Still optimistic

Despite Milans’ terrible preseason both on and off the field, our new Brazilian coach Leonardo is still optimistic. And aswell he should be as he is the coach after all. If a coach loses confidence in the team then what hope is there. So Leonardo continues to put on a brave face whilst remaining optimistic about the upcoming season.

Leonardo was quoted saying, “I don’t want to be optimistic at all costs, but it’s clear that Milan cannot be the team seen until now”. It is good to see that despite his optimism Leonardo is still in touch with reality, admitting that the team needs to improve.

For all his optimism it surely is the case that confidence in the team must be at an all time low and this is a real problem one week away from the start of Serie A. With the loss of inspiratonal figures in Kaka, Ancelotti and of course our former captain Maldini, the team is lacking that bit of inspiration, direction and leadership that the aforementioned figures were able to provide in abundance.

When you add such circumstances to all the off-field dramas this preseason coupled with successive defeats and poor performances one struggles to see when and how Milan will escape their current predicament.

On the positive side, things cannot get that much worse. Surely.

It seems that the only answer to Milan’s problems is one that can be provided for by the board.

It has been said many many times recently. And as the problems pile up, it becomes more clear that this really is the only way to solve the problem. The solution I speak of is the acquisition of quality players.

It is well known that Milan are desperately chasing full backs as well they should. But further to this, what Milan really needs is a signing that will bring youth and star quality. Such a signing will help to bring in a renewed sense of optimism to the squad. It will also make Leonardo’s job not so difficult and altogether will go along way in keeping Milan competitive this season.

Fabregas has quality and hunger in abundance

In the media this past week it has been touted that Fabregas still might join Milan. Fantasy football? More than likely. However, it is this type of signing that Milan need. A player of exceptional quality, youth and with a hunger to win.

Milan lack all such three characteristics at the moment. Quality is scarce in the squad especially on the wings. Youth only exists in a small percentage and apart from Pato does not come with quality. Lastly, it is hunger that is not sufficiently present within the squad.

Ronaldinho has not had the hunger for sometime now as the last few seasons have shown. The Brazilian has won everything there is to win in football so it is perhaps even understandable albeit unacceptable. The same can said for many of Milan’s senior players who have collected numerous accolades for both club and country in the past five or six years.

It appears unlikely that Fabregas will sign for Milan as great such a signing would be. But even a player like Hernanes fits the bill. Such a transfer is even possible and with it Milan will gain three things, quality, youth and hunger.

Do not be concerned by Milan’s ‘lack of money’ as Berlusconi has it in abundance. It is for political reasons that he is restraining from using it. But be sure, Berlusconi is a man of great pride and Milan is a club that represents him as it has done for twenty years. It will be hard for him to see Milan continue faltering. Something will give eventually.

So it is in the hands of Berlusconi and Galliani.They need to deliver and very soon. Otherwise, Leonardo and his players are in for a long hard season unless there is someone in the team that can stand up and produce something incredible (cue Ronaldinho?).