Gianluca Zambrotta thinks AC Milan can secure a return to the Champions League this season.
Milan failed to earn a place in Europe for the first time since 1998-99 after finishing 10th in Serie A last term.
Sinisa Mihajlovic has since taken the helm and guided the club to sixth in the table after 12 games, with a 0-0 draw against Atalanta on Saturday extending their unbeaten run to five games.
And Zambrotta – who spent four seasons with the San Siro club between 2008 to 2012 – believes, while the weekend s result shows they can still improve, Milan are capable of making a return to continental competition.
The draw against Atalanta proves that there s still a lot of work to be done, but Milan have found a certain continuity over the last five games, the 38-year-old told Tuttosport.
Milan needed to get their confidence back and the victories gave them that. They also have a playing system that makes the players feel self-assured.
The team is slowly finding its brilliance again. I think Milan can aim for third place.
It s a balanced championship and they can join the group with Fiorentina and Inter to take part in the next Champions League.
Milan s next league outing will see them take on defending champions Juventus in Turin on November 21.
With Massimiliano Allegri s team sitting two points below Mihajlovic s side in seventh after a poor start to the season, Zambrotta – who also spent seven years at Juve – feels there is more pressure is on them to get a result.
[Juventus] need to get their points back. In spite of everything, [Milan] are in a positive phase and they will be going for the result, he added.
The stadium could be a factor. Playing at home and trying to race back towards the Scudetto, I think Juve have something more to lose should they fail to notch a victory.
