4) The Milan clubs are quickly becoming the laughing stock of Italian football
AC Milan and Inter Milan’s misfortunes over the last few seasons has been viewed with glee by their rivals, but this was the supposed to be the season of rebuilding. Fresh from a sale to Chinese owners, the hope of both Milanese clubs was a relatively stable season.
Sacking Roberto Mancini just 2 weeks before the start of the season was hardly ideal, but Frank de Boer represented a forward thinking appointment. Nerazzuri fans celebrating Antonio Candreva’s arrival were swiftly brough back to earth by Valter Birsa’s double for the Flying Donkeys. Chievo did represent a tough opening fixture, but the sheer lack of competitiveness from Inter in a 0-2 loss points to a long season ahead.
AC Milan’s 3-2 win over Torino was the most exciting game of the week, but served to expose the failings in Milan’s lineup. Carlos Bacca’s perfect hat-trick ought to have resulted in a comfortable win for Milan, but a foolish goal conceded in injury time followed by a daft penalty and red card by Paletta meant that Milan could have given ex-manager Sinisa Mihajlovic a dream return, only for Donnarumma to bail them out yet again.
How one of Italy’s most storied clubs have come to depending on a 17-year-old to save their season, again, is anyone’s guess.
