AC Milan Have Chance To Save Season Following Cup Derby Win Over Inter

AC Milan could yet save a disastrous season by winning their second piece of silverware next month.

The Rossoneri saw off Inter in impressive fashion over two legs to secure a slot in their first Coppa Italia final in seven years.

Two goals from Luka Jovic and a third from Tijani Reijnders sealed an emphatic win for Sergio Conceicao’s men, ensuring their city neighbours won’t win a potential treble this season.

Milan now face Bologna on May 14 at the Stadio Olimpico, and the winner will be granted an automatic slot into the Europa League.

For Bologna, this might be a real possibility regardless, with the Rossoblu on the precipice of qualifying for the Champions League.

In a battle with Juventus for fourth, Bologna currently sit a point ahead of The Old Lady, but can take comfort in knowing that bar a monumental collapse, they should have European nights to enjoy next season after reaching the Champions League for the first time in 60 years.

For Milan, it’s a different story. The club have produced a disappointing season and currently languish ninth in the table. There’s been rancour between the fans and the ownership over a perceived lack of ambition and an adherence to put profit before success.

The Supercoppa Italiana was won in Riyadh in January after beating Inter — again — in the final in stunning fashion after being two goals down. Now on their second manager of the season, there’s also the chance to secure a second trophy of the campaign.

Milan haven’t won the Coppa Italia since 2003, the days when Andriy Shevchenko was the best player in the world, Paolo Maldini was finishing second in the Ballon d’Or standings and Carlo Ancelotti had just guided the club to its sixth European crown.

Those days are long over.

Milan are light years away from a return to those days. A lack of Champions League money means big-name departures is more than likely this summer.

Both Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao could be in the proverbial shop window, with the former was the subject of a bid from Como in the January window, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the French full-back is sold on come the end of the season.

Leao, meanwhile, continues his form of being maddeningly inconsistent. Against Inter on Wednesday he was in the mood, reminding everyone of the talent he has in abundance, driving past players at will and possessing a turn of pace very few players in Italy have.

Yet those days have been very few and far between this season. The Leao of 2021/22, when he scored a string of clutch goals that helped Milan win the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years, has scarcely been seen.

Yet if the real Leao turns up in Rome against Bologna, he could be the match winner.

The real MVP for the club this season has been Reijnders, a man whose has grown exponentially over the past 10 months.

The midfielder, now in his second year in Italy, has added goals to his game and now has 15 in all competitions. Milan may face competition to keep hold of the 26-year-old, with Champions League money absent.

Yet either way, a name will be engraved on the trophy that hasn’t been there for a long time. Milan, for the sake of its season, will hope it’s them.