AC MILAN 1997/98 ROSTER

SERIE A

Capello's homecoming. After a year at Madrid, he was back in charge of the Rossoneri. The desire was to try and react, to put a poor season behind them. A busy summer saw many players depart the Club and even more arrive. From Ba to Daino, from Kluivert to Maniero, from Taibi to Ziege. Though, the biggest arrivals were those of Ganz from Inter and Leonardo from PSG. Donadoni also returned, and Paolo Maldini was promoted to captain. On the pitch, though, results remained as unfruitful as they were the previous year under Tabárez and Sacchi. A rough start and draws in the derby and against Juventus were not enough to place the Rossoneri at the upper end of the table. AC Milan couldn't find any sort of consistent form and would pay the price come the end of the season, finishing tenth on 44 points, just one place higher than the previous season. There was to be no European qualification. The (partial) consolation came in the Coppa Italia, in which AC Milan went on a good cup run, knocking out Reggiana, Sampdoria, Inter following a big 5-0 win in the quarters, and Parma. The first act of the final was played at San Siro and won by Weah. But Lazio turned it around in the second leg, winning 3-1 despite Albertini's opener.