1987–88 AC Milan season

Summary

Silvio Berlusconi appointed Arrigo Sacchi as the new head coach, who in the previous season with Parma had faced Milan in the Coppa Italia three times and subsequently eliminated the Rossoneri, in the process impressing Berlusconi with the team's style of play. The transfer market brought two Dutch players to Milan: Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, taken respectively from Ajax and PSV, in place of the English Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley. Angelo Colombo and Carlo Ancelotti joined in midfield. The coach from Fusignano could thus count on a young squad, which could allow him to fight in the league against reigning champions Napoli. The squad was already made up of a strong defense led by captain Franco Baresi and which included Paolo Maldini, Filippo Galli, Mauro Tassotti as well as the substitutes Alessandro Costacurta (who will make his debut in the first team during the season) and the new signing Roberto Mussi. Thanks to the play-off won at the end of the 1986–87 season against Sampdoria, the Rossoneri regained access to Europe by participating in the UEFA Cup. Due to the disqualification of the Meazza (because of incidents during the match against Waregem on 11 December 1985), the club decided to play its home games at the Via del mare stadium in Lecce. In the Coppa Italia, Milan got through the first round, finishing their group in second place: they won four matches and lost only one, on penalties, against Parma.

The league began with the victory at Pisa, in which Van Basten (on his debut in Italy) scored the final 3–1 from a penalty kick. Milan then eliminated Sporting de Gijón in the UEFA Cup after losing the first leg 1–0 and winning the second leg 3–0 at the Via del Mare. On the league's fifth day, in the match against Sampdoria, Van Basten suffered an injury that would put him out of action until April. The journey in Europe ended in the next round, against another Spanish team: Espanyol, victorious away, in Lecce (2–0), and capable of imposing a goalless draw at home. Two months after the Dutchman's injury, Milan beat Roma at the San Siro, but the match was later abandoned by the referee due to a firecracker from the Milan stand that had hit the Giallorossi goalkeeper Tancredi. The calendar year ended with a victory in the derby, achieved by beating Inter 1–0: Milan thus had 16 points in the standings, 5 less than leaders Napoli. The first match of 1988 had the challenge against the Neapolitans on the calendar, which the Rossoneri won with an imposing 4–1; the 3–1 goal was scored by Gullit, who had just been awarded the 1987 Ballon d'Or. Three days later, the team defeated Ascoli in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia: in the second leg, the score of 1–0 was overturned by Ascoli who would then win on penalties.

In the second half of the season, in the league, Sacchi's team didn't suffer any setbacks and recovered ground against Napoli. In the 25th round, Van Basten returned to the pitch after six months of absence, and scored the winning goal against Empoli. This success was followed by victories against Roma and Inter, which made it possible to reduce the gap from Napoli to just one point, on the eve of the crucial match. At the San Paolo, Milan defeated the hosts again, this time 3–2 with a double by Virdis and Van Basten, who responded to Maradona and Careca. The result promoted the Rossoneri to first place in the standings, with an advantage of one point. The position was defended in the two remaining games, thanks to draws with Juventus and Como, giving Milan the Scudetto, their eleventh overall, as well as the first after nine years.

Squad

Transfers

Competitions

Serie A

Main article: 1987–88 Serie A

League table

Results summary

Results by round

|text_2-6=1988–89 UEFA Cup

Matches

Gullit
van Basten R. Baggio Evani Bortolazzi Donadoni
Maldini Virdis
Gullit
Donadoni Virdis
Gullit
Ancelotti Evani
Massaro Maldini Gullit Massaro Virdis Careca van Basten

Coppa Italia

Main article: 1987–88 Coppa Italia

First round Virdis van Basten Gullit Massaro van Basten Gullit F. Galli Bortolazzi Donadoni Baresi Ancelotti Carboni Pasa Di Fabio Fiorin Cossato Mazzaferro Rovani Baresi Ancelotti Colombo Donadoni Eightfinals Casagrande Greco Benetti Destro Bortolazzi Donadoni Baresi

UEFA Cup

Main article: 1987–88 UEFA Cup

First round Gullit Second round Pichi Alonso

Statistics

Squad statistics

Players statistics

References

Works cited

Sources

• RSSSF – Italy 1987/88

References

1. Gianni Mura. (July 3, 1987). "E un giorno Sacchi giocò in difesa". la Repubblica.
2. Gianni Mura. (July 28, 1987). "Straordinari per il Milan". la Repubblica.
3. Fabrizio Bocca. (July 1, 1987). "Milan, Juve e Roma sconvolte Hanno già prenotato i migliori". [[la Repubblica]].
4. Licia Granello. (September 17, 1987). "Il Milan è un gigante smarrito". la Repubblica.
5. Licia Granello. (October 1, 1987). "È un Milan preciso". la Repubblica.
6. "Il Milan è già disperato".
7. Gianni Brera. (November 24, 1987). "Caro Napoli, vai troppo forte". la Repubblica.
8. Licia Granello. (January 20, 1988). "Il mio calcio è come un look". la Repubblica.
9. Gianni Brera. (January 26, 1988). "Ma anche le grandi sentono la fatica". la Repubblica.
10. Licia Granello. (May 3, 1988). "Ma non è ancora scudetto". la Repubblica.
11. "Cari campioni, vi vedo così...".
12. Nino Sormani. (31 August 1987). "Primi fischi per il Milan olandese". [[La Stampa]].
13. Due to no authorized [[Barletta]]: {{harvnb. Panini. 1989
14. Luca Argentieri. (10 July 1987). "Real – Napoli è già finale". la Repubblica.
15. "Milan Associazione Calcio 1987–88". magliarossonera.it.
16. "Milan Associazione Calcio 1987–88". magliarossonera.it.