There are a few different ways to see this match. One is how
fans on social media see it: the death of Champions League hopes and/or the end of the world. Another way might
be that this match was simply an impasse, one which injuries and misfortune
didn't allow Milan to overcome. For one thing, I never thought Champions League was
realistic or beneficial (other than financially, obviously) to achieve this
season. Secondly, there really were a lot of injuries and bad luck that
impacted this match. And lastly, the fact that the team improved, responded
well to subs, and fought to the whistle within this match made it just one of
those games. So I guess that once again, Milan and the fans of Milan are at an
impasse.
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| When your best is still not good enough |
Look, I totally get wanting to win every game, wanting to get
back into Champions League. But when you have a player injured in warmup on top
of players already missing due to injury and you have to change formations at the last minute, it
might not go as well. So with Kucka out, Menez started, even though everyone
has said he’s not 100% yet. And he wasn’t. Then Donnarumma got a head injury
and had to be subbed off for Abbiati in the 19th, forcing Sakic to use an early
sub, and not for an outfield player, either. Hoping the kid checks out okay, he
was taken to the hospital for tests.
Our best chance of the first half was a Honda free kick in
the 42nd that was beautiful, but just wide. And Menez followed that up with a
yellow card in the 44th and a trademark Oscar-winning look of astonishment
that was just like old times. A tense first half, a lot of dumb mistakes, but we
also managed to keep the Flying Donkeys off the scoresheet.
 |
| Hoping it's not serious |
The second half we seemed to be pulling it together a little
more, and the fresh legs of Adriano in the 60th for the tired legs of Menez
helped a lot. Respect to Chievo, as they fought like only Flying Donkeys could
throughout, and their subs helped a lot, too. But Bacca finally got a little
service and became a protagonist for the first time in this match, and everyone
seemed to be stepping up. And in the 74th, Abate took a wicked shot that
Bizarri parried out only to be rebounded by Bertolacci, who unfortunately hit
the woodwork. It was just not meant to be. Not for us or for Chievo… Cacciatore
had a header in the 90th that was disallowed. It was meant to be an impasse.
 |
| Close, but not the same |
Good things to take from this match: Mihajlovic is a force
on the sideline that we can’t afford to be missing. Mauri got about 10 minutes of
playing time, his first Serie A appearance this season. Would like more of
that, please. Our defense were amazing, the old Milan would have conceded
multiple goals easily. And finally, maybe everyone will finally stop talking
about Champions League and get their heads back into reality to see how far
this team has come. The outcome doesn’t tell the whole story. But as long as
people out there still believe in watching their Twitter and Facebook feeds
instead of the actual game, or maybe not even watching at all, then we will
stay at an impasse.
This match inspired by the music of
The Cure’s “Doing the Unstuck”
Our next match is
Milan vs. Lazio
Sunday, March 20 • 20:45 CET (3:45pm EDT)*
*Time difference due to U.S. Daylight Savings Time
Stay tuned for an all new Milan Obsession Podcast
Stay tuned for an all new Milan Obsession Podcast