AC Milan have been left dwelling on the past as they prepare to host Barcelona in a Champions League last-16 first leg tie on Wednesday when Lionel Messi will try to score for the Catalans for the 15th match in a row.
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The Italians were forced to hold a firesale of their top players to try and balance the books at the end of last season, with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Thiago Silva among those to leave.
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Alexandre Pato has also left since Milan were eliminated by the same opponents in the quarterfinals just under a year ago.
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Mario Balotelli, their only marquee signing this season, is cup-tied against Barca, leaving the seven- time European champions a pale shadow of their former selves.
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Milan seem to have struggled to come to terms with their new reality - a reflection of the difficulties facing Serie A where clubs can no longer compete with the financial clout of other top European leagues.
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At times Milan have been happy to play the role of underdogs, with president Silvio Berlusconi and coach Massimiliano Allegri emphasising they are now a young team building for a financially sustainable future.
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But there was none of that talk on their website in the build up to the match as the club preferred to hark back to their past record.
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"A great European city and a fabulous stadium are ready to host the game of the year," it said proudly, casting a veil over Milan's current situation.
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"Certain stadiums bring out a certain atmosphere especially when it comes to European fixtures. Milan- Barcelona is the match between (one of) the most successful clubs in the world and currently the best club in the world."