January could prove to be a crucial month for Milan to resurrect what has so far been a rather poor campaign by their own standards.
The Rossoneri are currently sixth in Serie A, eight points away from third place and a berth in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Milan have been erratic all season. They’ve already conceded four home defeats and away from the San Siro, Milan just managed three wins from nine outings.
More worrying, Massimiliano Allegri’s team let in 26 goals – the same number conceded by Serie A wooden spoonists Siena, Milan’s opponents this weekend.
The Siena match brings the first round to a close and Milan’s next match will be a trip to the Luigi Ferraris Stadium where they’ll cross swords with strugglers Sampdoria who beat Milan at the San Siro in the season’s curtain-raiser back in August.
Also up in January for Milan will be matches against Bologna (home) and Atalanta (away).
On paper, Allegri’s side have what it takes to collect all 12 points at stake this month.
Milan also have a great opportunity to avenge themselves for last season’s elimination from the Coppa Italia as today week they travel to Turin to take on Juventus in the quarter-finals of the knockout competition.
If the Rossoneri eliminate last season’s Coppa Italia runners-up, they will clash with either Lazio or Catania in a two-legged semi-final on January 22 and 29.
Indeed, if Milan overcome the difficult Juve hurdle, they stand a good chance of reaching the final in Rome on May 26.
Milan also have a daunting Champions League last-16 clash against mighty Barcelona looming large but if they want to stay in contention on all fronts the club bosses have no other option but to add some quality players to Allegri’s squad in this month’s transfer window.
Strikers Alexandre Pato and Robinho are both set to leave and reports are suggesting that Milan have set their sights on Didier Drogba, formerly of Chelsea and now on the books of Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Drogba is seen as a stop-gap solution to partner the in-form Stephan El Shaarawy up front.
Manchester City rebel Mario Balotelli could be another option for Milan even though the ex-Inter forward will not leave the English Premiership on the cheap.
However, Balotelli represents a potential long-term investment and Milan could be tempted to lure the Italy international to their fold.
El Shaarawy, formerly of Genoa and Padova, is currently the leading marksman in the Serie A with 14 goals.
The 20-year-old is having a great season but his ‘almost heroic’ performances have not been enough for Milan to keep the pace with the front-runners.
January will shed more light on what to expect of Milan in the second part of the season. Allegri’s men look good enough to challenge for a top-three finish but a second-round fightback for the scudetto looks somewhat far-fetched.
Milan desperately need reinforcements, particularly in de-fence and attack. But whether Silvio Berlusconi will accede to the fans’ requests could be a different story with the club supremo now shifting his entire focus on the elections to the Italian parliament next month.