‘Dream of the Scudetto’ – three factors boost Milan’s title hopes

Given that there is almost half a season still to play, AC Milan are not ready to give up on the Scudetto bid just yet as unlikely as a comeback may seem at the moment.

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes that Gerry Cardinale left San Siro doubly happy because in his business results and entertainment go hand in hand and Milan won with a good performance on Sunday night.

In the dressing room he reiterated his firm belief: the team has the potential to climb to the top of Serie A again. Olivier Giroud, as a striker, sees a window where they can strike but head coach Stefano Pioli preferred to deflect.

“We need to focus only on ourselves, thinking one match at a time . But those who go slowly go healthy and go far and let’s hope those in front make mistakes. We are only in the first match of the second round,” the French striker said.

“Scudetto race? Just take us out of it,” came Pioli’s response. The coach is right to keep a low profile, the priority is to consolidate a place in the Champions League, but there are actually good reasons why Milan can get back on track.

Reinforcements

The January transfer window has so far brought in Matteo Gabbia after his loan was cut short plus Filippo Terracciano from Verona. Another central defender will arrive and the clues lead to the name of Lilian Brassier.

In the last match at San Siro, Yacine Adli celebrated his first Rossoneri goal. He dictated the speed of the game as if he were Ismael Bennacer, while Yunus Musah looked bright off the bench and Noah Okafor took over the baton from Rafael Leao.

In difficulty the coach discovered that he has young players capable of playing with the seniors: Jan-Carlo Simic, Chaka Traoré, Davide Bartesaghi, Kevin Zeroli, Alex Jimenez and even the 15-year-old Francesco Camarda.

Returns

In a month, when the commitments increase again with the Europa League, Pioli will have Malick Thiaw back, then later in February will mark the return of Fikayo Tomori too. In the spring, the decisive period for the outcome of the season, Pierre Kalulu and Tommaso Pobega will also be back.

There was a time when Milan frustrated in attack with many chances created but few goals scored. However, the Rossoneri are the second-top scorers in the league and Olivier Giroud has 10 goals, making him the second-top scorer too behind Lautaro.

In total 12 different players have scored for the Rossoneri: Christian Pulisic has already reached six, but Leao is stuck at three and must up the ante: he scored six in his first season, 11 in 2021-22 and 15 last season.

The calendar

Then there is the fixture list. The upcoming commitments are not daunting: Saturday evening in Udinese, seven days later at San Siro against Bologna, at the beginning of February away against Frosinone. Fresh from three consecutive victories in the league, there is the chance to double that.

Inter will inevitably slow down: due to commitments in the Supercoppa they will have one round (Inter-Atalanta) at the end of February. When Milan goes to Frosinone, Inter and Juve will compete against each other at San Siro.

Having returned from Arabia, Inzaghi will immediately meet Fiorentina and Roma as well. The road to first place is uphill, the calendar of upcoming commitments, theoretically, downhill. Unity is strength Milan has always emerged from difficulties stronger and more united.

Even in moments of crisis the club never thought of sacking the coach towards whom, on the contrary, they renewed their respect. The players offered their availability, as seen by Theo playing centre-back.

On Sunday evening Cardinale strengthened the bond even further and relaunched the club’s ambitions.