AC and Inter Milan search for new glory

Inter Milan and AC Milan both suffered lacklustre campaigns last season. But the fervour for the sides remains. Their last derby match in April was attended by nearly 80,000 spectators. But rather than serving up a feast of football, it was stolid fare. A 0-0 draw and questionable officiating. Stardust is needed in both the red and blue half of the city.

Sinisa Mihajlovic's main task will be to improve on AC Milan's 10th-placed finish in 2015. Reuters/Bobby Yip

They are two of the biggest clubs in Italian and world football. But they have both slithered to mid-table irrelevance. Where once the prize names of the game flaunted their skills in the quest for top honours, now only journeymen jostle for fleeting plaudits.

AC and Inter Milan have known better times domestically and internationally.

Now they are rebuilding to try and rekindle the glory days at the San Siro, the stadium they share in the city.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has the task of engineering AC's revival. He took over at the end of last season from former AC striker Pippo Inzaghi.

And on a pre-season tour of China, Mihajlovic said he was under no illlusions about the work. "There's a lot of anger about the club's situation but we have to improve in every aspect," Mihajlovic said. "Most important to improve is the sacrifice and the intensity we have for each other."

The 46-year-old Serb moved to his new role from Sampdoria. Coincidentally, one of the clubs AC will face during their tour is Inter.

They clash on Saturday night in the International Champions Cup at the Shenzhen Universade Sports Centre. Real Madrid will be AC's next opponents at the Shanghai Stadium on 30 July.

Mihajlovic will use the tour to introduce signings Andrea Bertolacci, Jose Mauri, Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano into his formation.

The goal will be to restore AC Milan to the top table after an abject 10th-placed finish last season. That misery was compounded as Massimo Allegri - the man who led them to their last Scudetto in 2011 - oversaw Juventus's league and cup double as well as their impressive surge to the Uefa Champions League final.

"Of course there are a lot of things to improve in the squad - the intensity of play, the work ethic - but at the end of the day it is important that you have to sacrifice yourself for the other players. That's the key to success," said Mihajlovic.

Roberto Mancini rejoined Inter last season and steered them to eighth place. They have not lifted a domestic crown since 2009-10 when they completed an unprecedented treble of Uefa Champions League, Coppa Italia and Serie A title under Jose Mourinho.

Mancini said his team needed more attacking options. "We need more forwards, everyone knows that," he said. "But for now it is important for us to focus on AC Milan, to put more minutes in our legs and we are playing two games in 48 hours so probably we will change all the team for both games."