Milan finding itself near the top of the Serie A table is somewhat surprising considering how the very early weeks of the Serie A season have gone. A relatively straightforward 3-0 win versus Lecce will have added some confidence that the season is on track, in the Serie A at least. Midweek featured a Champions League loss to the very solid Bayer Leverkusen. Missed chances and the customary questionable refereeing contributed to the 1-0 loss and add even more questions about VAR’s role.

Differing fortunes between domestic and European competitions seems to be developing but some constants remain. Emerson Royal has been far from convincing and has many lamenting the loan with option sale of Kalulu to Juventus. The Brazilian will likely start over Calabria with Tomori and Gabbia in the middle of defense. The latter in form player is one of few Italians on the team, another source of complaint from fans and others. Theo will start in the left of defense. Fofana and Reijnders are the main candidates for the pivots spots. Loftus-Cheek may not be a starter but could feature further up behind the main striker. it is however more likely that the Morata’s so called fake nine experiment will be tried again. Leao has not performed up to standards or at least hopes of the team, and will need to up his game both in the league and in Europe. On the other wing Pulisic has done the opposite and could be considered the players of the season so far. Captain America has two four goals and two assists in the first six games of this young Serie A season. Abraham has deserved his main center forward role and should start up front.

Fiorentina have had a very underwhelming midtable start to the season with Albert Gudmundsson one of the few bright spots for Raffaele Palladino’s men.

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As it turns out Milan were able to win in the derby. Inter were beaten 2-1 contrary to unanimous predictions. Pulisic, Gabbia and Reijnders came out of the win with huge credit and the pseudo 4-4-2 employed by Fonseca looked lie a triumph. Abraham worked very hard further forward and Morata supported the English to good effect. Inter’s play was disrupted by the structure and positioning set up deeper into their half. Will this be a reset or restart for the early crisis? Time will tell. Facing Lecce, a much weaker team than Inter of course, presents different challenges not to mention a meeting with Bayer Leverkusen three days later.

It wouldn’t be Milan with injuries, minor or major. Morata is set to miss this match or at least start on the bench after picking up a knock. This opens a pot for Loftus-Cheek. It is hoped that this Englishman will start to fare better than his early season form. Emerson Royal, Tomori, Gabbia and Theo will form the back line in front of Maignan. Fofana and Reijnders the pivots. The aforementioned form should favor Loftus-Cheek further back but it seems Fonseca will use the number 8 closer to Lecce’s goal with Leao and Pulisic. Abraham has impressed and will be the center forward. Leo needs to be more involved, if there is one thing that will help Milan continue the form shown in the derby is a more involved Leao. Okafor is another with a minor in jury and won’t be available from the bench.

Luca Gotti’s men can push back Milan’s season into the doom and gloom of a week earlier. Nikola Krstovic is the Lupi’s danger man up front.

Milan comfortably beat Venezia at the San Siro. The 4-0 score was as needed as it could get with Milan. The team facing a historic poor start to the 2024-2025 Serie A season provided a bit of hope that the early questions can be answered. Eyes were and shifted more to the midweek Champions League start versus Liverpool and this derby to see if the team can use the Venezia result as a springboard. The first test was a failure, Milan were outworked, outdone and outclassed by the post-Klopp era Liverpool. The 3-1 home loss piled on the pressure and all the talk on a Fonseca replacement, players and systems resumed. Ibra’s role has been questioned like never before in his career and he is probably under the kind of pressure he has never known. As a so called advisor who claims he runs many aspects of the team he had a big say in Fonseca’s hiring and may now be faced with the task of finding another coach. Many typical names have been thrown around, many are the same that were rumoured in the summer and are now still available.

The 4-2-3-1 has been a liability with the players seemingly confused at times, calls for 4-3-3 providing a more solid midfield have grown from the commentators and fans. Leading up to this game Fonseca has apparently tested a so called 4-4-2 with both Morata and Abraham up front but surely this would be evolve to a 4-3-3 as Leao can’t be considered a left midfield player. If this line up does start it will likely feature all of Pulisic, Fofana and Reijnders in midfield. The so far off form Loftus-Cheek might start in place of Reijnders. Calabria is not 100% so Emerson Royal will get another shot to impress. The Brazilian’s early form has confirmed the many questions asked about his transfer. Theo will be the left back and two of Pavlovic, Gabbia and Tomori will play in the center of the defence.

Inter have not had the most dominant of starts but the team has not lost in their first four games. On the pitch the team is far more stable than Milan. Off the pitch ownership changes and San Siro’s future clouds Inter’s future as much as Milan’s.

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Week three before the international break only served to heighten concerns about the team. The 2-2 tie showcased what was seen as Fonseca’s attempt at establishing authority. His benching of both Leao and Theo seemed surprising and possibly misguided. The team played with a bit more promise but still lacked direction and composure. Four minutes of such confusion allowed Lazio to score twice and manage a tie. Milan remained winless and Fonseca went into the history books as one of the worst starts for a new Milan coach.

As the players joined their national teams management rifts came to the fore with talk that Ibra is at odds with the team and less present. Commentators piled on the misfiring start and it has been mostly doom and gloom. Predictions hinted at more surprising lineup changes such as benching Pulisic. it likely won’t happen but with a tough schedule ahead the team and Fonseca in particular could run out of time. It must be said that if Fonseca is the chosen casualty those who made the decision to him (Ibra?) must not remain unscathed.

From the outside the consensus seems to be that Calabria can not be a starter but Emerson Royal has shown to be unconvincing as well. The Brazilian should start with Tomori, Pavlovic and Theo. Pavolvic scored the opener versus Lazio and continued to show good physicality and ball recovery but was lost and confused on both conceded goals. The midfield has divided fans and commentators just as many other. Loftus-Cheek starting in a more attacking role has been a failure up to this point and it is hoped that Reijnders will be moved further forward instead. Only when the line up is submitted we will all know if Fonseca sees what most deem obvious. Fofona should be given minutes to integrate. Leao will surely not start on the bench again. He scored within minutes of coming on versus Lazio. Abraham assisted on the same goal and also within minutes of coming on. The latter should start in place of Jovic, until Morata is ready. Jovic has been another case of the directionless start. He got an extension mere weeks ago but has been rumoured to be on the outs already.

Soon after this match the new Champions League season starts and with a tough one. Liverpool will be the visitors and the Milan derby is coming up next weekend. The season will be defined sooner rather than later.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s Venezia do not present the biggest threat but can deepen the dent on this season.

It is only week 3 and Fonseca is already feeling the pressure. Losing to Parma in week 2, combined with strange line up choices made by the coach, have brought intense pressure on the coach and indeed the whole team. The summer transfer market has been just as frustrating, more on that below.

Prediction, as late as a few hours before this match, has both Leao and Theo on the bench. This is surprising and telling. Neither has been on form very early this 2024-2025 season but the possibility being replaced by Terracciano and Chukwueze is risky at best. The aforementioned loss to Parma showed unpreparedness all across the pitch but perhaps Fofana and Emerson Royal might improve while getting Milan starts. The back four and midfield showed that they will struggle while the team holds a highline. Speed and concentration are points to watch while Fonseca and Milan try to prevent the new season from going south. Tomori and Pavlovic will complete the back four. The latter newcomer was perhaps the only out of the whole who came out of the week 2 match with positives. His physicality and ability to stop opponents will prove invaluable. Partnering Fofana should be Reijnders. Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek will partner Chukwueze behind Okafor. Loftus-Cheek is another player to watch as the season moves forward. The coach has expressed confidence in the English player but his performance and even his best position is questionable. Is he a more attacking player? He is almost certainly not suited for the double pivot of the 4-2-3-1. Morata’s early injury has put another dent in the hopes for the new season but he should be back after the international break that follows this match.

It is normal that Milan is linked with a multitude of players for them to go elsewhere. This summer was no exception. Despite assurances by Gerry Cardinale that the team is able and willing to spend big little transpired. Ibra perhaps promised less than the team owner but he too is deserving of criticism. The summer transfer window ended with Morata, Pavlovic, Fofana and Emerson Royal arriving for an outlay of €66 million. Plus Alex Jimenez was bought from Real Madrid for another €5 million (with a Real buyback clause). Late in the window Tammy Abraham arrived from Roma in a paid loan and swap wit Roma with Saelesmakers. It is questionable if these players fill all the voids on the team but more expensive – and presumably and arguably better – players were rumoured and went elsewhere.

Perhaps the bigger source of frustration, at least for this writer, is how the team managed the outgoing market. Not the first time for Milan. A total of nine players were sent on loan. If all nine return next summer, which is at least somewhat likely, this is a big postponement of player management. Adli, Saelesmakers, Lazetic, Vasquez, Colombo, Pellegrino, Romero, Pobega and Kalulu all exited the team, likely to return. Kalulu’s loan move to Juventus was perhaps the most surprising and arguably weakens the team while directly benefiting a close rival.

Lazio have a new coach, Marco Baroni, and have started the season with their own struggles. The Biancocelesti lost to Udinese after opening the season beating re-promoted Venezia.

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Week 2 of the new season features a travel to newly promoted Parma. Week 1’s result was not what fans and team expected as Milan feel behind 0-2 versus Torino as the defensive structure looked eerily similar to last season. This was not surprising however, as the team was virtually the same as last season’s defensive struggles. Thiaw came out of the match with his reputation anything but enhanced. This is likely to give an opening to Pavlovic, seeing the Serbian become a starter.

Morata came on a sub to make his Milan debut and with a center forward touch or deviation opened Milan’s scoring for the 2024-2025 Serie A season. As time was running out another sub, Okafor, volleyed Musah’s precise cross to give Milan one point. In typical Milan fashion the injury list grew early in the week. Morata has suffered a muscle injury and will miss two or more weeks. It is thought Okafor will take his place and relegate Jovic to the bench

Theo will get his first start against Parma. Saelemaekers’ left back experiment baffled some and may not happen again. In a another questionable decision Kalulu is loaned to Juventus leaving Calabria and Tomori to complete the back four. Reijnders and Loftus-Cheek should be the midfield pivots. The latter has not only left fans undecided but seemingly the coach too. Is he a more attacking player or should he start further back? Musah could start as a pivot if the Englishman plays further up. The Chukwueze, Pulisic, and Leao trio will be the attacking hope otherwise. All three had chances in the season opener but failed to capitalize or impress.

Parma started their season with a tie versus Fiorentina.

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The off season and summer of 2024 got of to a fast start with Pioli’s departure and Paulo Fonseca’s hiring as his replacement. The Portuguese coach was not the most anticipated or well perceived coach among fans and others but his era began early in the summer and is off to fast start on the pitch. Milan has just completed its pre-season undefeated and with some praise for Fonseca’s coaching style. However, Milan’s summer market has been a typical snail’s pace of changes. Three arrivals have signed on with less than consensus among fans. Morata, Pavlovic and Emerson Royal will have a lot to prove even if the first has had a successful summer and and more. Further arrivals might be few or perhaps just one in Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana. The latter, just like the initial three, fulfills team’s needs but to do better than last season’s second place and disappointing Champions League campaign will demand even more.

For now though the season opens versus Torino. The changes are still to be fully integrated. Morata for example captained Spain to Euro 2024 triumph and has been on vacation until recently. Pavlovic and Emerson Royal wont start needing more time to find their feet. A more familiar Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori and Hernandez back four will start in front of Maignan. Fofona now looks a certain arrival as he has insisted he wants Milan but the midfield has no new faces the very immediate future and will look just as familiar as the back four. Bennacer, Reijnders should anchor the midfield. Chukwueze’s summer form should earn him a start and if he does he will push Pulisic to the middle closer to Leao. If Pulisic is deemed not 100% as has been reported Loftus- Cheek will start instead. The injury list does have two long term names already with Sportiello and Florenzi out for an extended period. The former via a freak accident injuring his left hand finger and the latter reconstructing his ACL after suffering the injury during the summer preseason game versus Manchester City.

There have been some changes at Torino as well with departures like Ricardo Rodriguez, arrivals like Duvan Zapata and a new coach in Paolo Vanoli, formerly of Venezia and others.

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The schedule for the 2024-2025 Serie A season has been released. The season starts the weekend of August 18 and ends the weekend of May 25 2024. Once again, Lega Serie A has done away with the short Christmas break. The new Champions League format coming into effect this following season has an eight game “league phase” format which means more midweek games into January 2025, Serie A itself will only have one midweek fixture, in October.

Thea season starts versus Torino with the Milan derby at week 5 and 23. The preseason gathering and start of the Fonseca era is set for July 8th.

When AC Milan clinched the Champions League for the seventh time; they were termed as one of Europe’s best clubs. The present situation of the club is knotty because it lacks experienced heads like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Gianluigi Buffon who served as leaders for the team. Their hope now lies in young talents who are expected to revive the past glory. However, can these raw stars step into the shoes left by departing veterans and propel them upwards?


The Changing of the Guard

AC Milan started to focus more on young talent several years ago. Financial constraints forced them to change their transfer policy and concentrate on signing promising youngsters rather than established professionals. The move paid off immediately: Rafael Leão, a 23-year-old Portuguese winger, broke into the limelight last season by scoring 11 goals and making six assists in Serie A (2022/23). His speed, ability to beat opponents with the ball at his feet, and nose for goal have endeared him to supporters – not to mention providing an important attacking option.

Another rising star is Sandro Tonali, who plays as a defensive midfielder and is 22 years old. His reading of the game, passing range and calmness under pressure have seen him likened to Italy legend Andrea Pirlo. The player shields his back four well but can also launch attacks from deep with incisive distribution.

Teams of young people who play for Milan have always been known for their enthusiasm, and now more than ever, that is a good sign for the future of the Rossoneri. However, it is not just limited to those in the first team- there has already been some breakout talent shown this season like defensive player Pierre Kalulu (22), who can play any position along the backline, Ismael Bennacer (24) with box-to-box capabilities as well as 21-year-old forward Charles De Ketelaere from Club Brugge which was signed last summer transfer window hailed by many futurists around Europe’s football fraternity as one among upcoming stars.

For this reason, online casino gambling experts will be banking highly upon teams with lots of young players, thus expecting entertaining matches characterized by lots of goals, hence positive outcomes for AC Milan.


Experience vs Exuberance

We know that experience counts for a lot – the seasoned pros bring leadership qualities that are vital at different stages throughout games, but especially so when under pressure. Zlatan Ibrahimović motivated his teammates with loud-mouthed bravado while shouldering all expectations placed upon him in his role as captain; meanwhile, Gianluigi Buffon provided world-class goalkeeping cover over many years, thus enabling calmness within matches themselves.

Nonetheless, reliance on aged heads alone could prove detrimental towards advancement; physical decline coupled with an inflexibility regarding new systems being implemented due to their, shall we say, ‘more advanced’ age might not bode well for any side wanting progression domestically or continentally speaking – this is where youth steps up its benefits game come into play. The injection of young blood offers up a fresh approach that, if harnessed correctly, has potential beyond measure.

Building Unity

The Rossoneri need to find the right mix between these two schools of thought; too much in either direction will never work out well. The former should be typified by technical ability and speed, while the latter takes charge of organization – more experienced heads guiding younger legs so they don’t burn themselves too fast.

Fortunately for them, there are still some old heads around at ‘I Rossoneri.’ Among others, Olivier Giroud will offer mentorship to young strikers, having joined the club from Chelsea, where he was mainly used as a substitute last season following his international retirement post-EURO 2020 at age 36 years, while Ciprian Tatarusanu provides an able deputy behind Mike Maignan prior capturing four caps during Romania’s recent successful CONMEBOL World Cup qualification bid aged 37.


‘The Road Ahead’

AC Milan must make sure that their revolution filled with young talents happens during the 2023/2024 season. Serie A is known to be very difficult because this is where traditional powerhouses like Inter Milan, Juventus, and Napoli compete; they always fight for the Scudetto every year. Not to mention the Champions League, which sees top teams from different European countries play against each other frequently.

There will be no instant success. Along the way, there will be setbacks, moments where the young players’ lack of experience is revealed. All the same, Milan must sustain a vision. It will be necessary to give these youth regular game time, let them make and learn from their own mistakes, and instill in them a thirst for victory.

There are positive early indications. In the 2022/23 season, AC Milan finished as runners-up in the Serie A, narrowly losing out to Inter Milan for the championship. This feat achieved by predominantly young players shows the promise of a new era. The AC Milan club has made a bold move by deciding to invest in youth development, which is something that should be hailed. It is, however, filled with a lot of uncertainties, but it also holds much hope. The club could end up producing a team that not only dominates locally but also internationally for years if they are able to nurture their young talents and mix them with experienced players. The anxious fans from Milan can only sit back and hope that someday soon, their children shall bring back the days of glory.