve in many aspects, but tonight in the first half we created something, but we weren’t able to score, as happened in previous games, and we allowed the goal and little more.
“One goal scored and it was a penalty? It’s true, we definitely need to improve in the offensive phase, we need to try to find some developments and be a little more precise, less hasty and make the right choices.
“As I said, starting tomorrow we’ll work, in silence, and prepare for Thursday’s match, which will be just as difficult, like all the matches in this league.”
