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Football Insider

AC Milan's Impressive Journey: From Ajax Inspiration to Invitations from Barcelona & Chelsea

Exploring how AC Milan's women's project, inspired by Ajax, is making waves in European football, with high-profile friendlies boosting their ambitions in Serie A and the Champions League.

AC Milan's Impressive Journey: From Ajax Inspiration to Invitations from Barcelona & Chelsea

The Rossonere are yet to win a trophy on the women's side, but hope high-profile friendlies can help with their Serie A and Champions League goalsOn Saturday, Chelsea’s preparations for the new season, in which they will be defending three domestic trophies, will come to a climax. The Blues will play their final pre-season friendly in front of their home fans at Kingsmeadow, who witnessed an unprecedented unbeaten domestic campaign in Sonia Bompastor’s first year in charge.Chelsea did not lose a game in the Women’s Super League, FA Cup or League Cup as they scooped up an incredible treble in 2024-25, each player and staff member etching their name into the history books in the process. But they were not content. A Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona left the Blues unsatisfied despite the amazing work done across the board, as that trophy once again eluded them. That it instead landed in the hands of London rivals Arsenal will have only added to the hurt and the motivation to put forth a better European title charge this time around.It's fair to say that it is a compliment to AC Milan, then, to have been chosen as the opponents for Chelsea’s final game before another highly-anticipated season kicks off next Friday, at home to Manchester City. The Rossonere have a young team - in that it was founded just seven years ago and also because it had the third-youngest squad in Serie A last term. But that it has been cherry-picked as the final test for Bompastor’s winning machine, a year on from playing three-time European champions Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy, suggests it is doing something right…

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The Rise of AC Milan's Women's Team

AC Milan's women's team may not have secured a trophy yet, but their meteoric rise since being founded just seven years ago is attracting attention from top clubs like Barcelona and Chelsea. With a young squad and a clear vision, the Rossonere are set to make a mark on the European stage.

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Chelsea's Dominance and Unfinished Business

Chelsea's incredible treble-winning season in 2024-25 was a historic achievement, but their Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona left them with a chip on their shoulder. As they prepare for another challenging season, facing AC Milan in a high-profile friendly shows the respect that the Rossonere have earned.

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Barcelona's Influence and the Joan Gamper Trophy

Having faced three-time European champions Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy, AC Milan gained valuable experience against top opposition. The Catalan giants' recognition of the Italian side's potential speaks volumes about the progress they have made in a short span of time.

Published on August 29, 2025