We’ve heard it hundreds of times since Milan went on an epic
spending spree last summer in the transfer market: It will take time for the
team to gel. We also heard it over and over again from everyone under Milan’s
hire: Our goal is the Champions League this season. Two very different
statements, and yet no one seemed to really get how opposite they really were
until maybe after Montella was sacked. In fact, the appointment of Gattuso as
first team coach seemed to be the reality check that one of those statements
was not like the other. And while that reality check seems to have subdued the
belief in Champions League for many, still others are clinging on to that hope.
It is a hope that fans have had for years now, and it’s certainly one to aspire
to. However, with all of the changes of the past year, Milan’s ups and downs
have left us where we are, currently eighth on the table. And for better or for
worse, Milan are making our own fate.
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| To gel and to make Champions League? In one season? Impossible... or is it? |
Ironically, hiring Gattuso
has turned out to do more to solidify this team than anyone could have
imagined. I suppose after Montella took a page out of Allegri’s desperation
book, using 23 different lineups in 23 games, it was inevitable that anyone
using any kind of consistency would find the team we knew we had. I certainly
am the first to admit that I thought Gattuso was a poor choice. And while I’m
still skeptical of his tactics longterm, or even his behavior, Mirabelli is now
saying he hopes he stays at the club for ten years. Whatever his tenure, I give
him credit for instilling heart, diligence, and teamwork back into this squad.
And perhaps it is still premature, but I believe that he has, by luck or by
design, been able to make this team gel pretty well so far. Considering the
change of ownership, the purchase of so many players at one time (as well as
the exits of those players,) and then the change in coaches in November, that
is a pretty amazing accomplishment. But at least one of those statements seems
to have been met.
Champions League. We have won so many titles, still second
most, despite our long absence. It’s the impossible dream, ever since
Berlusconi and Galliani decided to “balance the books” in 2012 by selling our
two best players. With the caliber of players we purchased in the summer, it seemed
technically possible to return to the competition in one year’s time. But was
it ever plausible? Montella proved what most people agreed: he was a decent
coach, but was never going to lead us to a Champions League final… or even the
Champions League. Sure, he led us to the Europa League, but that was as much
Inter’s failure as his success. And when handed the proper players to make it
happened, he proved hands down that he had no idea what to do with the proper
players. 23 unique lineups, mainly one really poor formation, and none of them
successful.
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| He achieved one objective. Can he achieve the other? |
Gattuso has this team running on belief and hard work. Which
so far is working out well, particularly considering that he picked up the ball
midgame. But belief and hard work will only ever get you so far. There needs to
be some kind of tactics to win certain kinds of games, too. And his tactical
bag is so very limited. I can see this team willing to die for him on the
pitch, but without the proper guidance and tactics, it is actually the dreams
of the fans which will be doing the dying. Sure, he reads the game well enough
to know what they’ll be up against. But so do other coaches. And he doesn’t
change anything or anyone to meet each challenge. So when other teams see the
one dimensional tactics over and over again, it will be easy for them to
overcome a team built only on grinta.
At the end of the day, Milan will continue to make our own
fate. Despite the fact that at this point in the season, our fate rests almost equally
in the hands of the teams above us, and how many points they drop. But to be in
the spot we are now, waiting for them to drop points was our own making.
Trusting in Montella, trusting in him too long, hiring Gattuso instead of a
more tactically advanced coach… making all of the choices that Milan have made…
even to buy so many new players at one time. For example, Milan played more
consistently last year with virtually no reinforcements, trusting in youth and
players that lack the skills and experience levels of our new players. But all
of these were decisions that Milan have made. And they have all contributed to where
Milan are now. Despite being 25 points behind the league leaders, our fate
still lies somewhat in our hands. How far we climb, how many points we drop
will determine how close we get to a European spot this season. Well, us and
Inter. Once again, their continued failures may contribute to our future
success. But we can’t wait around for them. Milan must make our own fate.
This post inspired by the music of
Imagine Dragons’ “Whatever It Takes”
Our next match is
Serie A Week 24
SPAL vs. Milan
Saturday, February
10 • 15:00 CET (9am EST)
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