Silvio Berlusconi is confident AC Milan will soon return among the echelons of Italian and European football in the foreseeable future.
The Rossoneri ended 8th on the Italian Serie A standings last season, consequently missing out on European competitions in the present campaign season.
But the five-time European Cup winners have shown signs of improvement in early days of the 2014-15 season under new manager Filippo Inzaghi and currently lie fifth in the league table after six matches with 11 points from six games, seven points shy of leaders Juventus and three points adrift of third-placed Sampdoria, who occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot.
“I think football goes in cycles, with years of success followed by a lull and then new victories. The fans should rest assured, the team is already competitive and soon we will be back to being leaders in Europe,” he told Gazzetta Dello Sport. “In 2016 the Champions League final will be in Milan. Why shouldn’t we dream of being there?”
Milan have however conceded more goals than any other team in the top half of the Serie A table so far in the new campaign. They will have to organise their defence in coming days to stand the chance to compete for silverwares both on domestic or continental front.
“I believe though that we can be a more complete side from January onwards. This is a new team which needs time. We are working to rebuild a winning Milan. In recent years we have lost some champions, but the recovery has already started,” he explained. “We have reinforced more than Juve and Roma, our goal is to return to Europe.”
The Italian club owner, Berlusconi, is pleased with the progress the San Siro outfit have made under Inzaghi, who succeeded Clarence Seedorf as head coach in June.
He added: “To Inzaghi I’d give an eight out of ten. He’s done some good work. The squad is at the beginning of a reconstruction, we are organising our play and motivating everyone at the club.
“Inzaghi has already demonstrated that he possesses the humility, respect for others and ability to motivate that are essential to his role. As for the team it’s too early to give a rating, though I might give them an encouraging seven, as that’s the number of Menez, one of the many new signings who has been promising.”
Milan face sixth-placed Verona at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on resumption of league actions across Europe on Sunday.
