AC Milan focus: Investment needed

It's as clear as day really, Milan require investment this summer if they are to be able to challenge at Europe's top table again. The 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United is evidence of this as were the 4-0 and 2-0 beatings at the hands of Inter earlier this season. It is true that Milan set out to attack Manchester midweek. Playing with two forwards and a trequartista is hardly evidence of a defensive approach and in some respects it left them wide open, especially down the left hand side, on many an occasion. Mentally it was a very tough game to play as well. Being 3-2 down already was bad enough and to arrive without arguably your two best players in Pato and Nesta as well hardly helped, but to concede after 12 minutes after missing two sitters must have convinced every Milan player that this tie was dead and buried before it had barely begun. Ultimately, 4-0 represented a capitulation rather than this sides true qualities and some would argue that had Milan in fact taken their chances in the opening 30 minutes of the first leg then the second leg would have been a different affair, in terms of Milan's set up at least. However, these are excuses and nothing changes the fact that a significant proportion of Milan's squad is simply inadequate for this level. Thiago Silva has been an excellent addition on the whole but without Nesta the rest of the defence is poor. Bonera clearly cannot replace Nesta when required to do so. The wing back positions, a crucial position in the modern game, are not filled with suitable quality. Jankulovski, Zambrotta and Oddo have seen better days while Abate and Antonini are arguably back ups at best. Take a look across the city and see Maicon and Santon bombing up and down the flanks and perhaps the divide in quality, in these positions at least, is illustrated.

Further up the park Pirlo still has the ability to thread the needle with a defense spitting ball and Flamini has been a good addition in the defensive mould but they certainly could do with an attacking midfielder, someone who can add a creative option going forward and put pressure onto the oppositions back line. Marek Hamsik would fit the bill in my opinion but the funds to take him away from Napoli would be have to be significant, and its widely known that the player is settled in Naples.

Ultimately its clear investment and from that new additions are needed to take this Milan side forward. They have some very good players and ones that a new squad could be built around, but it all boils down to how much the clubs well known President recognises this and acts upon it.