Serie A: Silvio Berlusconi says AC Milan will become 'leaders in Europe' again
Monday 13 October 2014 13:51, UK
Silvio Berlusconi has vowed to return AC Milan to the upper echelons of Italian and European football and insists the club can reach the 2016 Champions League final.
Milan finished the 2013-14 Serie A season in eighth - their worst league finish for 16 years - and subsequently missed out on a Champions League place for the first time in five years.
But they have made an encouraging start under new head coach Filippo Inzaghi and currently lie fifth in the Serie A standings after six matches, three points behind Sampdoria who occupy the third and final Champions League spot.
Milan nevertheless need to improve further before they can once again compete for domestic and continental silverware on a regular basis, but owner Berlusconi is confident the Rossoneri will be back among football's elite clubs before too long.
"I think football goes in cycles, with years of success followed by a lull and then new victories,'' he told Gazzetta Dello Sport.
"The fans should rest assured, the team is already competitive and soon we will be back to being leaders in Europe.
"In 2016 the Champions League final will be in Milan. Why shouldn't we dream of being there?''
Berlusconi is pleased with the progress the seven-time European champions have made under Inzaghi, who succeeded Clarence Seedorf as head coach in June.
"To Inzaghi I'd give an eight out of 10. 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,'' Berlusconi added.
"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.
"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.
"We have reinforced more than Juve and Roma, our goal is to return to Europe.''
Milan return to Serie A action on Sunday when they face sixth-placed Verona at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.
