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AC Milan vs. Torino: Could Sinisa Mihajlovic Come Back to Haunt His Old Club?
- Updated: August 20, 2016
The spectre of a football club’s past can often heap pressure on its incumbent staff. Last season, Sinisa Mihajlovic struggled under the weight of AC Milan’s illustrious history before finally succumbing on 12 April of this year, when he was relieved of his coaching duties.
A combination of underwhelming results and functional football laid the groundwork for his eventual demise less than one year after he was appointed amid great hope and expectation.
Mihajlovic’s arrival at Milan came after a hugely disappointing 10th-place finish in 2014-15, the club’s worst position in 17 years. But, with quality new signings in Alessio Romagnoli from Roma and Carlos Bacca from Sevilla, he was charged with leading the Rossoneri back up the Serie A table and on into European football.
However, within months it became clear that results were not going to improve drastically any time soon. An embarrassing 4-0 home defeat to Napoli provoked a tactical reshuffle, and in came a more cautious, defence-first style of play.
Lacking for imagination and creativity, Mihajlovic’s Milan struggled to break down inferior opposition, with draws against Atalanta, Carpi and Verona, as well as a defeat to Bologna, paving the way for the coach’s dismissal. The final nails were hammered into his proverbial coffin between March and April, when the team went five games without a victory.
On his Facebook page (h/t Football Italia), club president Silvio Berlusconi pulled no punches in clarifying why he had opted for a change in head coach, simply stating: “Milan must return to a style of play and results worthy of our history.”
Four months on and how times have changed.
Berlusconi has agreed to sell Milan, but not before hiring Vincenzo Montella as his new head coach. Mihajlovic, meanwhile, is now in charge at Torino. And, in a twist of fate, the two teams will meet one another this Sunday in the opening round of 2016-17 fixtures.
The new Rossoneri boss has had a tricky beginning to life in the hot seat, with pre-season throwing up friendly clashes against some of Europe’s finest, including Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Liverpool. Results are negligible during this period, but stylistically, it is apparent that he is more in line with the proactive, attacking style seen in the club’s recent past.
Montella is renowned for his ability to inspire beautiful football. His time with Fiorentina resulted in some of the most aesthetically pleasing passing play seen on the peninsula. And, within a matter of months, he has begun to implement his vision at Milan.
The changes are clear to see in the way his side builds possession. Gone are the aimless long balls of years gone by. Gone too are the nervy clearances at the slightest hint of pressure. Moves are now orchestrated, quite deliberately, from the back; all defensive players have a role to play in safeguarding the ball, including Gianluigi Donnarumma between the sticks.
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