Milan look to Liverpool for inspiration as they attempt to awaken sleeping giant

AC Milan must follow Liverpool's example if they are to re-establish themselves as European heavyweights.

That's the view of their CEO Ivan Gazidis, who is hoping that the club can return to the summit of European football by copying Liverpool's model under Jurgen Klopp.

Milan are floundering in mid-table in Serie A and haven't won a trophy since 2011.

But Gazidis has compared the club's situation to Liverpool and promised that Milan fans won't have to wait too much longer for success.

"Liverpool spent nine years in a situation similar to ours," Gazidis told Gazzetta dello Sport. "When Klopp arrived, he said he would make the sceptics believe; no one believed it at the beginning, not even the fans.

"Today, we can see what Liverpool are. Soon, you will see what Milan are."

Milan and Liverpool played out the most famous European Cup final of all time in Istanbul in 2005, when Rafael Benitez's side came from three goals down to win the cup on penalties.

The Rossoneri gained a measure of revenge two years later when they beat Liverpool 2-1 in Athens to lift their seventh European Cup.