Some fantastic results! How much did Zouma cost you? Btw, I read 50-goal haul and was like.. wot

Updates are getting better and better!

Every country in Europe has began it's new season now, but that doesn't mean all teams are with managers - as Uwe Rösler has found out.

SL Benfica of Portugal have been without a manager since Jurgen Klopp's departure to English rich kids Chelsea in August.

The former Borussia Dortmund head coach led Benfica to the Liga ZON Sagres title last season, leaving rivals FC Porto trailing ten points behind the ultimate champions.

This form called for interest from all over, including Germany - but Klopp chose Chelsea as his next managerial destination.

Because of Benfica having no manager at the club, it led to a hunt for candidates. A.C. Milan's Uwe Rösler was offered an interview by the club.

The German confirmed reports of a job offer from the Portuguese title holders, but denied accepting any offer put in front of him.

"Benfica is a prestigious club, everyone knows who they are. To be offered a role at the club is a great signal as to how far I have come in my career, but I cannot see myself anywhere else other than Milan at the moment." The 48-year-old told Goal.com.

If Uwe Rösler can be thanked for anything at his time in Milan, it is that of the revival of Milan's young French winger M'Baye Niang.

Before the start of the 2012–2013 season, it was reported that Niang had gone on trial with English clubs Arsenal, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur. On 27th August 2012, it was confirmed that Niang was in negotiations with Italian club Milan after arriving in the city and having dinner with club's vice-president.

Niang signed a three-year contract, while the transfer fee was undisclosed.

Just a year-and-a-half later, the winger was sentenced to a suspended 18-month jail sentence for an alleged hit and run accident which left 11 others injured. The player was also charged with endangering people's lives and driving without a licence.

It was such a sad downfall for a player of such potential and skill. The fans and player quietly knew that Niang was never going to be the same again.

It took three loan spells at Montpellier, Espanyol and Stade Rennais to get the winger back in the swing of things before Uwe Rösler arrived at the San Siro.



Under the German manager, Niang was placed as a right-winger to supply Carlos Fierro who had recently been signed for the Rossoneri. What a decision that turned out to be.

Sofiane Feghouli's departure from Milan angered enough fans to fuel a 'Rösler Out' campaign before he had even started the new season. Niang was about to shut all of them up with a majestic season on the right flank.

The Frenchman, who can also play for Senegal, was started in 54 games last season in all competitions. His goal tally? 36 goals. On top of that, creating 14 goals.

The attacking trio set out by Rösler in his favoured 4-3-3 was working wonders. The result was an end to Juventus' Serie A dominance as Milan went onto win the league that season.

Rösler was even shocked at how much Niang had hit back at the doubters, despite being one of his biggest believers.

"When we set out for last season, and we sold Sofiane [Feghouli] and Andriy [Yarmolenko], I knew we were still going to work." Said the German.

"But what I wasn't expecting was such a turnaround in form for Niang. I believed in him so much, but even I was stunned to see him play so well.

"After last season I can only expect him to maintain that form. M'Baye Niang is back ladies and gentleman - better than ever before."

The 22-year-old winger has already scored seven goals in ten games in all competitions so far this season.

What a f*cking month! I've never ever seen us play that good in my whole career! Every single team we played, we just trampled all over them at any given opportunity, bar the Chelsea game where two last minute goal from either side determined the result in our favour. On top of that we now top the Serie A table at the end of October and as we head towards the Christmas period, we need to build up enough morale to go into that period with confidence - which we've done very well thus far.

FIXTURES

A.C. Milan vs APOEL Nicosia

4/10/2017
Milan Arena
Champions League Group C


ACM: Rulli, Bellerín, Biffi, Esser, Zorloni, Roger (Xabi Alonso 77), Xhaka (Verratti 66), Niang, Douglas Escobar (Suso 66), Mertens, Bern

APOEL: Edel, Acevedo, Kaboul (Diakhite 88), Guagua, Wawrzyniak, Kali, Lanig, Guillermo, Alex Rafael, Ghazaryan (Juanma 61), Lima (Morais 66)

Goalscorers: Douglas Escobar (5), Francismar Bern (20, 30, 37), Francesco Biff (60)
Booked: Francesco Biffi
Attendance: 45,692

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Juventus FC vs A.C. Milan

8/10/2017
Juventus Stadium
Serie A


JFC: Buffon, Hysaj, Nkoulou, Chiellini, Murru, Wanyama (Pereyra 63), Vidal, Pogba (De Bruyne 71), Marchisio (Gutiérrez 76), Aboubakar, Benzema

ACM: Rulli, Bellerín, Jorge, Biffi, Medzvelia, Roger, Esser (Xhaka 59), Niang (Suso 59), Douglas Escobar, Mertens, Bern

Goalscorers: Douglas Escobar (45+1, 76), Aaron Mertens (63)
Booked: Jorge
Attendance: 40,480

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A.C. Milan vs Udinese Calcio

21/10/2017
Milan Arena
Serie A


ACM: Rulli, Bellerín, Jorge, Biffi, Medzvelia (Zorloni 80), Roger, Esser (Xhaka 75), Niang, Douglas Escobar (Suso 75), Mertens, Bern

UCS: Scuffet, Izquierdoz, Glik, De Santis, Johnson, Badu (Mejía 57), Mena (Armero 80), Hallberg, Valzania, Matos (Evangelista 63), Osvaldo

Goalscorers: Aaron Mertens (29, 57, 69)
Booked: Roger, Jorge
Attendance: 44,995

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Chelsea FC vs A.C. Milan

25/10/2017
Stamford Bridge
Champions League Group C


CFC: Cech, De Sciglio, Cahill, Álvarez Balanta, Azpilicueta, Cuadrado (Willian 75), Matic (Ramiro 90), Oscar (Ayoze Pérez 70), Hazard, Costa, Fábregas

ACM: Rulli, Bellerín, Jorge, Biffi, Zorloni, Roger, Esser, Niang, Douglas Escobar, Mertens, Bern

Goalscorers: Aaron Mertens (54, 90+4), Roger (pen 60)
Booked: Roger
Attendance: 40,760

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Atalanta B.C. vs A.C. Milan

29/10/2017
Atleti Azzuri D'Italia
Serie A


ABC: Vargas, Capelli, Canini, Spendlhofer, Tulissi, Cigarini, Carmona, Emanuelson (Gagliardini 82), Sosa, Ramírez (Laxalt 85), Bezjak

ACM: Rulli, Bellerín, Jorge (Zouma 61), Biffi, Medzvelia, Roger, Verratti (Esser 56), Niang, Douglas Escobar, Mertens, Bartolini (Bern 45)

Goalscorers: M'Baye Niang (6)
Booked: Kurt Zouma
Attendance: 22,453

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LEAGUE TABLE

We are doing unbelievably well, with such a young squad. It's such great experience for them to be beating the likes of Juventus and Chelsea at their age. We look set to go through to the Knockout Rounds of the Champions League at the rate we're going in the Group Stages. As for the league, Inter have a game in hand on us to be able to match us on points, but hopefully we will upstage them should they win.

NEXT MONTH: NOVEMBER

We don't face too much of a difficult month in comparison with October, but we play Chelsea again but at the Milan Arena now - which is slowly turning into a fortress for our wins this season. We don't face much challenge in the league, but like last month, I was expecting to drop points against either Juventus or Udinese, but it was in fact Atalanta who were the instigators for that.

What a month beating Chelsea and Juventus away.

Jesus, awesome results and nice update with Niang!

After only seven appearances in all competitions this season, legendary Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso is becoming uneasy about his spot at the Milan Arena.

The 35-year-old has had a slight shock since his arrival from Germany's Allianz Arena as Rösler promised him a first-team place.

That promise hasn't been kept by the German head coach and Alonso has found himself shoved onto the bench, but he's fed up of that now.

At 35, this may be his last playing season and he will no doubt want it to end with a club who need his services, where in Milan, he is not getting.

With time getting nearer to January, the Spaniard may look for a move away from Italy to rack up good game time to end his career on. Rumours are that he may even want to sever his contract at Milan to leave the Milan Arena.

Whatever his decision, people will be behind him as such an iconic figure cannot slip away with such little impact.