AC Milan secured a 4-0 win over Lazio in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night, and thus booked our spot in the semi-finals of the competition to face Inter.
The Rossoneri were in high spirits after our important win over the Nerazzurri in Serie A at the weekend, and it appeared as though we took that confidence with us into this encounter.
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Goals from Olivier Giroud (x2), Rafael Leao and Franck Kessie secured a safe passage into the next round, and while there is of course a big test ahead of us against our city rivals, it’s hoped that we’ll be in a strong position to move forward when the meeting comes around.
Giroud providing timely influence
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic struggling to both stay fit and then in turn find his form, Milan have been lacking a key figure to lead the line and provide quality up top.
Giroud has stepped up and delivered in two hugely important clashes over the past few days, and has shown that he is more than capable of now leading the line for us as we head into a pivotal period of the campaign.
The 35-year-old now has 10 goals and two assists in 22 appearances so far this season, and while we hope that Ibrahimovic can be influential for us between now and the end of the season, it’s Giroud who has made a strong claim to be named as our starter in the upcoming outings.
Leao continues to enjoy break-out campaign
The best way Leao could have silenced his critics and convince his doubters this season was to produce on the pitch week in and week out.
While there has never been any doubt over his talent and raw ability, frustration grew last season as we didn’t see much of an improvement in his game or a level of maturity to suggest that he was capable of establishing himself as a vital player for us.
With nine goals and six assists in 26 appearances so far this season, the Portuguese winger has proven himself to be a key cog in this side, and it’s hoped that he is just getting started as at 22 years of age, he has a big future ahead of him.
Fundamental for Milan to build momentum
After that bitterly disappointing defeat to Spezia last month, Milan appeared to be in danger of letting the season slip away as results like that can crush your aspirations and objectives can quickly get away.
While there was a positive response in the goalless draw against Juventus that followed, the back-to-back wins over Inter and Lazio in Serie A and the Coppa Italia respectively have now built our momentum back up.
As we enter the final stretch of the campaign, it’s important that confidence and belief is high, and results like the ones we’ve obtained this week will go a long way to setting us in the right direction.
Silverware crucial this season
While it’s an objective every year, it’s crucial that Milan now take that next step and start winning trophies again.
We’ve come close on a number of occasions in the Coppa Italia in recent years but fallen short, while we ended a painfully long wait just to break back into the top four of Serie A last season.
Whether it’s the Cup or the Scudetto, or hopefully even both, to take that next step in our evolution and progression to become an elite side again and to compete at the highest level, we need to regain that habit of winning and securing silverware and we look well-placed to be a serious threat this year.
