AC Milan and Liverpool have been two of the most illustrious clubs that have adorned European football for time immemorial. With the Italians laying claim to a massive seven European titles and the Merseysiders not far behind with five of their own, the two clubs have ensured that they remain two of the most important cogs of football history in Europe.

With Liverpool earning rave reviews in England with their renewed playing style and young team, they are on the cusp of winning their first Premier League title since 1990. In stark contrast, Milan are struggling to compete for spots in the Europa League, a competition they will be unfamiliar with given their success in the tournament’s more glamorous elder brother, the Champions League.

The Rossoneri, now under the management of Milan legend Clarence Seedorf, have put together a decent run of form of late to put them five points short of rivals Inter, who are in contention for a Europa League spot as well. However, this is barely the tip of the iceberg that plagues the 2007 European Champions.

The club are in financial austerity mode, after realising that they can no longer command the aura of yesteryear when for a player in Europe, Milan was a dream club. With a squad short of household names unlike the glory days of the Carlo Ancelotti era, Milan have made some calculated and at times ridiculous acquisitions in the transfer market.

Once upon a time!!

Milan, once upon a time!! (credits: acmilan.com)

The return of Kaka was seen as a new dawn for the San Siro club as its favourite son had returned after being left in the wilderness at Real Madrid. However, the management had all but imposed a set playing style to then manager Max Allegri, who had to abandon his 4-3-3 formation in favour of an unimaginative and narrow 4-3-1-2 on the ‘advice’ of the club’s top officials. With the team labouring to create chances and win games, they were in danger of missing out on a European spot, let alone challenge for the Serie A title.

Signings such as Ricardo Saponara and Valter Birsa along with the blooding of youngsters such as Mattea de Sciglio and Bryan Cristante aimed at a new direction for the club, but shelling out nearly 12 million euros for Alessandro Matri, a striker who seemed to have forgotten how to find the back of the net, did not make any financial sense.

Only with the return of Seedorf has the club moved towards an attacking setup, one that gives the players more license to score goals rather than defend till the death. Adel Taarabt, a winter signing on loan from QPR, has proved to be a valuable addition. He provides some pace and width to an otherwise predictable Milan.

Seedorf does have his own doubters and rumours are afloat that he will be shown the door over the summer. But Milan need to realise that good managers are hard to find and command a hefty transfer budget to overhaul the squad to their liking, the latter which Milan do not possess. Seedorf has bought a sense of calm in the Milan camp with players and management alike giving their former hero the respect he deserves.

One need only take a look at Liverpool and the benefits they have reaped out of keeping faith in their manager and a careful transfer policy. Signings such as Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho are on their way to becoming Anfield heroes thanks to Rodgers’ willingness to allow them to play with freedom.

Liverpool's faithful

Liverpool’s faithful (credits: Google)

The result is that Liverpool are now a club agonisingly close to winning their 19th Premier League title and a return to the Champions League, a tournament they have not graced since the 2009-10 season and providing respite to the club’s numerous supporters who have seen the Merseysiders being overtaken by Manchester United with regards to number of Premier League titles won. These fans have been there, through high and low, keeping faith that the club will regain its former glory days.

Milan are in a similar situation now. They have lived under an aura that Champions League football is their birthright. However, the results off late may see them miss out on continental football for 2 maybe 3 seasons, but it will give them the time to rebuild and come back stronger as a force that can once again dominate the European scene like the days of old.

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