On a very foggy night in Milano, it seemed that somehow, everyone was finally thinking clearly. Milan finally produced their third convincing performance of the season, and just in time, too, against an Empoli that had been doing very well. The 3-0 win over Empoli was so refreshing, like a beacon of light in the... well, foggy night. Perhaps it was the Serie A weekend dedication to football for all, including Fondazione Milan's Briantea team, a shining light of how inclusion brings purpose and joy to all, not just the players. Or perhaps, it was because Fonseca finally allowed Leão to start a match and play 84 minutes without too much fanfare, and even if he didn't personally score, he was yet again an integral cog in our offense. Perhaps the fog isolated the team from the absurd media and fan criticism, or maybe it just helped so that everyone was simultaneously thinking clearly.
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| Somehow, everyone saw more clearly in the fog. |
In a match pitting Milan-owned Vásquez and Colombo as well as a few exes against Milan, the Rossoneri made a statement of intent with a 19th minute goal from Morata, who slotted home a blocked attempt from Leão. 1-0 Milan. Colombo also tried to make statements of intent for the visitors, but his first chance was blocked, and his second went wide.
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| Morata back to scoring ways. |
The real statement was made by referee Dionisi, who allowed virtually everything in this match, shy of allowing players to actually be stretchered straight from the pitch to the morgue. But he was still too selective of potentially maiming incidents for Fonseca. For example, he rightfully showed a yellow card to Gabbia for a challenge on our former on-loan Pietro Pellegri. The recently renewed until 2029 Milan defender caught him with his studs, and while I'm sure it was not intentional, not even a laissez-faire referee like Dionisi could ignore it.
However, he did ignore a Goglichidze shirt pull and foul from behind on Leão within the very same minute, which is by the laws of the game a textbook yellow card. This incensed Fonseca, who was already frustrated with the calls not made in the prior 25 minutes, and Dionisi decided to instead show the manager a yellow card for protesting.
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| Even Fonseca himself was more engaged in this match. |
D'Aversa made a couple of changes at the half, bringing on an in-form Cacace, and replacing Colombo with Tammy Abraham's teammate at Roma, the Norwegian Ola Solbakken, who is on loan at Empoli this season. The reinforcements seemed to make some impact, as Maleh had Empoli's best chance of the night in the 54th minute when he hit the crossbar.
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| Reijnders' celebration honoring his son, Xavien, just makes it even better when he scores. |
Then it was back to No-Call Dionisi as Morata was pushed twice in the back in the 56th, with enough force to knock him over, but no call. However, Dionisi did feel compelled to show a yellow card to Musah for a tough challenge on Henderson. I think his threshold for card-giving was potential bloodshed, broken bones, hospital visits, or talking back to him. All equally harmful, of course. Because Theo was also fouled pretty hard by Isjmajli in the 59th, but no call at all.
In the 67th, he did give a yellow card to Henderson for a bad foul on Emerson Royal. But in between trying to figure out why Dionisi was or was not making calls, being entertained by Fonseca actually being livid about the referee's performance (at least he was showing passion for once?) another goal came piercing through the fog. In the 69th minute, Reijnders scored his second of the night, powering it down the field himself and nutmegging Ismajli for extra torment. 3-0 Milan. That is his second brace of the season for him, a Serie A Player of the Match performance, and brings his goal tally to six goals in all competitions. Reijnders was clearly a great signing from day one, but has become both such an integral player for the team, and also really enjoyable to watch.
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| Another match, another brace. Absolutely loving this for you, Tijjani. |
In the 75th minute, Fonseca made substitutions that seem to be becoming regularly scheduled events now, not necessarily always needed in the moment or well-planned substitutions. (But at least he has finally found some kind of balance and is finally remembering to use his subs.) He brought on Chukwueze for Musah, Loftus-Cheek for Fofana, and Pavlović for Gabbia. Six minutes later, he brought on Tammy Abraham to replace Morata, then the crowd favorite Camarda in the 84th to replace Leão. Camarda made his mark on the match with the less than ten minutes he was given with an attempted overhead bicycle kick that was actually close. Plenty of people have asked, "What if that had gone in?" Obviously, the San Siro would have erupted and the game would have been delayed. Probably for a while.
Tammy Abraham also had a near chance in the 88th minute. Then we saw Emerson Royal get into some kind of dispute in stoppage time with Esposito. I have no idea what was said, and both avoided cards, but people on the sidelines were getting involved before it was broken up. Emerson Royal has been widely criticized as one of this management's worst signings, but he gave what I felt was his most solid performance both offensively and defensively in this match.
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| Almost. |
This was a welcome reprieve from the painful draws, unnecessary losses, or even stubborn wins that Fonseca has plagued this season with. I still do not endorse him, because three convincing matches of 19 matches, plus languishing in seventh place in Serie A is simply not enough for the team he was given. Especially for all his self-important talk and excuses, but most especially for his poor treatment of our best players. But at least this match, everyone got on the same page and gave a convincing performance with a clear result that proved that everyone (except maybe Dionisi) was thinking clearly.
Abate's Ternana Destroy Bonera's Milan Futuro 3-0
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| Hard to see Abate draped in another team's colors, he was a Milan youth product himself. |
The showdown between two former Milan defenders (and teammates) went decisively to the manager who had coached many of the players his team were facing off against. I speak of course, of former Milan fullback Ignazio Abate, who managed first Milan's U16, then the Primavera for two years. Despite unprecedented success in the UEFA Youth League that included a semifinal back to back with a final, after a reported falling out with Ibrahimović that included him firing Abate's father, a longtime goalkeeping coach at the club, Abate left Milan when his contract was up in June and went to Ternana.
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| Bonera is a good guy, but maybe not the best manager. |
Daniele Bonera, generous defender and One Goal Wonder™ in his career, became an assistant to first Giampaolo in 2019, then stayed on with Pioli for the next five years. So, apparently for the merit of being on Ibrahimović's good side, Bonera was given the reins of the precious Milan Futuro project, and he came into this match in 18th place. Abate's Ternana, on the other hand, came into the match in third place.
The match seemed pretty one-sided. Milan's social media tries to hype up the match positively, but the highlights tell a completely different story. Ternana's 3-0 win came from goals by Casasola in the 8th minute, then Cianci in the 63rd minute, and Casasola with another in the 69th minute. From the highlights, Milan Futuro's backline looks to continually unravel instead of improve, which seems odd for a team coached by a defender.
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| This does not look like prioritizing youth development to me. |
Questions have been raised repeatedly about Bonera's choice as manager, having only ever been an assistant and never managed his own team before. Meanwhile, Abate had managed many of these players since they were 16 years old, and had great success with them in Europe, so many fans were very disappointed from day one.
The win pushed Ternana up to second place, while pushing Milan Futuro down to 19th place. With that being Week 17 of 38 of the season, it is past time to re-evaluate Bonera's position. As I've mentioned before, Juventus' Next Gen team recently changed their manager after similarly poor performances, and have since improved their results and are beginning to climb out of the relegation zone in Group A. But this match especially highlighted what a difference a proper manager makes. Next up, Futuro are making up another match from the international breaks as they are away to Campobasso on Thursday.
Guidi's Milan Primavera Crushed 3-0 by His Former Team, Roma Primavera
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| Milan Primavera with a tribute to Fiorentina's Edoardo Bove ahead of the match. |
After a midweek triumph in the UEFA Youth League, Milan Primavera suffered their second straight league loss to Guidi's former team, Roma Primavera. The 3-0 loss to Roma on Monday came courtesy of a brace by Misitano and a goal by Graziani. While Longoni actually saved Graziani's initial penalty, the rebound unfortunately did find the back of the net. Milan Primavera found themselves down 2-0 in just five minutes in the first half, but did their best to battle back. However, Misitano's second goal, scored on the counter, was the nail in the coffin. A defeat made worse by Liberali being sent off in the 90th minute. He will miss their next match, a trip to Sampdoria.
This post inspired by the music of Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?"