Last summer at this point, we were at least cautiously
optimistic, with the club having invested approximately €90m during the
transfer window. We also had a coach who had a good track record and was very
passionate and outspoken (translation: easy to believe in.) So although we were still
missing some pieces and still clinging to some dead weight, many fans really
believed we could get back into Europe last season. But this year… it’s all so
strange. When the preliminary agreement to sell the club was signed, some
people acted like we won the lottery. But it’s really more like when your dad
takes a new job at a new company and there is the opportunity in the future for more pay, but
you need new shoes now. With the sale delayed for so long, we are limping into
this season with a very minimal mercato and a coach who doesn’t have as much
success under his belt. Plus, those friendlies… some of the scorelines ended
okay, but if you watched the games, it was more than enough to give you
preseason anxiety.
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| That's his confident face |
First, we went to France and beat Bordeaux
– the 14th place Ligue 1 team last year. The score was 2-1, but on the pitch it
was harder to tell which team placed 14th and which team placed 7th in their
respective leagues. Our midfield was below mediocre, our defensive lapses were
atrocious, and we were dominated in possession. Also, there is still such a
vast difference between our starting eleven and our bench, it’s incredible. Suso
scored a brace in the first half, which was great. But fans knew what he was
capable of well before his loan to Genoa.
Next up was the tour of America, or the ICC Tournament. The
first stop was in Chicago, where we met our old friend Carletto and his Bayern
Munich team. It wasn’t pretty, but we managed to hang with them through
regulation time, scoring three goals each. Milan’s first was from Niang, then
Bertolacci, then Kucka. Vergara gave up a late penalty that allowed Bayern back
in the game, he hasn’t had the best of summers. He’s just another example of
how much weaker our bench players are than our starters. Our penalties were
taken well, including Kuco’s amazing cucchiaio.
But Donnarumma was the hero, saving Rafinha’s penalty. So Milan won 5-3 on penalties,
but were definitely not the better team, with our midfield overrun, making big
defensive errors, and maintaining only 38% possession, despite Montella’s
desired possession-based system.
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| If first never follows, be afraid. Be very afraid. |
After our amazing win, we faced Liverpool in Santa Clara, California. We
lost 2-0, which was very fair, if not generous, given the way we played. This
may seem vaguely familiar, but Milan suffered in the midfield, had poor
defensive errors, and only 40% possession against the team that finished eighth
in the Premier League last year. Our play decidedly worsened as bench players
were subbed on. I know it takes a while for a manager to leave his imprint, but
it was becoming obvious that mentality, probably the most culpable for our poor
play and errors, would not be changing anytime soon.
So while the wounds were still fresh, the team flew to
Minnesota to play the opening game at Vikings stadium. We faced an old enemy in
Conte, now at the helm of Chelsea. But who am I kidding? Our biggest enemy is
ourselves. Despite finally reaching 53% possession, we would lose this match
3-1, largely due to an impotent midfield and defensive errors. Despite
Bonaventura’s beautiful free kick, we conceded three goals, like the penalty
given up by Poli’s handball. But still, the same old Milan. Oh yeah, and how about that bench?
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| Suso's quality and leadership shone preseason |
Next up was the Trofeo TIM, where we faced La Liga’s 6th
place team last year, Celta Vigo. The 45 minute match was incredibly
frustrating, with Milan playing like Milan, and Celta Vigo unable to take
advantage of that. We managed to win on penalties, though, largely due to Diego
Lopez saving two penalties from the Spanish side. After that, we faced Serie
A’s 6th place team last year, Sassuolo. If it’s possible, we played even worse,
despite Niang scoring a penalty and then a nice tap in from a great Suso assist.
But Sassuolo equalized, and then with the defensive error of the preseason,
Vergara gifted them a third. So we lost 3-2 to Sassuolo, with a nightmare
midfield and massive defensive errors. When our bench players were on, it was like watching a Lega Pro side. No, I think that may be insulting to the Lega Pro sides.
Finally was yesterday’s friendly against Freiburg, the newly
promoted Bundesliga side. We actually won 2-0, but it wasn’t easy, and it
wasn’t even obvious. Were it not for Donnarumma, for example, the scoreline
could have been very different. We were able to keep 54% possession, but both
of Luiz Adriano’s goals were scored due to massive, Milan-like defensive errors
by Freiburg. Without those errors, it’s difficult to see how we might have
scored. Our midfield is still poor, we still make defensive errors, and even
when we have possession, we don’t do much with it. And when our starters are injured or subbed, it's an absolute nightmare. It’s still just the same old
Milan, just wearing new kits.
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| His literal pain is our emotional pain |
Are you sensing a theme? Poor midfield, defensive errors,
and poor possession or not taking advantage of possession? A bench that makes you break out in hives every time they are called upon? To say nothing of
the non-statistical mentality issues we have. And that’s just how we play. We
also have an injury list like a midseason playing in three competitions Allegri
side. We are missing Romagnoli, Zapata, Mauri, Lapadula, Vangioni, Suso, and
Niang. And the season hasn’t even kicked off. Niang and Suso were our two
brightest spots amongst all of these friendlies, and we haven’t even seen
Lapadula or Vangioni yet.
So even without the uncertainties of the preliminary
agreement to sell the club, and with no appreciable movement in the mercato
particularly when compared to other Serie A teams, Milan fans have every right
to be distressed. It may take a while for Montella to imprint his style of play
on the team, but if he keeps benching Montolivo, he may not have much time. And
the mentality is the larger issue. If he addresses it at all, will he be able
to make a difference before he is given his marching orders? Meanwhile, on the
pitch, we face Mihajlovic’ Torino on Sunday, and he will not be in any way forgiving, I’m sure. We have a tough set of fixtures to start, actually, and none of
them will be forgiving, but rather they will all seek to take advantage of our well-known
weaknesses. So is it any wonder, considering everything, that Milan fans are
not excited for Serie A to kickoff? Most of our optimism and eager anticipation has been replaced by
some serious preseason anxiety.
This post inspired by the music of
Twenty One Pilot’s “Stressed Out”
Our next match is
Milan vs. Torino
Sunday, August 21 • 18:00 CEST (12noon EDT)