The AC Milan Quartet - Robinho, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic & Pato: Can they bring back the success?
With AC Milan acquiring the services of mercurial but brilliant Brazilian Robinho from Manchester City, the landscape has changed not just in the Italian Serie A but also in the European competition. Out of the blue, AC Milan is suddenly a contender all on fronts once again. The reason for making this statement is the quartet that they have suddenly acquired – a magical quartet with quality enough to scare any defence in the world.
Robinho joins a star-studded cast of Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho and newly-acquired loan recruit Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Now the question for AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri is how he can integrate the magical four into his team. Will he be able to without sacrificing defensive balance or hurting egos?
As the season will pass, however, we will see that these questions are irrelevant. Milan has not played 4-4-2 in quite a while, preferring to use only one striker up top. But with the star quality at his disposal, Allegri can actually play Pato and Ibrahimovic up top compensating for defensive frailties with attacking prowess. A certain problem can arise because fellow Brazilians Ronaldinho and Robinho both prefer to play on the left side of the attack. However, given the quality possessed by the Samba boys, it will be fairly easy for them to flit across the wings, thereby confusing the defence even more.
It remains to be seen whether this quartet can accomplish more than the famed Dutch trident of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, who ruled Europe and the Serie A with AC Milan. Yet this quartet has all the quality and talent to make it count for the Italian giants.
The only problem with all of these players barring Pato is that they are extremely moody. Woe be the day when Ronaldinho, Robinho and Ibrahimovic arrive at the match with not much appetite for the fight. All three players have shown a taste for late nights and parties as well. Allegri must be very careful to keep discipline in the dressing room, otherwise these mercurial footballers may become more of a burden than blessing.
These signings must also be looked at in terms of their potency in the competitions that they will be involved in this season. AC Milan has certainly become contenders in the Champions League with these signings. Inter Milan and Bayern Munich showed last season how talented but temperamental players can make a difference if they are given an environment to flourish in. Wesley Sneijder was made to feel unwanted at Real Madrid and ex-Inter coach Jose Mourinho did everything to coax the playmaker to make the journey to Milan. He then gave him the freedom and confidence within his playing framework to perform like he can. Sneijder repaid the faith in him by leading Inter Milan to the Champions League. Similarly, Arjen Robben was convinced by fellow Dutchman Louis Van Gaal that he was wanted at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Robben made the move and turned in sparkling performances for the Bavarian giants, Bayern Munich to lead them to the double.
These examples are helpful for the Brazilians at AC Milan. Robinho and Ibrahimovic can resurrect their world class reputations at the Rossoneri. With these signings, AC Milan can even overhaul the juggernaut of Italian football, Inter Milan, who will be in a transitional period due to their new boss Rafa Benitez whose tactics will take time to be implemented. In fact, this transitional stage was highlighted by Inter’s defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup final. AC Milan can take advantage of this weakness in order to push their own agenda for the league title.
In the Champions League, Ajax and Auxerre will be cursing their luck at these signings. Those two clubs seem destined to miss out on the knockout stage as AC Milan will intend to use their quality to dazzle all. Of course, the fourth team in the group is Jose Mourinho’s formidable Real Madrid, who despite their first day draw will get exponentially stronger and surely qualify along with Milan.
And who knows? In the knock-out rounds and with a bit of luck, Milan magical four could deliver them another famous European trophy. It is very possible.
After watching great rivals Inter sweep all before them, AC Milan and Allegri finally have the tools to bring back some trophies to the San Siro and reclaim their glory.
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