Lazio 0, Milan 0: Cup Half Empty

Some say that Milan missed an opportunity by not scoring away to Lazio. Others think Milan did well to not concede a goal. But the truth is that Milan have left the result to 90 minutes at the San Siro and given up the gift that is the away goal. We did not take advantage of Lazio’s injury crisis, either. We also showed that we are not as strong as we thought, as losing a starter to injury was like deflating a balloon in terms of our level of play. It’s not about optimism or pessimism, in this two leg semifinal, we literally left the cup half empty.

Objects in image may not be as awesome as they seem

Coppa Italia Semifinal: Lazio-Milan Preview: The Philosopher’s Stone

Only in Italy would a competition be decided by single elimination in all of the rounds except the semifinal. So this match is the first of two matches which will determine which team moves on to the final. But that’s okay, Gattuso apparently has the Philosopher’s Stone. Only he doesn’t even know what it is. Hopefully one of the players has explained it to him by now. Because while our results have started to turn to gold, these things are best left to alchemists who know what they are doing.

Milan's newest golden boy is also the Coppa capocannoniere

Milan 3, Empoli 0: Remembering

This could have easily been a match to forget, certainly in the first half, Milan seemed to want to make it that way. But instead, with a renewed effort in the second half, this match became one of remembering. Milan remembered their ghosts, of playing poorly against a relegation-threatened team. Then Milan remembered their heritage, one of winning every game, regardless of the opposition. They remembered that they are in fourth place, and what they needed to do to stay there. And in remembering, they won, helping the fans remember the joy of supporting Milan.

Starting to win

Milan-Empoli Preview: No Turning Back

Milan are undefeated in all competitions in their last six games. While there were draws with Napoli and Roma in there, that’s still four solid wins, something we’re not accustomed to doing consistently in recent years. With the race for fourth place getting extremely tight, it is more important than ever to keep the victories coming. So although we drew Empoli earlier this season, on Friday, there is no turning back.

Piatek? Cutrone? or both?

Podcast: Good Times

By some miracle, Milan are still in fourth place. Morale is high, especially with the performances of a few individuals. Still, there is plenty to discuss and much to be improved within the team. And no one knows better what those things are than the most devout of Milan fans. Good Times.

Good Times

Atalanta 1, Milan 3: Boom

I feel for Atalanta. Not only does the final score not do their team justice, but they were actually the better team on the night. However, when you have moments of individual brilliance, sometimes, that is enough. And such was the case in this game. Milan went from a goal down to winning 3-1. Boom.

Boom

Atalanta-Milan Preview: Showdown

A game is truly only worth three points, but some games feel like they are worth six. Although they actually only separate the two teams by three points, a win gives that team three points and also denies the other team three points. Again, mathematically, it’s only three points. But schematically, when a team is only one point behind you and breathing down your neck for a Champions League spot, a victory feels like double. And away to Atalanta, victory truly would be a special kind of win, whereas a loss would feel twice as bad. That’s why tomorrow’s match is a showdown.

There's a new sheriff in town

Poll: Where Will Milan Finish This Season?

There is plenty of speculation about Milan’s chances of finishing in a Champions League spot, as there has been every year since losing out on Champions League. The difference being that this year, we are already in fourth place in February, something we haven’t done before. With an actual January transfer window which has made an immediate impact on the pitch, the optimism is flowing more freely than the liquor these days amongst fans. But realistically, what do you believe?

Is the CL returning to Milan? Or is Milan returning to the CL?

Milan 3, Cagliari 0: Got Milk?

Ahead of this match, the Cagliari team were trapped in their training grounds by local farmers who were protesting milk prices. The only way they were able to escape was to show solidarity with the farmers’ cause by being filmed knocking over cans of milk. I’m pretty sure that doesn’t happen to other teams in any major European league, but this is Serie A, after all. And after nearly missing their flight to Milano, it didn’t help that they had to face a team with confidence and sparkly new players. But hey, no crying over spilt milk, right?

Our heroes

Milan-Cagliari Preview: It’s Time

Most people will look at Milan facing the 15th place Cagliari on Sunday and expect a win. Those people haven’t been watching Milan for very long. In addition to the fact that games are played on the pitch, not on paper, Milan have for too long now given up valuable points when it mattered most. And now, with so many teams within a point of fourth place, Milan need to win each game more than ever. Cagliari are not an easy team, despite their position on the table, and I’m sure they would be happy to help Milan fulfill their self-destructive ways. We split the points with them back in September. But if Milan are to achieve their goal of qualifying for the Champions League next year, at some point they will have to shed their ghosts and live up to their potential. It’s time.

No room for errors this time

Podcast: Best. Mercato. Ever.

Milan are still in fourth place, even if they still struggle to take advantage of opposition teams dropping points and widen the gap. But confidence is growing, the a number of clean sheets is growing, and we finally have a competent management. Which is why we had the best January mercato ever. Not only is it our first January mercato in so very long, but we truly strengthened the squad to make us more competitive, and we also lowered our wage bill at the same time.

How I feel about our mercato

Roma 1, Milan 1: Stalled

It never fails, whether Milan are flying high or digging deep to find strength: when there is an advantage to be gained on the table, they drop points. This time, we could have moved to four points clear of Roma in fourth place. With Inter’s loss, we would have been just two points behind them in third, too. But whether it was benevolence or psychological, in this match, Milan stalled.

MOTM

Roma-Milan Preview: Wolf Trap

This matchup is never boring. But the results of the past week have made it a lot more interesting, at least for Milan fans. After coughing up a 3-0 lead to end up drawing Atalanta on the weekend, Roma were absolutely brutalized by Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. Their fans pelted their bus with objects as they returned home, and Di Francesco’s job is increasingly hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, Milan, after an impressive draw against second place Napoli on Saturday, beat that same team in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday. So Milan are flying high, and Roma are at an all-time low for this season. Will they fight back and make us their victims? Or will Milan put another nail in their coffin? This game could be a massive wolf trap.

Current mood