Italian champion in the season before last and semi-finalist in the Champions League in the last year, the Milan He started the current campaign with a lot of expectations. The second greatest European champion in history, the traditional team was finally breathing after a crisis lasting many years that placed it almost as a supporting player.
For 2023/24, the team invested more than 120 million euros in important reinforcements, such as the midfielder Loftus-Cheek and the attacker Pulisicwho arrived from Chelseain addition to Chukwuezewinger hired after a good season at Villarreal. And perhaps more important than all of this: maintaining Rafael Leaorumored to be part of some of the continent’s richest teams, but who chose to remain in Italy.
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The expectations created by all this, however, took a long time to be met. The first months were quite complicated. In addition to not packaging in Italian ChampionshipMilan were still unlucky and fell into the group of death in the Champions League, alongside Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint Germain e Newcastle. The Italians even had a valid campaign, with two wins, two draws and two defeats, but ended up eliminated in 3rd place, which made it possible to go to the Europa League.
And perhaps the “fall” into the competition was something that served to “turn the corner”. If many big teams choose to ignore the Europa League, Milan did just the opposite. As there was practically no more chance of winning the Italian title, the entire focus was on the continental tournament.
Rafael Leão and Giroud celebrate Milan’s goal Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
Since the playoffs, coach Stefano Pioli, who was at risk of dismissal, has always decided to go full force in the competition. And it’s no surprise that Milan managed to dispatch Rennes and Slavia Prague, always in games with many goals, with the French winning 3-0 and the Czechs 4-2.
More than placing the team among the eight that still dream of the European cup, the positive sequence also seems to have motivated a resurgence on the local scene.
Since the turn of the year, there have been 14 wins, two draws and just two defeats. If before the team struggled to stay in the G-4, today the Red-black is vice-leader, with 68 points, and the only reason he doesn’t dream of something even bigger is the fact that Inter Milan to have an almost impeccable campaign, with 82 points and 26 wins in 31 games played.
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Another factor that motivates the team is the fact that the Europa League is one of the few titles that Milan has not yet won. In the quarterfinals, the opponent is a well-known rival, Romawhich is also experiencing a great recovery this season and seems to have found its feet after the departure of José Mourinho and the arrival of idol Daniele De Rossi.
The team from the capital, current runner-up of the tournament, arrives with the highest possible motivation, as it comes from a victory in the local derby against Lazio and has Dybala as his great technical reference.
Where to watch Milan vs Roma?
The clash between Milan and Roma, the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals, will feature exclusive broadcast by ESPN on Star+. The ball rolls at the San Siro at 4 pm (Brasília time) this Thursday (11).