Leonardo's Milan turnaround confounds critics and has Inter sweating

Posted Monday, January 25, 2010 by theguardian.com

Leonardo's Milan turnaround confounds critics and has Inter sweating
Milan's coach, Leonardo, looks on as Ronaldinho presses forward against Siena last weekend. Both have enjoyed a rapid upswing in their fortunes in recent months.

To put Milan's appalling derby experience from earlier this season – a 4-0 thrashing inflicted in front of a home audience – into perspective, the only time they have lost to Internazionale by a bigger margin was in 1910. The experience symbolises a period when Milan were drowning in mediocrity.

By the beginning of October, a lethargic start to the season dragged them to an intolerable 12th position in the table. Then they were embarrassed in the Champions League, losing at San Siro to FC Zurich. One newspaper headline summed up their plight evocatively enough: "A Milan to make you cry."

But now, with the derby return looming on Sunday evening, Milan are all smiles. They have been so resourceful in their recovery they can almost touch the Serie A summit. If they can beat the champions, and the formbook suggests they have a reasonable chance, they will move to within three points of Inter with a game in hand. They are no longer just peering over the neighbour's fence to cast a nostalgic eye over the scudetto silverware, they are plotting to vault over and grab it.

That they are in such a position is a credit to everyone at the club for holding their nerve when the problems appeared insurmountable. Leonardo, in particular, has confounded the critics who predicted an early retirement for a novice coach who seemed to have been appointed because Silvio Berlusconi had no one else. In October he looked out of his depth and the general view was that he was too nice, too inexperienced, and had too little to work with to discover the secret to footballing alchemy. As things stand, he is a contender for coach of the season, having manufactured a turnaround as miraculous as anything in Europe.

It is even more admirable considering Ciro Ferrara, the other rookie installed at one of Italy's institutions, is floundering despite having had a barrel full of money to spend on high calibre players expected to make Juventus Inter's main challengers.

It all began to click with a change of system, as Milan settled into a formation that allowed them to be more cavalier and play to their strengths. Since the nadir in October they have averaged three goals a game and their Serie A record reads W10 D1 L1. A front three with Marco Borriello flanked by Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato (with David Beckham currently filling in), provides a variety of threats. Andrea Pirlo is positioned behind them to pull strings, supported by two anchoring midfielders.

If one man sums up the renaissance it is Ronaldinho, who has been transformed from blasé to blazing. It is as if Leonardo walked inside the man's head and switched the light back on. Ronaldinho may not quite be capable of the magic that made him World Footballer of the Year twice, in 2004 and 2005, but he is sufficiently reborn to have earned plaudits from far and wide.

"For me there is only Ronaldinho," says Diego Maradona. "He is one of the greatest players of all time and I hope to see him at the World Cup." A fine hat-trick last weekend amply demonstrated his new motivation.

Ronaldinho knows he has the chance of working his way back into the Brazil team in time for the World Cup in South Africa. He also knows he can be adored enough as his club's fulcrum to keep him buzzing – something that couldn't happen while Kaká was in Milan. And he knows he has someone in the dugout who has made a special effort to spark his footballing imagination in Leonardo. The coach has proved himself a good psychologist in that regard.

"I feel loved and respected," Ronaldinho explains. "I'm happy. I go on the field upbeat and always try to give my best to give our fans great emotions. I have been important and a protagonist in all the teams in which I have played. But, in actual fact, I feel that I have realised more here in Milan. I am proud of it. In fact I want to play football for as long as possible because I feel so happy and complete." He is by all accounts discussing a contract extension with the club.

It is Leonardo's luck that the older generation are coping fitness wise. Even Ronaldinho looks a little more professional, and trim, than in his best partying days. Most of the squad are in good shape, with the notable exception of young Pato, who is back in Brazil in the hope that the warmer conditions will speed up his recovery from a thigh strain and enable him to play against Manchester United when the Champions League restarts.

It is remarkable that Leonardo is now in the position where he has to check fluttering expectations. Even the former Inter manager Roberto Mancini admits the heat is on for his former club. "It's impossible to say it, but Milan have the chance of a lifetime," he mused recently. "They are doing very well, while Inter seem to have been treated badly a little."

And here's the rub. While Milan improve, Inter have been scrabbling for form. After such a powerful start to the campaign, lately they have shown cracks. In their last two games they have snatched points from the jaws of defeat against Bari and Siena. Atalanta were another lowly team to cause them problems this winter.

But how many would dare to bet on Leonardo and Ronaldinho usurping José Mourinho and Diego Milito, not just this weekend, but between here and May?

Don't blink, as it would be a shame to miss anything from what could be a sequel worthy of following up that Milan 0 Inter 4 drama all those winding weeks ago.