Four games into our Champions League campaign, AC Milan sit bottom of Group B with just a point to show for our efforts thus far.
It has been a bitterly difficult and testing return to Europe’s top table for the Rossoneri, while our seven-year absence was always going to lead to a phase of re-establishing ourselves at this level.
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The level of opposition added to the challenging circumstances, with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Porto sitting second, fourth and first in their respective leagues at the time of writing.
Nevertheless, particularly given our superb start to the Serie A season as Milan have racked up 10 wins in 11 games thus far, it added to the belief and confidence that we could at least compete sooner rather than later.
The group standings tell a different story, and as our hopes of advancing hang by a thread with the possibility that we may not even drop down to the Europa League if we finish bottom, Stefano Pioli will hope to end on a positive note to ensure that we can take some confidence out of the campaign.
Learning experience for a young Milan squad
From Fikayo Tomori to Sandro Tonali through to Brahim Diaz, Milan have a high number of key players who are still in their early 20s and who have been asked to take on fundamental roles as we look to progress, compete and put together a long-term strategy to return to the top level.
Many of those who have featured in the Champions League for the Rossoneri this season haven’t had a sense of it before, and it’s undoubtedly a different environment, tempo and pressure that comes with performing on this stage.
Naturally, given the talent within the team, it was certainly hoped that we would have collected more than a point after four games and luck has deserted us along the way, but it’s important that we’re also accumulating experience and know-how to deal with with new things such as atmospheres like at Anfield and to hold out for victories against sides like Atleti even with 10 men.
We’ve seen a steady progression and maturation of Pioli’s squad under his stewardship, and that will hopefully lead to a sustained bid to win the Scudetto this season.
That is ultimately the more immediate objective in this push to become a top side again, one that is capable of winning silverware, but the strategy must also include ways to be competitive in Europe too.
It’s disappointing and frustrating to see us struggle this season, and while all isn’t lost just yet despite the odds being stacked against us, it is vital that this young group, which will hopefully represent Milan for many years to come, are still finding ways to become better even in losing situations.
