Editorial : Galliani is the Root of Milan's Problems

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Galliani is the Root of Milan's Problems by Mehdi<br>
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Milan are a club in crisis. Their mid-week defeat in the Champions League by Swiss champions Zurich follows miserable domestic form which sees them sitting in a lowly 11th place but their problems go much deeper than the loss of Kaka', the retirement of Paolo Maldini and an ageing squad and their inept vice president, Adriano Galliani, is to blame. Despite former coach Carlo Ancelotti's lack of faith in younger players he deserves tremendous credit for what he achieved in Europe with limited resources.<br>
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Due to a conflict of interests with his political career Silvio Berlusconi ceded control of the day to day running of Milan to Galliani. Recent successes in the Champions League belie years of mismanagement. Following Milan's penalty shoot-out triumph over Juventus in the 2003 European Cup final Galliani embarked on a policy of not only extending the contracts of ageing stars, out of a misplaced sense of loyalty, but also signing them - Vieri, Favalli, Rivaldo and Pancaro all joined after they hit 30. Ancelotti was never backed in the transfer market. As early as 2005 he requested Frank Ribery, then a largely unknown 22 year old who was struggling at Galatasaray following a controversial move from Metz but his requests were ignored. Last season he identified the need for a target man to give the Milan attack a physical presence but instead of Adebayor he was given Marco Boriello, a former youth team player who was sold to Genoa in a co-ownership deal only to be carelessly re-signed a year later for €10 million. Most damaging of all was the loss of Yoann Gourcuff. Milan beat a host of clubs to the signature of the prodigiously gifted playmaker in 2006. Even though Ancelotti failed to give Gourcuff adequate playing time the arrival of Ronaldinho pushed Gourcuff further down the pecking order and despite limited options in midfield he was sent on loan to Bordeaux with the added clause that gave the French club the option to sign him at the end of last season for €14 million, an option they promptly exercised after Gourcuff inspired Bordeaux to the league title, despite a last ditch attempt by Galliani and new coach Leonardo to change the youngster's mind. Milan have repeated the same mistake with teenage striker Alberto Paloschi, who has been sent on loan to Parma. At the end of the season Milan will have to outbid Parma in a blind auction to re-sign a player that, by rights, was theirs. Pasquale Foggia, now an Italy international, is another former youth team player carelessly sold under Galliani's watch. In the post Maldini, post Kaka', post Ancelotti era Leonardo is bearing the brunt of Galliani's misguided transfer strategy.<br>
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Leonardo was a surprise choice as Ancelotti's successor especially as Marco Van Basten, Berlusconi's favourite son, had been tipped to succeed his former team-mate. Leonardo was part of Milan's title winning side of 1999 and had worked for years in a scouting capacity for the club. He was instrumental in bringing Kaka', Pato and Tiago Silva to the San Siro. As with Ancelotti, Leonardo has not been backed in the transfer market. He stressed the need for more options at full back and a centre forward. Milan were linked with a host of names - Eto'o, Adebayor, Dzeko, Luis Fabiano, Cissokho and Rafinha, none arrived. It was only after a run of disastrous defeats in pre-season friendlies that Berlusconi's hand was forced and following a meeting with Leonardo and Galliani Klass Jan Huntelaar was signed from Real Madrid. Berlusconi of course isn't blameless either. His inexplicable faith in Ronaldinho and sudden bout of austerity has compromised the clubs chances of success. Milan, probably the only major team in Europe without any debts, are a club with short arms and deep pockets.<br>
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Leonardo, in his first coaching role, is hopelessly out of his depth. He lack of personality, authority and ideas are evident on and off the pitch. As the pressure mounts, as Milan slip further away from the leading pack in Serie A and with impending defeats against Real Madrid in the Champions League on the horizon it's only a matter of time before Van Basten is sworn in as his replacement. Even if there are serious doubts about Van Basten's coaching ability he will have considerably more pull with Berlusconi than any other coach since Sacchi and, crucially, more than Galliani himself. Under Van Basten it's likely the squad will be purged and he will be supported in the transfer market. Whether he is successful or not is another matter.<br>
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Milan's finances are in a healthy state and they have one of the best scouting networks in the game - Van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard, Desailly, Savicevic, Vieira, Shevchenko, Kaka', Gourcuff and now Pato are just some of the stars that have passed through the club and most of them were signed for a pittance. The conditions for success exist but if Milan are to reclaim past glorious it's imperative that Galliani takes a backseat and his influence is diminished.<br>

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