Are the Milan giants on the rise once again?

For many years, the Italian game has been under consistent, major change. Ever since the last Scudetto for AC Milan, and arguably the Jose Mourinho treble season for Internazionale, both clubs have been on the wane. The two powerhouses who could compete with Juventus and keep their stars have faded, leaving more provincial outfits to contest the Scudetto. This means that, for the seven years that Juventus have dominated the Italian top flight, the likes of Napoli, AS Roma and Lazio have been their main challengers.

With none of these sides able to either invest the money needed to compete fully, or keep their top talent, Juventus have had an easy ride for a few seasons now. Napoli drove them close last year, but their failure to get over the line meant an exodus on the bench and on the pitch. This has left the club facing the reality that, like Roma and Lazio, they probably lack the resources to win the league.

Wit Milan sitting in 3^rd and Inter in 4^th, though, they could be set for a glorious return to the top table. Though Inter struggled this year in the UEFA Champions League, a second consecutive season would be essential for their development.

Are AC Milan and Internazionale back?

Say it quietly, but the often chaotically managed Milan look in better shape than their black and blue cousins. While the Nerrazzurri deal with a massive problem due to their ex-captain, Mauro Icardi, Milan look upwardly mobile.

Young players have made their season a true standout, with the likes of Tiemoue Bakayako and Franck Kessie adding massive drive to the middle of the pitch. When fit, Giacomo Bonaventura has been one of the best players in the league. The signing of Kryzstof Piatek was a great move, too, scoring 5 league goals in first six matches. The form of Suso might have dropped off, too, but for some time the 25-year-old Spaniard was among the best players in the country.

Inter look like, if they get into the Champions League, they have a lot of work to do. Milan look far less stressed out as a club, with the January signings of Piatek and Lucas Paqueta giving them a freshness that was sorely lacking. The difference is that, for the most part, the two Milan clubs have the pulling power and resources to build – and keep – their best players.

For years, poor coaching choices and a flux of ownership changes left both clubs in a bit of a state. With clearer strategies from above, they are almost certainly the clubs most likely to build a considerable challenge to the Bianconeri at the top of the Italian game.

Milan look in the better shape of the duo, but Inter are not far off becoming a more consistent themselves. If they can manage the soap opera with the club and Icardi to the end of the season, both clubs could be set for extensively impressive summers.

While some of the other big clubs of Italy have fallen away when it matters most, the return of both Milan clubs could, finally, signal a regularly competitive Serie A. Getting back to the top table of Europe again, though, will be essential to ensuring that can become a reality.

For once, though, there’s something to smile about in the city of Milan.

Featured Image Credit: “San Siro Tour” (CC BY 2.0) by daniel0685