Milan in desperate need of positivity ahead of Hellas Verona clash

Milan in desperate need of positivity ahead of Hellas Verona clash

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Milan desperately need a form reboot to salvage any dignity this season.

Things took a dire turn for Milan last week with the Rossoneri only managing to come away from their clash against Carpi with a point in what was a miserable 0-0 result. Following their 4-1 thumping of Sampdoria and 3-1 win against Crotone in the Coppa Italia, it seemed as if Milan had turned a corner and were finally on the up, moving towards the top end of the table.

Instead, they came away with a solitary point and sit eighth on the ladder, well off the pace of the top four teams. This week sees them take on Hellas Verona, a team that has not won a single game this Serie A season.

If ever Milan needed a game to turn their season around, it must be this one. A draw or loss to Verona would be cataclysmic. A loss would surely see Sinisa Mihajlovic relieved of coaching duties. A win would do little in regards to the Serie A table, but it would certainly inject some confidence into the players.

Misfiring striker Carlos Bacca desperately needs to find some offensive form, having not scored a goal since the start of November.

The 2015-16 is looking fairly bleak for AC Milan so far. The only positive aspects of note have been Giacomo Bonaventura in the midfield, who has played superbly for most of the season and M’baye Niang, who is coming into his own, his speed and skills on the ball are a sign of good things to come.

Man of the moment Gianluigi Donnarumma is having an immense first season between the sticks for the Rossoneri. If it were not for the 16-year-old wonderkid then Milan would be much worse off. He has kept the only clean sheets this season, four so far. Milan will have to resist any transfer offers for the brilliant goalkeeper, who appears to be the foundation for a much needed team rebuild.

Mario Balotelli’s return from injury is tracking better than expected and there are whispers that he will be fit for the final game of December, earlier than his anticipated January return. The Rossoneri need the hunger and the passion that Balotelli brings to the game. At the moment they appear to be drained physically and mentally, lacking any creativity or momentum. Taking maximum points from the next two league games and a win in the Coppa Italia would bring some much needed relief to the club as a whole. If they fail to come away from both Serie A games with wins, then Mihajlovic might find himself out of the club come January.

Mihajlovic was visibly disappointed with the team against Carpi, and the players were left frustrated after being unable to break through a stubborn Carpi defence. Bonaventura was relied upon heavily in the midfield and while he did an admirable job, he was let down by team mates. Alessio Cerci had a few breakthrough moments down the wing but poor final touches gave possession away.

Gone are the hopes of taking maximum points from the month before the Christmas break. Now the team and fans will be hoping to come through with wins against Verona and Frosinone, who, like Carpi, are both at the bottom of the ladder. In between those two matches, Milan also take on Sampdoria in the fourth round of the Coppa Italia.

The Gialloblu are sitting dead last at the foot of the table on six points with six draws and nine losses. They have the worst goal differential in the league with a -15 record – that is 10 goals for and 25 goals against them. Long-serving coach Andrea Mandorlini was sacked on 30 November and his successor Luigi Delneri was given the tough task of turning the season around. One game in and it does not appear likely, falling 1-0 to Empoli.

AC Milan and Hellas Verona have met 12 times since 1996, with Milan winning six of the games, Verona two with four draws in between. The most recent meeting saw the teams each take a point away after a 2-2 draw. Nico Lopez scored an injury time goal, leaving Milan to settle for a point. The Rossoneri have a decent home record this season so will be hoping to use that to their advantage and come away with a much needed win and vital three points. Anything less and the team will feel immense pressure as well as manager Mihajlovic.

Milan will have to watch out for a desperate Verona team as the Gialloblu search for their first win of the season.

With any luck, this will be a turning point for the Rossoneri and as long as they stick to their strengths, and the forwards can hold onto the ball, then they should come away with the three points and a relieving win.

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