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)
Fiorentina-Milan Preview: Tear in My Heart
Reviewed by Elaine
on
2:12 AM
Rating: