The mentality has been building since Pioli came. Slowly,
but surely, even when the results didn’t come. The last three matches, we’ve
seen the actual performances improve each match, but with opponents like Juve
and Napoli, three points were always going to be elusive. Then against Parma,
we dominated in both possession and shots and played at a steady tempo the
whole match. Not a perfect performance by any means, but it started to feel like
we were going to let the win slip away… again. Until the 88th minute, when Theo
Hernandez scored, and Milan’s moment finally arrived. With an exclamation mark.
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| Exclamation mark |
The shots started just two minutes in, and Milan peppered poor Sepe with them the entire match, with 27 total shots, eight on target. They just kept shooting, almost the entire team got chances, but nothing was going in. At some point, a number of players decided to try launching the ball into orbit, but that didn’t work, either. Sepe was forced into some great saves, seven saves in all, while Gigio barely lifted a giant-sized finger as none of Parma’s seven shots were even considered on target.
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| In the thick of the battle, but never giving up |
There was a very questionable call in the 57th minute when
Bonaventura was shoved down by Hernani in the box, but Valeri waved play on and
did not review the play at all. He did seem to listen to the other refs or the
VAR team, but it was unclear whether it was even that play or another foul that
happened moments later that he was talking about. I don’t often criticize the
refs, but Valeri seemed quite cynical. He did not ref a poor game, just really
didn’t make a lot of calls in a game that was very physical, and certainly
refused to be influenced whatsoever by players, almost enjoying making them
complain.
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| Unstoppable |
But back to the match, it was in the 88th that Sepe saw the one that got away. Bonaventura had taken a great shot that Sepe parried out, hitting Calhanoglu, which rebounded into the path of Theo Hernandez who just poked it around the defender as he was slipping, and the shot was too much for Sepe to handle. 1-0 Milan. His celebration was even better, despite being shown the yellow for taking his shirt off. It was also a great birthday gift for Bennacer, who had only received a yellow card thus far for his special day.
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| Shoutout to the birthday boy for making us forget Montolivo ever breathed air at Milan |
There are too many people who are still jaded by the hysteria
surrounding Milan in the media and on social media to see the positive
trajectory Milan are on. However, I am not one of them. Having just celebrated
Thanksgiving here in the United States, I am truly grateful
for slow and steady growth under Pioli’s tutelage this past few months.
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| Even before the match, he looked like a winner |
I know it is still a bumpy road ahead, but I am happy that
we are seeing performances that are worth talking about, like Conti this time,
for example. And I do believe with all of my red and black heart that we are
going to see more and better in the very near future. Looking at the football
and the growing mentality of this team, I am actually starting to get excited
for Milan again. Exclamation mark.
This post inspired by the music of X
Ambassadors’ Boom
Our next match is
Serie A Week 15
Bologna vs. Milan
Sunday, December 8
• 20:45 CET (2:45pm EST)