(Reuters) - AC Milan finished runners-up in Serie A last season, a big improvement from fourth place a year earlier, but coming home 19 points behind city rivals Inter did little to appease their fans and brought an end to Stefano Pioli's time in charge.
While other manager's may have opted for cautious optimism, Pioli's replacement, Paulo Fonseca, is aiming high.
"Our aspiration must be to win the Scudetto," Fonseca said after their recent pre-season tour in the U.S.
"I am very satisfied with the work and courage of my players."
Fonseca won three league titles in his three seasons in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk, spent two seasons at AS Roma before guiding Lille to fourth place in Ligue 1 last season.
While bringing the Scudetto back to Milan presents a much stiffer task, the Portuguese manager is bullish about their prospects.
Friendly wins over Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona provide cause for optimism and Fonseca must now go about proving his doubters wrong.
Milan fans had made it clear they were not happy when Fonseca's name was linked with the job but he hopes to win them over not just with success, but with an attractive, aggressive style of football.
In attack they have lost Olivier Giroud after the 37-year-old moved to Los Angeles FC but experience has been replaced with experience -- Alvaro Morata, 31, coming in fresh from captaining Spain to Euro 2024 success.
"Returning to Italy is a bit like coming home, and I have the best years of my career ahead of me," said Morata, who won two league titles in two spells at Juventus.
But it was in defence where Milan struggled most last season. Their 49 goals conceded was more than any other side in the top 10 more than double Inter's 22.
The signing of Serbian defender Strahinja Pavlovic should make them a little more difficult to breach.
While Fonseca may appear to be an attack-minded coach, his Lille side showed he may be the man to help shore up Milan's defence too. Last season Lille conceded just one more league goal than champions Paris St Germain.
Fonseca will also hope Christian Pulisic can continue the impressive form he showed in his first season at the club, and Milan are certain to bring in new signings before the transfer window closes.
Milan begin their league campaign at home to Torino on Aug. 17.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
