AC Milan’s first Scudetto in 11 years sparked wild celebrations on the Red half of Milan in May, particularly after city rivals Inter had won the Serie A crown just 12 months earlier.
And now I Rossoneri are dreaming of back to back wins and a 20th Scudetto and, following the £1.1bn takeover of the club by Red Bird Capital, there is excitement bubbling around the San Siro Stadium. Head coach Stefano Pioli became a hero last term as he led the un-fancied Milan to glory but the question is: can he do it again?
It’s a million dollar question and one which won’t be answered for another nine months, but while the league can’t be won before Christmas; it can be lost by then… as Juventus discovered last season.
So, by time the Qatar World Cup starts in mid November, Pioli’s Milan need to be in the mix and preferably at the top of it.
The Challenge
As the world’s best head coaches all know, a league winning team can not afford to stand still; because the runners in the chasing pack will all improve year on year. And that is a particularly crucial challenge for Milan, as Pioli strives to bring in players who can improve the club as well as keeping hold of his prize assets.
The big Serie A 2022 news in Milan, earlier in the summer, was that 40 year old scoring phenomenon Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a new deal to stay at the club for another 12 months.
But that is more of a good news story than a pivotal move in the club’s 2022/23 strategy.
Elsewhere in his squad Pioli has a ready supply of experienced and world class stars. Former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud was outstanding last term and he scored a brace in a pre-season friendly win over Koln. And Croatian winger Ante Rebic is fit again after a long lay-off last term, while centre back Simon Kjaer will hope to be playing again early in the new campaign after he underwent knee surgery last December.
Pioli’s main priority is to keep hold of attacking midfielder Rafael Leao who has been the subject of speculation surrounding a potential move to Chelsea. He contributed 11 goals and eight assists last season and Milan are hopeful he will extend his current contract, which has two years to run. Leao has a 150m Euros release clause and that might be enough to keep the Blues at bay, but Rossoneri fans are watching the story closely.
Leao has cheered the fans recently by posting on social media: “New waves on the way…warming up the engines for something big. We’re back!!”
In terms of potential incomings; Matteo Politano looks like he may be on the way out of Napoli and he could be an alternative option if Milan fail to bring in Hakim Ziyech as a new wide man. The Chelsea star looks set to leave Stamford Bridge but I Rossoneri have stalled in their efforts to sign him.
As a back up Pioli may also turn his attention to Renato Sanches. He’s long been an admirer of the Lille and Portugal star but he would have competition from Paris Saint-Germain for the 24 year old’s signature should a deal be on the table.
The Competition
The pre-season Serie A 2022 betting odds suggest Milan have a big fight on their hands from a determined Inter and a resurgent Juventus, though it would be wrong to discount either Napoli or Roma.
I Partenopei have lost two of their most influential players in Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly so it s difficult to see a serious challenge coming from them, unless they too strengthen significantly. At SBOTOP odds of 13.00 to win the Scudetto Napoli are fourth favourites and only slightly ahead of Roma priced at 16.00, where Jose Mourinho will be scheming of a way to win a third Scudetto, having led Inter Milan to back to back successes in 2009 and 2010.
He’s a brilliant tactician and in Lorenzo Pellegrini Mourinho has a hugely influential captain, but his squad may lack a little of the flair of the front runners.
So it potentially looks like a three horse race between Milan at odds of 3.50, Inter at 2.75 and Juventus are marginal favourites at 2.50. The Old Lady has welcomed back Paul Pogba to Turin and that could see the Frenchman return to his best domestic form. But this promises to be as exciting a race as the last two Scudettos and Milan will be there or thereabouts.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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