Milan have had what should be an arguably successful U.S. tour, having won both of their friendly matches vs. Manchester City and Real Madrid. Fonseca has also had a chance to look at some young players, and eve swapped some players in and out, despite the transatlantic flights. However, there are those transatlantic flights, which has meant that the last few players returning from vacation have been training at Milanello, not having even met with Fonseca or begun to integrate with the team. Then, there are the two serious injuries, both requiring surgery and multiple-month recoveries. There is also the fact that no other Serie A side traveled outside of Europe for any of their friendlies. So there are plenty of arguments against the success of this preseason as well. However, either way, on Tuesday evening, Milan are meeting up with Barcelona in Baltimore for their final match in the U.S.
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| A team united in training with their U.S. fans present, too. |
They Really Beat Real Madrid...
Last Wednesday, Milan met old friends Brahim Díaz and Carlo Ancelotti as they defeated Real Madrid 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The first half was a tense battle in which both Courtois and Torriani were calle into action a few times, but no goals. Of course, Tomori did try to break Endrick just five minutes into his Real Madrid debut, but luckily, the young Brazilian made it through the match.
Real Madrid were wearing their pumpkin spice/Halloween orange away kits, which added to the amusement/festivities. In the second half, Thiaw did injure Palacios, or at least he was subbed off as a precaution, less than ten minutes after having been subbed on. In the 55th minute, the 17 year-old Liberali fed the ball through for Chukwueze, who slotted it past Lunin to make it 1-0 Milan.
Chukwueze the scorer, and Liberali with the assist... beautiful.
Fonseca's original formation was Torriani; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Terracciano; Bennacer, Loftus-Cheek; Chukwueze, Liberali, Saelemaekers; and Nasti. In the 66th, he brought on Kalulu, Jiménez, Pulisic, and Musah, Jović to replace Terracciano, Calabria, Liberali, Loftus-Cheek, and Nasti. Then in the 76th, Pobega, Gabbia, Bakoune, and Cuenca replaced Bennacer, Thiaw, Saelemaekers, and Chukwueze. Finally, Camarda replaced Tomori, who seemed to be limping, in the 87th, as Fonseca clearly wanted another goal, but it did not come.
Bakoune got the singular yellow card of the match in the 86th, although Real Madrid could have earned several cards as they got quite desperate toward the end, including a nasty foul from Martínez on Pulisic in the 93rd. But, in front of 61,568 fans, excluding those who were stuck in traffic and could not get to the game, Milan pulled off an upset over the 15 time Champions League winners and current title holders. Even more delicious that the crowd was like 95% Real Madrid fans.
Rűdiger and Thiaw just trying to have a friendly, but Chukwueze has other ideas.
A Milan Midsummer Night's Dream...
Just ahead of the Real Madrid match, Milan finally signed a second player, defender Strahinja Pavlović from Red Bull Salzburg. Pavlović is a 23 year-old left-footed center back from Serbia who stands at 6'4" (1.94m) and his middle name could be 'Intimidation.' He and Okafor played together at Red Bull, so they should have a good reunion when Okafor returns from the States. He has been compared to Jaap Stam, and took his number 31, and there have already been jokes about his lack of emotions. But he shared a quick message to Milan fans when he signed, and assured us he is happy.
So ready for this big Balkan energy.
Unfortunately, on Friday, poor Florenzi had surgery to repair his ACL and meniscus, which he injured during the match with Manchester City. While the surgery was a success, the estimates for his return are potentially eight months from now, which is a very long rehabilitation. That is such a soul crushing injury to one of our important experienced players in the team. I wish him all the best and cannot wait for his return.
The announcer may not have had any clue who he was, but it didn't stop him.
Other than that, it has been typical summer tour promotional events. Like we got the answer to what happens when an Englishman, an Algerian, a Nigerian, and a Frenchman go walking in New York. Some lucky fans in New York got to meet Baresi, Pulisic, and Musah at the Puma store there. Fans got to witness an open training session, complete with the merch truck, of course. Some of the guys raced Go Karts, with Saelemaekers winning the race, apparently. And "Zal-i-tan" Ibrahimović threw out the first pitch at a Yankees game in a show of true RedBird synergy. Oh yeah, and Rafa Leão revealed that he is going to be a father, they are expecting twin boys that are due in November.
Leão prepared to help us over our final hurdle...
Barcelona Our Last Hurdle...
Barcelona have been stalking Milan, or at least following in our footsteps. Three days after we beat Manchester City, they beat them on penalties in Orlando. Saturday, also three days later, they beat Real Madrid 2-1 in New York. So both teams are two for two in their summer friendlies, and in the U.S., of course, only one team can win. (Literally, in the Soccer Champions Tour, if there is no winner at the end of regulation, it goes straight to penalties to determine a winner.)
Against Real Madrid on Saturday, new Barca Manager Hansi Flick lined up: ter Stegen; Valle, Christensen, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Casadó, Bernal; Pau Victor Delgado, Torre, Unai Hernandez; and Lewandowski. Both Barcelona goals were scored by Pau Victor, and Flick has a full squad of 30 players at his disposal.
This 19 year-old has faced the best from Man City and Real Madrid, he's been immense.
Milan, in the meantime, have made more changes in their squad. Rafa Leão and Okafor will be available for their summer debuts with the team. Adli only had a knock, so is back in the squad. Bennacer also had taken a knock in training, but should be available. Young players Bakoune and Marco Nasti returned to Italy to train with Milan Futuro, who had a friendly against Ciliverghe Calcio on Sunday, which they won 6-0 with four goals scored by Gabriele Alesi. Obviously, between missing players and injuries, we only have two 29 year-old goalkeepers and a 20 year-old, so it is not exactly like this will be our starting lineup. But it should still be our strongest of the three with the addition of Leão and Okafor.
The players probably feel like they are back in school with Fonseca's whiteboard on the pitch.
Fonseca's ideas have increasingly been evident during the past two matches, so it will be very curious to see how this match goes. Flick is also new at Barcelona, and while their wagebill last season was €219 million compared to Milan's €90 million, this is just a preseason match, and in many other ways, the teams are comparable. Certainly, despite the injuries, the lengthy travel and busy promotional schedules, the lack of starters who played on international duty, etc., morale seems to be very high. So, a third friendly win before returning home would definitely help maintain that positive energy. But they have one more hurdle Tuesday night as they meet up with Barcelona in Baltimore.
This post inspired by the music of Måneskin's "Timezone"
Our next match is a Friendly
Reviewed by Elaine
on
12:15 PM
Rating:
