Sassuolo 0, Milan 0: Heavy Metal

Milan have had exactly three subpar performances since the preseason, and they were all wearing the new white away kit. Tonight, it was a goalless draw away to Sassuolo. Despite a phenomenal mentality that Pioli has created, and an away record last season in which they only dropped 11 points all season long, they have dropped four of six possible away points already. Has Puma's concept to tie Milan's Champions League heritage to the white away shirt made the shirt too heavy? Why not just tie seven actual trophies to the players's chests and ask them to play? Was this match even more difficult given the recent history of winning the Scudetto at this stadium? Is Milan's mentality being dragged down by heavy metal?

Maignan calling upon the goalkeeping gods

Sassuolo-Milan Preview: Return of the Kings

Just over three months ago,  Milan went to Sassuolo and won their first Scudetto in 11 years. Tuesday, they are headed back for the first time since that magical day, to play on the same field, change in the same dressing room, and hopefully win three points toward their next Scudetto. This match won't have the same intensity, nor the champagne showers, medals, or trophy at the end. But the players understand that every match is worth three points toward that destination. This one will still have special memories in that place where the sights, sounds, and even the smell of victory will likely come rushing back with ease to those who were crowned champions. On Tuesday, Sassuolo will host the return of the kings.

Kings, returning to their coronation site

Milan 2, Bologna 0: Beauty Comes From Within

Milan were not recognizable tonight by the color of their kits, which were hideously traumatizing. But inside, they are still the excellent players that we know and love, with a fresh infusion of elegance and an air of magic. Bologna were fierce and did their best to stop the unstoppable, but Milan's quality shone through. They may not have been wearing Milan colors, two beautiful goals and a clean sheet helped fans identify their team without a doubt. No matter how ugly the kits Puma comes up with, beauty comes from within.

Even in the traumatizing kit, that goal was sheer beauty

Milan-Bologna Preview: Unrecognizable

Milan host Bologna Saturday night at the San Siro, but you probably won't recognize the Rossoneri. That is because they will be wearing the most hideous third kits in recent memory, which are somewhere between the color of split pea soup and puke, or perhaps split pea soup puke. Why Puma would do this to our Champions, I have no idea. We can only hope that it does not affect their performance like the away kits seem to. And poor Mihajlović, recovering from another round of treatment for leukemia, now he has to see this? It is not enough that the Milan team that he once coached has been completely transformed, aside from the Scudetto patches on their kits, this team will be unrecognizable.

So hideous, the models don't even want to touch it

Champions League Group Stage Draw: Milan's Destiny

AC Milan have not been seeded in the Group Stage draw for the Champions League for ten years. I can remember staying up until very early in the morning my time, as the draw was held midday in Europe then. Of course, that year, Galliani had just sold Ibrahimović and Thiago Silva, beginning the downfall of the Milan team of European glory, causing a certain type of anxiety for the draw. This year, only our second year back in the Champions League, playing without Ibrahimović in the Group Stage, and with such a young team, there is a different type of anxiety. At least the draw is now at a respectable hour. Now it is really more anticipation than anxiety, waiting to learn Milan's destiny.

What will be Milan's Champions League destiny this year?

Atalanta 1, Milan 1: The Weight of History

Last season, Milan earned an unbelievable 46 of 57 possible points away in Serie A. Tonight, in just their second match of the season, Milan already dropped two away points in a 1-1 draw. Sure, it was away to Atalanta, which is always a battle. But is there something more? In the preseason, the men only lost one game, and it was the match they wore their new white away kits. The ones with the seven stripes representing Milan's seven historic Champions League trophies. Even the women's team lost two of their three matches in their preseason tournament in the United States – the ones they were wearing the white kits. Wouldn't it be ironic if it was Puma and Milan who unintentionally found the antidote to Pioli's amazing mentality? Maybe this Milan team will struggle this season under the weight of history.

Bennacer managed to escape the weight of history

Atalanta-Milan Preview: Battle in Bergamo

What was once always a tough match has become a meaningful battle for Milan fans, away to Atalanta in Bergamo. Since the refining fire of Pioli's worst defeat near the beginning of his tenure, a match he acknowledges forged the mentality that made this winning team, the games in Bergamo have meant more than just a football match. After publicly feuding with first his captain and then seeing his sporting director leave, too Atalanta seem to be unraveling under Gasperini, still the longest serving manager in Serie A. But in spite of a number of changes in the squad this summer, they pulled off a convincing win last weekend and it looks like Sunday will be yet another intense battle in Bergamo.

Déjà vu: Last week's battle of Soppy vs. Hernández could be repeated

Milan's 2022-23 Kit Review: Dressed in Black Again

Milan is no stranger to a mainly black third kit, of which there have been some excellent ones in the past. But the home kit is sacred. The same Rossoneri colors that course through our veins should dominate the jersey in our classic and hallowed red and black stripes. Not painted on, not as an afterthought, but as the fabric of the jersey. This year, Puma has failed again, giving us an overwhelmingly black first kit. They had good intentions with the white away kit, attempting to take us back to our Champions League heritage, but literally missed the mark, with stripes that are incomplete and floating in white space. The only kit worth buying is the training kit, which, for the first time ever, is sponsored. Like a team in mourning for having sold out completely, Milan are dressed in black again.

New game: find the red and black stripes on the home kit

Milan 4, Udinese 2: Still Hungry

Ahead of this match, the club put together a promo that advertised that the "Champions are still hungry." Despite conceding two goals on set pieces, their opening match seemed to prove that point. Pioli's system and the mentality he has created means that even if errors are made or someone is having a subpar performance, others will step it up and make it happen. That's what Champions do. And as Udinese found out, Milan are definitely Champions, and they are definitely still hungry.

Milan are coming for more

Milan-Udinese Preview: Welcome Home Champions

Milan are kicking off the Serie A season by hosting Udinese at the San Siro in the early evening match. This will be their first time playing in front of their fans after being crowned Champions of Italy in Sassuolo in May. While the heat is likely to be a factor, with a high of 31°C (87°F) forecast during the day, it is hoped that the sold out stadium turns up the heat in support of the Diavoli. Milan were not able to beat Udinese last season at home or away, in spite of all of their other success, so they will be looking for a positive result as their fans welcome home the Champions of Italy.

Time for the Champions to play for their fans

Podcast: Win, Rinse, Repeat

With the new season about to kick off, I invited Francesco to help catch us up on everything Milan, including all of the changes in the transfer window to date. We talked about news and highlighted all of the recent preseason friendlies, as well as looked ahead at the coming season. We also talked about Milan's chances of repeating the Scudetto win this year heading into Pioli's fourth season at the club.

Consistency matters.

Betting On Milan

Since the return of football after the break due to COVID in 2020, Milan have consistently remained in the top three in Serie A, usually in first or second place. For over two years now. They returned to the Champions League after a seven year absence, and then this past season did a little something called winning the freaking Scudetto. Still, no one gives the team any respect, and everyone thinks that Inter and Juve and maybe even Roma are favored to win this season ahead of Milan. Why, I have no idea. I mean, that's what they said last year, too. Look how that worked out. That's why I'm betting on Milan.

A sure bet.

Taking Vicenza By Storm

The weather was very hot at kickoff, and Milan conceded a goal from Serie B side Vicenza within just 20 seconds. But Milan's response was thunderous, pouring down six goals on the home team before the weather also came down in torrents on everyone. Perhaps it was just the heavens weeping tears of joy for De Ketelaere's unofficial Milan debut, which was every bit as sublime as anticipated. Or maybe it was tears of sorrow for the two injuries sustained to Tonali and Messias just one week before Serie A kicks off. Either way, between Milan's goal deluge and the actual torrential rain, this one was taking Vicenza by storm.

Leão making it rain with a goal and an assist

Charles De Ketelaere: Quiet Elegance

Finally, Milan have signed the young Belgian player of their dreams. Having followed Charles De Ketelaere for years and initially contacting his agent two years ago, Maldini and Massara worked excruciatingly hard for eight very long and rumor-filled months to bring him to Italy. He is finally here. Milan paid one of the top transfer fees in the club's history, plus committed to a percentage of his sell-on fees to Club Brugge just to bring him here. His transfer saga was very stressful for all involved, including for the player himself. He is actually a very normal, shy, quiet person whose incredible talent and potential is masked only by his quiet elegance.

Massive talent and potential, and Milan character

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Milan fans, after a very minimal January mercato, were looking forward to a much better summer transfer window. We had been linked heavily with several players, even reportedly had preliminary agreements with some of them. Then the sale of the club was announced. Suddenly, everything was in question, including whether or not Maldini and Massara would even stay on. Divock Origi arrived, but has been following a personal training regime due to an injury. So while rival clubs made big moves in the transfer market, Milan fans waited. Finally, yesterday, Charles De Ketelaere signed, after about eight months of tough negotiations and a very large transfer fee, at least for Milan. If history is any indication, however, he will be worth every hourly update we have endured this entire time as well as every Euro. Because since Maldini has returned, good things come to those who wait. 

He will be worth the investment and the wait