After not reaching any European competitions for the first time since the turn of the century, Milan go into the 2014/15 Serie A campaign knowing that they must get back into the most fabled competition in world football.
Simply put, the cliche about the Champions League being part of DNA rings slightly true. The club have amassed seven trophies, with onlyReal Madrid being able to put up a better tally after winning their 10th last season.
A Champions League without the red and black kit in it doesn't quite feel so complete, so vice-president Adriano Galliani and company had to work this summer to correct the fatal flaws surrounding the club and give them a captain to steer the ship forward.
The captain came in the form of Filippo Inzaghi, the ex-Milan legendary striker who knows what it means to lift the most important trophy of them all.
Since taking over, Inzaghi's Milan have posted the best offensive numbers in Serie A. 16 goals so far, with Roma and Juventus trailing with 14 strikes apiece. The problem is that the defense hasn't been as good, allowing gaps wider than the Panama Canal and basically turning most matches into frenetic shootouts.