4 Things AC Milan Must Do to Ensure They Qualify for Europe

AC Milan have finally found some form after a few very ordinary seasons in Serie A. The Italians have also put away their January nightmare and have recorded four wins and one draw since their defeat against Sampdoria a month ago.

With the season fast approaching its end, Vincenzo Montella's men have a realistic chance f qualifying for European football next season. 

It is awfully strange not seeing AC Milan competing in Europe, as they once used to dominate and have fallen from grace in recent years. 

Here we look at 4 things they must do to ensure the qualify for Europe...

4. Keep Mixing it Up in Midfield

The former Champions League winners play a 4-3-3 formation with a flat, three-man midfield. In recent games Montella has rotated the three and it seems to be a winning formula. Jose Sosa has played in the last three games, with Jaraj Kucka playing nearly every other game.

The system seems to fit the Italian's with no one being guaranteed on the team sheet.

With AC Milan's best player Giacomo Bonaventura being ruled out for the rest of the season with a tear to his left thigh muscle that required surgery, you'd have thought that the club would have struggled to find a replacement for a player who has been so influential to the team.

Players such as Manuel Locatelli, Mario Pasalic and Andrea Bertolacci should look to take advantage of the situation.

3. They Need to Control Their Discipline

AC Milan have very poor discipline and it could very much determine their Europa League qualifying bid. This season they have seen seven red cards, with Gabriel Paletta picking up three, Kucka two and one each for Jose Sosa and Alessio Romagnoli.

If the club consider themselves as challengers for a place in Europe next year they will need to clamp down on the amount of cards they receive from now until the end of the season, as it will quite possibly jeopardise their current form.

Kucka and Paletta in particular will need to control themselves, because this year they have been very influential players under Montella, with the former inserting himself in midfield, where he has scored three times and the latter being a rock in the heart of the defence.

2. Gerard Deulofeu Must Start

Deulofeu has hit the ground running since been given the chance to start games for the Italian outfit. In the six games he has played he's been very influential, something similar to when he was ripping up Premier League clubs for Everton. The Spaniard has scored once and assisted twice as he looks to show Ronald Koeman that he is good enough.

The 22-year-old was mainly on the bench under Koeman, coming on only seven times. Montella has given him the opportunity to shine and so far so good as he has formed a good relationship with Suso and Carlos Bacca.

1. They Must Win the San Siro Derby

AC Milan's run-in for the end of the season is a tricky one, with big games against Juventus and Roma coming up - they can't afford to slip up against their closest rivals if they are serious about playing in Europe next season.

But their biggest game, undoubtedly, will be against city rivals Inter Milan. Played on the 15th of April, this game could shape the club's season and with one point separating the San Siro clubs, expect a typically fierce, explosive affair.