Milan's "Stadio Ecomostro": The Monstrous Task of Trying to Build a Stadium in Italy

Milan have been trying to build a stadium for years. It was a key component of Elliott Management's plan for Milan, and in four years of hard work, they made zero progress. This is the vulture fund that has brought entire nations to their knees, but they could not even begin to build a stadium in Italy. Cardinale is in Milano this week, trying to make things happen, but I am not sure he is aware of the monstrous battle he faces. For example, on Friday, it was reported that the residents in the area of the potential new stadium said the new stadium will be an "ecomostro" (eco-monster) and that they wanted greenery instead. They literally haven't even seen a stadium plan drawn up yet, but they are already protesting about it. Personally, I think Milan should name the stadium "Stadio Ecomostro" in their honor... if it ever gets built.

This place is crying out for a "Stadio Ecomostro"

The Return of Mike Maignan

Six months ago today, while on international duty with France, Mike Maignan went off at halftime in their match vs. Austria with a calf problem. After tests were done, it was revealed that he had a lesion on his calf muscle. Estimates were that it would take about a month to heal. However, when that month was up, and he was ready to return, he suffered a new injury in training. This not only kept him away from Milan, but also from France's World Cup campaign, which took them all the way to the Final. Maignan had to watch as his teammates claimed runners up on the world stage, while he was still struggling with an injury that would just not heal. Hugo Lloris retired after the World Cup, and, having made his return with Milan vs. Atalanta on February 26th, Maignan has now also returned to the French national team to be named the new number one keeper by Deschamps.

The heavens wept for joy as Maignan made his return

Udinese 3, Milan 1: Disconnect and Drama at the Dacia Arena

Even last year when Milan won the league, we did it by the slimmest of margins. It seems that winning outright or giving ourselves a comfortable lead in a match or especially in a competition is simply not our thing. That tendency has turned into a nearly self-destructive mindset this calendar year. Well, that, and there seems to be a disconnect with Pioli's tactics and ability to predict when this mindset takes hold, as well as his ability to compensate for those issues. Add to that a healthy dose of drama, playing away to the 10th place side, and you get a 3-1 loss to Udinese. It was a night of disconnect and drama at the Dacia Arena.

Captain Ibrahimović was at the center of some of the drama, of course

Udinese-Milan Preview: Finding Stability

Milan have been our own worst enemy this season. For some reason, away fixtures have been our most troubling, particularly away fixtures in the league. So facing tenth place Udinese at the Stadio Friuli might seem a moderate challenge to most teams challenging for top four. But for Milan, three points are a big ask right now. With Giroud suspended and Leão in one of his out-of-form hazes, others will likely have to step up. Seeing as how Milan have dropped points in both of our last Serie A fixtures, it is past time for Milan to find some stability.

Now is the time for Pioli to pull the team together for the final push for top 4

Milan Primavera: Inheriting Milan's DNA

On Tuesday, Ignazio Abate and our Milan Primavera made history by progressing to the UEFA Youth League semifinals.  They defeated Atlético Madrid's Juvenil A side 2-0, which was ironically managed by a former Milan player as well. This is the first Milan side to make it to the semifinals, and only the third Italian side to ever do so. With the senior side moving on to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, it seems that the younger players are learning what it is like to truly be Milan players. With the help of past Milan players, our young players are inheriting Milan's DNA.

The Primavera side celebrate qualifying for the semifinal

Milan 1, Salernitana 1: Drama at the San Siro

Monday night at the San Siro did not go as planned for Milan. What should have been a victory lap in front of 72,000 home fans turned into more drama than necessary and ended in a 1-1 draw with 16th place Salernitana. A clearly tired and unfocused Milan were held by a stubborn Salernitana and literally got in their own way. A tense match turned into a literal battle with more drama than an award show gone wrong and four of the five cards shown in the final ten minutes. It was a night filled with dropped points, regrets, and drama at the San Siro.

Giroud offered Milan the only lifeline in a night filled with drama.

Milan-Salernitana Preview: And the Oscar Goes To...

Milan will be hosting Salernitana on Monday at the San Siro. Meanwhile, here in Hollywood, Sunday night they will be awarding mostly white artists with small golden statues called Oscars for contributions to the film industry this year. As both Salernitana and Milan have seen plenty of drama themselves this past year, this preview will acknowledge the most outstanding dramatic achievements of these two clubs in the Serie A version of the Academy Awards. You're welcome.

Best Goalkeeper in a Starting Role, plus the only golden statue I could ever need.

Tottenham Hotspur FC 0, AC Milan 0: Don't Stop Me Now

After an incredibly tense and scoreless 90 minutes in North London, Milan are through to the Champions League Quarterfinals. The single goal scored early at the San Siro was enough for us to qualify for the next round for the first time since the 2011-12 season. If you did not watch the game, you might think that Milan simply sat back and defended, but you would be wrong. They attacked whenever possible and played with an intensity that was true to Milan's Champions League DNA. They absolutely deserved to go through, and at the end of the match the celebrations were beautiful to watch. After proving the naysayers wrong last year with the Scudetto win, Milan are once again exceeding expectations. Don't stop me now.

They worked hard for this, but they also thank their fans, who stood by them

Champions League Round of 16 • Tottenham Hotspur FC-AC Milan: The Big Money Question

Wednesday night. London. Can Milan advance to the Champions League Quarterfinals? That is when we will find out. With a 1-0 advantage from the first leg at San Siro, things were looking quite positive for Milan. Especially after Tottenham crashed and burned out of the FA Cup last week and then lost 1-0 to Wolves on Saturday as well. But then Fiorentina happened, and now Giroud reportedly has a fever. And, well, there is plenty of time for other important players to be injured or fall ill, too. Plus, we are playing away, which is so difficult for us this season for some reason. Sure, the Champions League is in Milan's DNA. But can Milan pull this one off? Can we out-mediocre the Spurs and answer the big money question?

Does this young side have what it takes to go through?

Fiorentina 2, Milan 1: Somber and Defeated

Milan went to Florence under very emotional circumstances, as it was the five year anniversary of the loss of Davide Astori, who had been Pioli's captain when he coached Fiorentina. That gave the home side not only the home advantage, but a cause to play for. And Milan were defeated 2-1 by a very determined Fiorentina side. Some people seem to see football as 11 circus performers and judge our players solely based on results, rather than a game that is interactive and influenced by many factors. Football is largely a mental game, and there are actually 22 players on the pitch. Tonight, it was multiple factors that left Milan not only somber, but defeated.

Not the way Ibrahimović is used to ending a match

Fiorentina-Milan Preview: Intense Emotions

Pioli has said every time his phone rings, it still jars him. Saturday marks five years to the day since Pioli got the call. It was matchday, and his captain, Davide Astori, did not wake up, having died in his sleep. That was when he was managing... you guessed it... Fiorentina. And while that was an away match, you know that this match will be very difficult for him as he returns to the Artemio Franchi once again, where he is still respected by Fiorentina fans. He even had difficulties getting through his press conference on Friday when he was asked about his former player, and he said "He is always with me." This match will be one of intense emotions.

Sometimes a life becomes more important than a match

Podcast: The 10th Anniversary Episode

This podcast has somehow survived for ten years... barely. And the blog has been around even longer, for twelve years, with over 2500 posts celebrating Milan. To celebrate these shocking accomplishments, I invited two very special guests on the show, my own Massimo and Sofia. They shared their Milan origin stories, we talked about news and recent matches, and then we shared some of my proudest, most epic moments as a Milan mom.

Our love for Milan will never die