Fiorentina-Milan Preview: Tear in My Heart

This match on paper is supposed to be more about 15th place Fiorentina hosting eighth place Milan, with seven points between them. You could talk about Pioli returning to the Stadio Artemio Franchi, to face the club he managed for nearly two years prior to coming to Milan. You can talk about all of those things, but for me this match is all about my broken heart. More specifically, facing Cutrone for the first time since he was pushed out of Milan for a spot on the roster and a chunk of change last summer. He’s a tear in my heart.

It still hurts.

December ended with good luck and bad luck for Fiorentina. The good luck was that they finally sacked Montella, the bad luck was that they lost Ribery to injury and surgery. Despite still being without the veteran, Iachini now has three wins, two losses, and two draws in the league since arriving, including a 5-1 smackdown of Sampdoria last week. For that match, he lined up Dragowski; Milenkovic, Pezzella, Caceres; Lirola, Duncan, Badelj, Castrovilli, Dalbert; Vlahovic, and Chiesa. He will be missing Ribery and Kouame to injury. Badelj will be suspended after receiving a red card last week.

Whether or not Iachini starts Cutrone, particularly after Vlahovic and Chiesa each scored a brace last week, my heart will be bleeding. It was hard enough when he was sent away to England. But now he is too close to home, and being forced to wear purple, which is not kind. You can talk about not getting too attached to players, about how football is a business, I don’t care. Cutrone is different. He is special. His passion for the Milan crest was evident in everything he did, and he left his heart on the pitch in every match. He’s incredibly talented, and if when he scores against us on Saturday, it will do more than just tear my heart into pieces.

Literally our last line of defense

Speaking of pieces, Pioli’s squad are suddenly decimated by injuries. In addition to Duarte and Krunic being out long-term, Biglia is injured again. He is also missing Kjaer, Calhanoglu, and Saelemaekers to new injuries, and Musacchio is doubtful for Saturday. The biggest concern is in defense, with only Romagnoli and Gabbia available as center backs. I’m sure he’ll fill in gaps with Primavera players, but it is not the way you want to go visit your ex, it's like wearing a jacket filled with holes. Speaking of wearing things, Pioli wore the turtleneck again on Monday, and we still managed to win. Hoping he packs the sweater vest and tie combo for this trip, just in case we need the luck.

This matchup has a lot of different angles, but for me, there is only one: my broken heart and Patrick Cutrone. Hopefully, Milan will be able to cash in on another three points, even if we are tired, injury-laden, and playing away. I will be watching amidst piles of Kleenex and through tear-filled eyes, my heart still raw and bleeding. Cutrone is a tear in my heart.

This post inspired by the music of twenty-one pilots “Tear in My Heart”

Serie A Week 25

Fiorentina vs. Milan

Saturday, February 22 • 20:45 CET (2:45pm EST)