The Milan side that won the 1989 European Cup

Well, as we know things are not great. In fact, they are worse than bad. Our team is languishing in 11th position. The side has only scored three goals in six matches in the Serie A, two of them coming against Siena on the opening day. Need I mention our humiliating loss to Inter and it clearly has been a disastrous start to the 2009-10 season.

Despite our good show on matchday 1 in the Champions League, clearly times are tough at the moment. Our poor start to the season can be attributed to the numerous problems with the club. We have a board that are clearly delusional and incompetent, at this moment at least, we have a side full of players past their prime and on the wrong side of thirty, we lack quality, we lack depth, we lack youth and hunger. Yet we expect a novice coach to somehow steer such a side to a top three finish and make Milan contenders for the most coveted club football trophy in the world (the Champions League of course).

There are few positives to take from this season so far. Marco Storari’s heroics in goal is one positive, the return to form of Alessandro Nesta another and of course that sweet SuperPippo-inspired victory in Marseille. But, judging from our dismal performances so far this season and one gets the feeling that positives will be few and far between.

Reading around the Milan blogosphere and one gets the feeling that there are a few so-called ‘fans’ jumping ship. Things may not looking good for Milan at the moment, but, this is absolutely no reason to jump ship and support another team instead.

Two of the many greats to play for AC Milan, Savicevic and Baggio

Firstly, I for one do not understand how in such times so-called fans simply jump ship. What is the point of being a fan of any team if when the chips are down you simply move on? How can anyone say that they are a fan of Milan or Inter or Chelsea or whoever, and then simply change to support another team when their current one is doing badly. A fan that behaves in this way is no fan at all and they may as well not support anyone. These such people are mercenaries.

Secondly, Milan, for all the recent troubles, are still a great club with a great history. A history that is steeped with success and tradition. A history that has seen some of the greatest ever players don the famous red and black shirt. Baresi, Maldini, Shevchenko, Van Basten, Gullit, Baggio, Rivera, Nordahl are just a few of the great players that have graced the Milan shirt.

Lets just recap briefly the numerous successes of the past. In total, Milan have won a total of seven European cups with eleven final appearances, a record only bettered by Real Madrid. Milan was also the most successful side in the now defunct Intercontinental Cup, winning three titles and runners-up on four other occasions. Milan are one of the five clubs that have collected the World Club Cup since its inception in 2004 and hold the record for European Super Cups won.

Domestically, Milan hold the record for the number of Italian Super Cups won appearing in a total of eight finals which is more than Juventus who come close with seven. Whilst Milan may be second to Juventus in Scudetti won and now equal with Inter, the european and world success of the Rossoneri make the club Italy’s most successful.

And lets not forget that in the modern era, Milan has been the most successful European club. In the last twenty years, no other club can come near Milan’s European record. Since 1989, Milan have appeared in eight European Cup finals, winning five. Only Real Madrid come close with three. Milan also have won the Intercontinal Cup/World Club Cup more than any other club in the world.

That very sweet Champions League victory in 2007

Evidently, Milan is one of the most successful clubs in history and arguably the most successful club side ever. Sure times are tough but they will not always be. In 1997-98 season Milan endured a horrid season coming 10th. The next season Milan were crowned champions of Italy for the sixteenth time.

For a club side like Milan, one can always expect them to become number one again. Throughout its history, the side has always managed to achieve this and it is no different today.

This club has given us fans so much joy and success. But now the club needs us, the fans, to show some faith and loyalty and this is what we all, I hope, intend to do.