Milan-Cagliari Preview: Don’t Dream It’s Over

Milan have secured sixth place, and all that’s left is to play for the final three points and our undefeated streak. Well, that and to debut next year’s kits. Because the team has played so well since the restart, new kit sales are up 1700% from their first week last year. Maybe that will show Gazidis why it is important to not sabotage the sporting side, it actually does translate into income. But tomorrow’s match will be slightly bittersweet, as it will be the last time we will see some of these players in a Milan kit. This run of form since the break has been nothing short of magical, and I for one don’t want it to end. Don’t dream it’s over.

It's not over 'till the big guy scores... again

Sampdoria 1, Milan 4: Devil-May-Care

Milan secured a top seven finish last week, so are now only playing to improve their position on the table. With so many tough games behind us, and a few injuries, they could have just showed up and played this game at less than 100%. However, they absolutely showed up to win, albeit with a devil-may-care feeling about them.

Making it look so easy

Sampdoria-Milan Preview: One More for the Road

After feasting on football like those who have starved for months, this season is rapidly coming to an end. We are away to Sampdoria tomorrow for our penultimate match, and it just feels like we need to savor every last morsel of this incredibly eventful season. Starting in trauma yet again, under Giampaolo, then just starting to grow into our own again under Pioli as a global pandemic hit. After starving for football for almost four months, we were treated to a miraculous transformation of our beloved team, and now we will have to take another break. Reminiscing and never wanting to let go of this team and this moment, let’s make it one more for the road.

Flying higher

The €294 million Team

Yesterday, Juventus clinched their ninth straight Scudetto to confirm that actually, money can buy you everything. Well, not the Champions League. But apparently, in Italy, if you spend enough on players, no one else has a chance. And with the next highest wage bill less than half of Juve’s, it really does seem to be a foregone conclusion. But what does this say about Serie A? About the football? What does it really mean to be the €294 million team?

Overpaid? Underperforming? Or both?

Podcast: Do You Trust Gazidis?

Milan are still undefeated after the break, and have actually scored the most goals of any other team, too. But all of that was completely overshadowed this week by news off the pitch. On the one hand, Pioli was handed a well-deserved contract renewal. On the other hand, a nine month soap opera featuring Ralf Rangnick came to an end. Rui and I talked through all of it, and then asked ourselves how much do you trust Gazidis?

This guy trusted Gazidis, where is he now?

Milan 1, Atalanta 1: All is Fair in Love and War

Atalanta are the team that you would love to hate. But why would anyone hate them? They have done so much with so very little in terms of finance, and they play delightful football. After destroying the hopes and dreams of even unborn Milanisti in December, this Milan came to avenge that loss tonight. We were not able to take all three points, but the result was very fair, especially with our missing players. All is fair in love and war.

In love and war

Milan-Atalanta Preview: The Big One

Milan and Atalanta are the only two unbeaten teams in Serie A since coming back from the break. That means only a draw makes that still true for both teams. Considering that Atalanta have scored 95 goals in Serie A this season, five of them against us in our tragic meeting in December, it is unlikely that a draw would be goalless. But our previous meeting was P.Z., or Pre-Zlatan. Atalanta have yet to face the new iteration of Milan. With mentality and results powering both sides, this one is going to be the big one.

What the San Siro looks like lately

Sassuolo 1, Milan 2: Breaking News

Milan took the pitch to win, but even two goals from Ibrahimovic were eclipsed by breaking news. That news was that Milan ended their pursuit of Ralf Rangnick, despite reports for months that a deal was done to bring him to the club. In a match where injuries and discipline became a concern for Milan’s next match, the bigger news of Pioli’s contract extension calmed a lot of the anxieties. It was all about breaking news.

Winning is the best breaking news 

Sassuolo-Milan Preview: For Squinzi

Giorgio Squinzi was an Italian chemist and businessman who sadly passed away in October. He was also the owner of Sassuolo, and put their club on the map, bringing them from Serie C2 to Serie A, and even to Europa League qualifications in 2016. One of the few clubs that own their own stadium in Italy, they are still plenty relevant, and this year are challenging Milan for a European spot. That makes this game very important to both clubs. Which is why Milan need to win this one, because Squinzi was a lifelong Milan fan, and we owe it to him. For Squinzi.

In the afterlife, he only roots for Milan

Milan 5, Bologna 1: Take Five

Milan made lunchmeat of Mihajlovic’s Bologna, and it felt like they could have also maybe been a side salad, too. As Milan’s mentality gets stronger, the rumors become that much more painful. I cannot be the only one who wants to see this team, improved by one more mercato, take the pitch again in September and see what they can do. But for now, we’ll have to be grateful for the beautiful football and the goalfest on display tonight. Take five.

So many feels

Milan-Bologna Preview: Uncompromising

As Milan prepare to play their third game in seven days, we look to host former Milan coach Mihajlovic and his Bologna, who are in tenth place on the table, 10 points behind us. The same man who fought to bring Romagnoli to Milan and gave Gigio Donnarumma his start at age 16 has beaten leukemia and bone marrow transplants this past year, while still making Bologna competitive in the league. Like Milan’s play this second half of the season, he is uncompromising.

Forever grateful to Mihajlovic, uncompromisingly loyal to Milan

Podcast: Becoming Relevant

Milan are one of two teams that are undefeated since the break. That feels so amazing to stay. Despite the insane schedule of so many games in such a short time, as well as the heat, our players are showing incredible strength and stamina. Aaron and I talked about the last two matches and also Milan’s finances, including becoming relevant with the RocNation deal.

Young. Progressive. Relevant.

Milan 3, Parma 1: Answers

After such a tough string of games, this was easily a game we could have slipped and dropped more points. Particularly with so many players running on empty, as well as the high temperatures and earlier start. However, this team would not let that happen. Give them more challenges, they’ve got answers.

Another well-deserved win

Milan-Parma Preview: Stamina

Milan are still unbeaten since the break, however searing temperatures and a packed schedule are starting to impact the players. Not to mention the fact that Milan faced Lazio, Juventus, and Napoli all within eight days. While this restart has been so great for players and fans alike, the teams that will gain the most points will be the ones with the most stamina.

He's played every minute of every match this season. Stamina.

Napoli 2, Milan 2: Emotional Draw

We knew that this match would be tough, to face our old warrior as a beloved enemy instead. It pulled at the heartstrings to see former teammates Maldini and Gattuso hug and have so much respect ahead of the game. The match was intense, both teams fought hard. Despite both teams wanting the win and playing to the end, this one would finish a very emotional draw.

Emotional

Napoli-Milan Preview: For Rino

Win or lose, this one’s gonna hurt. Dropping points would put our European hopes in question. But taking all three points would mean we would see even more emotion from our former legend and recent coach, Rino Gattuso. However, Rino is a warrior. Even as the opposing coach, he would never back down, and he would never want us to, either. So even if we have to break his heart to get three points, we need to do it. For Rino.

For Rino

Podcast: Massive Wins

First Lazio, then Juventus. Milan played both of the top teams within four days, and both matches were absolutely massive wins. A clean sheet and three goals against a Lazio team that was very exciting before the break, then coming back from two down to beat Juventus four to two was epic. Also a massive victory over years of controversy. Miguel broke down both matches with me as we kept the celebrations going.

Massive feels

Milan 4, Juventus 2: Finally

This is the Milan we knew could show up tonight. After so many years of turmoil and yo-yo mentality and performances, it can be tough to believe. But this team was starting to convince before the break, and have come back firing on all cylinders. The piece that was really tough to believe in was the refereeing, after we have suffered so many big blunders from refs in big games against Juventus. Milan fans have simply had enough. So to have a match that was free of controversy, free from question marks, but simply a convincing win was victory upon victory. Finally.

Finally.

Milan-Juventus Preview: Enough

Everyone is sick of Juventus winning. I think maybe even Juventus fans are sick of winning, because they don’t even remember how to celebrate anymore. Forget alleged doping scandals, forget referee conspiracies, forget the ridiculous misconceptions about Calciopoli. Milan have had more than our fair share of bad luck with ref calls when we face Juventus. It’s time to dominate, to win this fair and square, no matter what the ref does on Tuesday. Enough.

We're coming to take what is rightfully ours: victory

Lazio 0, Milan 3: The Eagles Have Landed

After the midweek nightmare against SPAL, Milan fans fairly called for a reaction. And Milan absolutely complied. Without the high-flying Immobile and Caicedo, Lazio struggled to play their game. Milan took all three points from the second place team. The Eagles have landed.

Kessie: "Daddy's home!"

Lazio-Milan Preview: Reaction

After whatever happened on Wednesday, Milan will need a strong reaction on Saturday. They face Lazio, who are very realistically still contending for the Scudetto. After a painful eight-year reign of terror by Juventus, anyone else winning the league would be refreshing, even if it's the club with some of the most horrible fans in all of football. But not at Milan’s expense. For Saturday, Milan need to worry about ourselves, and creating a reaction.

No one gets a reaction better than Ibrahimovic

Podcast: Binging on Football

Milan followed up a strong performance and result on Sunday with a very bizarre result against SPAL on Wednesday. As Rui and I discussed, though, the draw still had a lot of positives in terms of performances. Going into the next stretch of four very tough matches, it just feels like we are binging on football.

So much football

SPAL 2, Milan 2: What Just Happened?

In the tragic comedy of the season so far, Milan were down to SPAL, who were down to ten men for more than half the match, and were gifted a point by a tragic own goal scored by SPAL’s captain in the dying minutes of the match. Yes. Read that again, that is the storyline of this match. Still, you are probably asking yourself, “What just happened?”

Dazed and confused