SPAL-Milan Preview: Calm Before the Storm

On Wednesday, we face bottom of the table SPAL, ahead of our matches with Lazio, Juventus, Napoli, and Parma, all within the space of 11 days. Talk about a perfect storm. That doesn’t make this matchup any easier, though, as Milan barely scraped by SPAL in October with a 1-0 win at the San Siro. Knowing what is around the corner simply means that we need to stay calm tomorrow and focus so we can take all three points. Staying calm before the storm.

Will we see the happy couple unite again in attack?

Milan 2, Roma 0: Heat Source

With searing temperatures of the early evening timeslot, Milan played their first match back at the San Siro since March 8th. There was a salute to former Milan and Roma player, Pierino Prati, who passed away this past week, and there was a tribute to some of the Milan fans who had lost their lives to COVID-19, as well. But the match was what all of us tuned in for, and it was an important one for both clubs. In the end, Milan took all three points, as stamina and a relentless attack made the difference in this one.

Heat source

Milan-Roma Preview: Veritaserum

Some argue that Lecce being in the relegation zone were not much of a test for Milan on Monday. But in contrast, Roma is like Veritaserum from Harry Potter. With Roma sitting nine whole points ahead of us in a Europa League spot, this match has the capability of showing the true Milan.

Moment of truth

Podcast: Welcome Back Milan

After a slightly traumatic Coppa Italia match, there was more trepidation about how Milan would come back in Serie A. That trepidation dissipated to the tune of 4-1 on Monday, and so it was great to be able to chat about Milan this time. Adreano and I discussed the games and touched on other things Milan, too, as we welcomed Milan back with a smile.

Current mood

Lecce 1, Milan 4: Revival

Have you ever dreamed about something, and then it was even better in real life than you had dreamed? That was this match for me. I was so grateful just to have Serie A back again, I really didn’t care about the result. But the team did. They fought against a relegation team that took points from us in October, and they didn’t let up after a goal or two or even three. Their focus and determination were inspiring coming off of such a tough time. Both for returning after three months, and for those of us fans who suffered watching previous Milan teams, this was a revival.

Back with a vengeance

Lecce-Milan Preview: In My Life (I Love You More)

They say that you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. I feel like I appreciated Milan and Serie A a lot, but after missing it for three whole months, I appreciate it on a whole new level. So as we jump back into Serie A with an away match to a team fighting for safety, all I can think of is that I get to see my Milan play again. After all we’ve been through, all I can think of is that in my life, I love you more.

Let's see that again, please

Just Before the Kickoff

A lot has happened since our last Serie A game. Over eight million people now have been infected with a virus that has killed almost half a million people worldwide. Racial injustice and murders here in the United States have set off protests worldwide. We are wearing masks and taking a knee and not exactly sure how this season will end. There is plenty to think about just before the kickoff.

Our hearts and minds are full, but after the kickoff, it will only be football

The Diversification of Calcio

Italy has always struggled with foreigners. Not only do they have a word for foreigners (stranieri,) but they also have a special word for those of Italian heritage who were born outside of Italy (oriundi.) To this day, many Italians and those who are actually oriundi themselves are against oriundi representing the national team, even if oriundi like Camoronesi (2006) and Monti, Demaria, Orsi, and Guaita (1934, 1938) helped to lift World Cup trophies for them. From 1966-1980, Serie A banned all foreign players, as they perceived them as detrimental to the development of the Italian players. Diversification?

Stranieri... but one played in Serie A, and the other... is that a knife in the back?

Juventus 0, Milan 0: Man Down

No one knew what football would look like after a sudden and unwelcome three month break. For me, this match did not disappoint on that level, it was better than expected, especially behind the silence of closed doors. However, when Milan went down to ten men after only 15 minutes, I couldn’t help but go to that place that is all too familiar when Milan play Juventus: What if? What if we had not been missing three starters? What if we had not conceded an away goal in stoppage time due to a questionable ref call by Valeri in the first leg? What if Milan didn’t have to play most of this match a man down?

Man down

Coppa Italia Semifinal • Juventus-Milan Preview: Restart

Let me begin by saying how grateful and happy I am to be writing a match preview again. What was previously a bit of a chore is now exciting and making me tear up a little, if I’m honest. While the world has changed, and restarting football feels a little nerve-wracking, it also feels like coming home after a long trip. I guess that is the best way to describe how it feels to finally be on the verge of the restart.

Missing some key players

Podcast: Football is Back

The three words I have been waiting to hear for three months now: Football is back. With Milan facing Juventus in the Coppa Italia Semifinal second leg on Friday, that dream is just a few days from becoming a reality. Speaking of reality, Miguel and I discussed some of the rumors that are Milan’s reality these days. Hopefully, football will give us more to talk about than rumors.

This is the Milan I want to see again

Football: The Unstoppable Force

As we countdown to mere days before Milan play, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate the beautiful game. Even in times of a global pandemic or civil unrest, this season could only be delayed, not stopped. Despite the bizarre Italian culture of Italian men bickering over ridiculous things, football is coming back. For so many of us, it is more than a sport, or even a religion. It is the life force within us. It is the unstoppable force.

Unstoppable

No Savior for AC Milan

Milan fans have developed a savior complex. After being traumatized for the gross mismanagement and neglect of the club throughout the final years of Berlusconi’s ownership, still trying to figure out what the Yonghong Li era was, and now being caught in the revolving door that is being owned by a merciless hedge fund, a savior sounds better every day. Only there is no savior for AC Milan.

He looks contemplative, but not redemptive

The Delusions about Ralf Rangnick

Every time I try to have a conversation with a Ralf Rangnick supporter, it is like talking to the people in a mental ward. They are so certain, so deluded, and all of their arguments are built on misinformation or flat out falsehoods. It is actually shocking how unsubstantiated their claims are. Particularly considering that there is no agreement, no contract, and we don’t even know which job or the scope of his powers will be if any of these things do happen. They are quick to talk about Rangnick’s apparent admiration for Arrigo Sacchi. Yes, these are the same people who last year said Giampaolo would be the next Arrigo Sacchi. But new year, new delusion, I guess. So here are some truths about Rangnick.

We could produce tin foil hats with the club logo on them

When Football Imitates Life

I usually do not agree with footballers using their platform to make political statements. The beautiful game should not be marred with politics. However, watching Bundesliga players make statements about the issues that are currently tearing my country apart with protests, riots, and more, was very powerful for me. The majority of Americans rarely agree on anything, and it is perhaps even more rare that the rest of the world has any respect for popular opinion here, either. Yet when multiple players made their own public statements about justice for George Floyd, it was one of those rare events where football imitates life.

Amen