AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was told his position was secure after the 2007 European champions finished fifth in Serie A last term and missed out on this season’s Champions League.
However, two defeats in their opening two league matches have put him under pressure again. The arrivals of Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko were designed to help stop the rot but Milan’s main problem last season was a static midfield and the issue remains unresolved.
Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini have a habit of standing together in a line near the centre circle and rarely does one of them break forward. This means the front three have to do all the running.
Ancelotti may have to reconsider his tactics if he wants to stay in a job, especially with a much-loved former Milan player looking freely available to take over.
Frank Rijkaard left Barcelona after things went sour at the Nou Camp but his 2006 Champions League-winning side played the sort of wonderfully attacking football the San Siro now craves.
The Dutchman would have to bury the hatchet with Ronaldinho and re-energise an ageing defence but Italian media see him as the ideal candidate.
Ancelotti needs to act fast, or hope Rijkaard is snapped up by another team.
PHOTO: Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti gives instructions to his players during the game at Genoa, Sept. 14 REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito
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It is so strange not seeing AC Milan in the Champions League this year. And if Ancelotti doesn’t start winning games soon… who knows, but Rijkaard and Ronaldinho, that could be interesting to say the least!
- Posted by RikAs an ex-player I’m sure he’d love to go back there, but there are others too aren’t there? Donadoni and van Basten spring straight to mind and there are no doubt another couple that people could think of.
Cheers
Rik
Someone remind me when was the last time Ancelotti failed to score a sitter or mark a man in the box on a corner kick? And exactly when did he not hustle back to help on defense? Oh yeah, and this piss-poor roster of players no one’s heard of–that’s all his doing too right?
Sad how quickly he’s forgotten how to coach, isn’t it? Maybe it’s the glare from all those trophies blinding him during strategy meetings that he’s just not getting it right?
You’re right, let’s get rid of him.
http://startingeleven.blogspot.com/2008/ 09/starting-eleven-football-blog-roundup _15.html
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