Dark clouds currently hover above Milan after their disastrous start to the Serie A season.
With eight points to show from their opening six league matches, Milan have already slipped seven points behind early pace-setters Sampdoria.
Their statistics so far are unflattering. Leonardo's men have won twice (against modest Siena 2-1 and Bologna 1-0), figured in two goalless draws (vs Serie A newcomers Livorno and Bari), were humbled by rivals Inter 0-4 and suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Udinese.
The Rossoneri's early-season troubles were to be expected in light of their lame performances in pre-season friendlies.
It has now become clear that this season will be one of transition for Milan. Any club harbouring aspirations to challenge for the top honours, both at home and on the continent, will never part company with a coach of the calibre of Carlo Ancelotti and transfer their biggest asset in Kaka.
Milan's abject performance in Sunday's goalless draw against Bari threw up more questions than tangible answers for a team that looks like heading into the abyss.
Ironically, Bari could have won all three points had they converted some of the open scoring chances that came their way. Also, one has to mention the outstanding performance of veteran goalkeeper Marco Storari. Without his interventions, Milan would have left the San Siro empty-handed.
Not so long ago, Milan were very strong in midfield but on Sunday, they looked vulnerable in this key department. The midfielders offered little, if any, protection to their defensive colleagues and their forward link-up play was non-existent.
These flaws show why Milan have only scored three league goals so far. In the 20-strong Serie A, only relegation candidates Atalanta (2) and Livorno (1) have an inferior scoring record.
Milan scored twice through Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato in their opening-day win over Siena. Since then, they have only found the back of the net once, through Clarence Seedorf in a hard-fought home win over Bologna.
Some have suggested that Milan have become a cup team and thus, they tend to show their best in the Champions League.
Although Milan enjoyed their best moments in the Champions League, one must not forget that they are coming from two negative campaigns in European football.
Suffice to say that in season 2007/08, the Rossoneri were eliminated by Arsenal in the first knock-out stage of the Champions League and last February, they were knocked out by eventual runners-up Werder Bremen in the second round of the UEFA Cup.
Milan's best performance this season came in their Champions League Group C opener away to Marseille on September 15.
That day, they played like true champions and overcame possibly their biggest rivals for a place in the first knock-out stage.
Leonardo needs to get back to basics and assess the strengths and weaknesses of his team. It might be opportune for him to adopt a more prudent 4-4-2 or 4-3-2-1 playing system because, as things stand, Milan can ill-afford to have two natural strikers and a schemer sitting just behind them.
One feels that Milan's woes are more profound than Ronaldinho's toothless performances. It is a collective problem.
Needless to say that their morale is at its lowest ebb. For instance, players like Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini have seldom played to their best. Klaas Jan Huntelaar, the star signing from Real Madrid, is still finding his feet in the Serie A.
To sum up, the coach needs to re-think his tactics because, even if Milan are not an awesome team capable of challenging Inter and Juventus in the Serie A and the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea on the continent, one does not expect them to struggle to get a home point against Bari.
Serie A statistics
1 point collected by Siena from their last four matches as the Tuscany side went down to a much-improved Napoli at the San Paolo for the second season running. With only four points from their opening six games, Siena have, so far, been a far cry from the side that did so well last season. For the record, Marco Giampaolo's team, together with Cagliari, Catania, Atalanta and Livorno, are still without a home win this season.
2 players , Gennaro Delvecchio (Catania) and Dario Dainelli (Fiorentina), received marching orders last weekend. Meanwhile, only one penalty was awarded by referees. Livorno-Fiorentina were heading to a goalless draw when the visitors were awarded a penalty, from which substitute Stevan Jovetic made no mistake to give the Viola three valuable points.
7 years had to pass for Bologna to leave Turin undefeated against Juventus as the match ended 1-1. After a stuttering start, Cagliari extended their bold comeback courtesy of their second straight away win, with newcomers Parma their latest victims. The Sardinians' win becomes even more significant when one considers that in the last 15 years, this was only their third positive result at Parma's Tardini Stadium.
8 teams - Udinese, Napoli, Bari, Palermo, Bologna, Catania, Atalanta and Livorno - are still in search of their first away win of the term. Napoli and Livorno have lost all their away fixtures. Palermo came close to breaking the jinx as they took the lead 15 minutes from the end against a determined Lazio side. But to their dismay, the Sicilians were once again undone by a late equaliser to drop two further points.
17 goals were scored on the sixth day: nine coming from the hosts and the remaining eight from the visitors. Foreigners contributed with nine goals. Total number of goals scored so far amount to 143. Napoli's Marek Hamsik grabbed the only brace of the day. Edison Cavani (Palermo), Jovetic (Fiorentina) and Adailton (Bologna) came on as subs and scored. Udinese's Antonio Di Natale leads the scorers' list with eight goals.