Days after optimism around AC Milan started simmering, Genoa turned it off. Milan beat Juventus 1-0 on Saturday, but lost to Genoa two days later. The 3-0 defeat at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris was Milan’s heaviest of the season, and the fact it happened immediately after their best result is a case in point.

Milan were already considered Scudetto challengers following their Juve victory. Although manager Vincenzo Montella quickly put aside any title thoughts, there was no stopping the Milan enthusiasts from dreaming:

The Scudetto We don’t belong in these discussions. We have to keep a low profile. Inter started well last year, after 15 games they’d already won the Scudetto and we all known what happened there.

Milan have the sixth youngest squad in Serie A this season. With impressive academy products like 17-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and 18-year-old midfielder Manuel Locatelli, the club’s future looks bright. But as the caveat goes, title-winning consistency is hardly the stuff of youngsters. There will always be frequent setbacks.

Montella is building a young team at Milan.

And so it was proved at Genoa. For a much-changed Milan eleven, things unraveled after an early Nikola Ninkovic goal for Genoa, followed by a straight red card for Gabriel Paletta in the second half. Milan played well enough to earn at least a point, but they looked completely different from the side that beat Juve only two days earlier.

Consequently, Milan dropped to fourth, from the heights of second place after the Juve game. After one-third of the season, not many would complain about on-pitch issues at the club. Montella has brought renewed optimism to a club most people wrote off at the start of the season. His steady dependence on the club’s young talents has brought results, but the Scudetto dream, for now, is still hyperbole.

There are areas to improve for the club, and the Genoa result provides the perfect setting for some introspection. Juventus are way better in terms of quality and experience, so are Roma and Napoli. Even a Champions League place at the end of the season would be remarkable for Milan.

Juve look better with Marchisio in the side

192 – Claudio Marchisio will play after 192 days from his last appearance with Juventus (17th April vs Palermo). Back.

— OptaPaolo