It is win or bust for AC Milan in Serie A this season and all eyes will be on new signings Andrei Shevchenko and Ronaldinho to see if either can recapture their form of old.
Ronaldinho is a twice world footballer of the year while Shevchenko has won the European player of the year award.
But both have seen their once illustrious careers stumble in recent times.
PHOTO: AP
Ronaldinho has come under the spotlight for his off-field antics and apparently expanding waistline, which saw Barcelona only too happy to move on the Brazilian superstar.
After bristling for the Catalan outfit for four years, in which they won the Champions League in 2006 and successive titles in 2005 and 2006, Ronaldinho’s star has dimmed and his form dipped alarmingly last season.
So much so that new Barca boss Pep Guardiola insisted that the former Paris St Germain player needed a new challenge, and then promptly shipped him off to Milan.
Shevchenko arrived at Chelsea from Milan in 2006 amid much pomp and fanfare as the most expensive signing in English soccer history.
But the Ukrainian never managed to settle down in Chelsea’s first team and was constantly overshadowed, and confined to the bench, by Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.
There is a palpable feeling that both players are past their best but Milan will nonetheless be expecting great things from them this campaign.
Part of that is due to the fact that Milan will not be sidetracked by the Champions League, having finished fifth last season and missing out on Europe’s premier club competition.
They have already confirmed that their focus will be on the scudetto this season and Ronaldinho and Shevchenko will be expected to deliver.
Milan should start as favorites on an equal footing with city rivals Inter having made some astute signings this summer.
Italy full-back Gianluca Zambrotta has arrived from Barcelona and will add experience to the defense while Mathieu Flamini was prized from Arsenal and should bring energy and competition to a midfield that includes the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf.
Goalkeeper Cristian Abbiati has returned to the club following spells at Juventus, Torino and Atletico Madrid and is expected to oust both Zeljko Kalac and Nelson Dida for the starting jersey.
Then there is the imminent acquisition of Swiss center-back Philippe Senderos from Arsenal to act as back-up for Alessandro Nesta and Georgian Kakha Kaladze.
And with Marco Borriello added up front and young Brazilian Pato and veteran Filippo Inzaghi on the books as well, Milan now have the options and strength in depth that was lacking last season.
However, Inter will be expecting to continue their dominance under new coach Jose Mourinho who has also strengthened their all-conquering outfit.
His primary mandate will be to bring success in Europe and that could open the door for Milan at home.
But having added midfield steel in Ghana’s Sulley Muntari and attacking width with Brazilian Alessandro Mancini, and possibly Ricardo Quaresma to come as well as the return from loan of powerful forward Adriano, Inter have the squad to more than cope on two fronts.
Juventus have added well with the capture of Brazilian striker Amauri from Palermo but with Champions League soccer to occupy them this season, they are unlikely to prove as consistent in the league as last season’s third place.
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