With nine matches left, people have left Milan for dead. The table shows that we are in ninth place, but upon closer observation, we are only two points from seventh, four points from sixth, and six points from fourth place. Sure, that dream hinges on other teams dropping points. It also requires a near perfect finish to our season, which starts Sunday, with a trip to Napoli. The same team we unnecessarily dropped three points to in October because of injuries, suspensions, and a manager's fetish for benching our best player. And this Napoli is struggling to maintain form and fight for the Scudetto, despite not having played in Europe. As always, it will be an epic battle at the Maradona, and our team is unlikely to get any support at all from fans. But it is the first match of the rest of our season – a date with destiny.
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| Will they take control of their own fate? |
Many fans had hoped that Conte would be Milan's destiny this season. Instead, like the person who gets stood up for a date, then wakes up the next day, moves on, and asks someone else out, he took on the Napoli challenge and had them flying high. That is, until February, when they have only won one match of their last seven, drawing five. Their most recent disappointment was a scoreless draw with Venezia before the break. Although, to be fair, Radu, the opposing goalkeeper, was named Serie A's Player of the Match.
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| "You probably should not headbutt Ibrahimović this time, he's a director now." |
For that match, Conte lined up a 4-2-3-1 featuring: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Spinazzola; Gilmour, Lobotka; Politano, Raspadori, McTominay; and Lukaku. Our on loan Okafor subbed on in that one as well, he has four late sub appearances for the club. With as many first team players called up for their national teams as Milan, Napoli does not have much of an advantage in terms of rest. However, Anguissa, Okafor, and Neres all had muscle injuries with their national teams. While Neres is fully recovered, Okafor and Anguissa are still being monitored. Conte is missing Spinazzola and backup goalkeeper Contini to injury.
Conceição has everyone back from injury except Emerson Royal, which I think most fans would agree is a positive rather than a negative. However, Musah is suspended for this one. And while there are many fans who would make the same argument for his absence, Musah has been an important player for Conceição, and I think he actually will be missed.
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| No Musah? No problem. Loftus-Cheek is back just in time to lend a hand in midfield. |
As for the 12 first team players (plus Camarda and Bartesaghi) who traveled on national team duty, both Pulisic and Santi Gimenez are coming from long flights from the west coast of the U.S. (which is about a 14 hour flight.) And Gimenez will be both buoyed from Mexico winning a trophy and extra tired from the celebrations. He also had a slight knock, but has already returned to full fitness and has been training with the team. Theo Hernández, Maignan, and Reijnders all played into Added Extra Time in their final matches of the break, so will also be a bit more drained.
However, at least Conceição got some quality time with the rest of the squad. Despite the press still talking nonstop about his exit and new managers for next season, things should feel a lot more relaxed for him compared to his first two months at Milan. Even in his press conference for this match, again he was he asked if he was the Portuguese Conte, which he has previously and expressly told them he was not, and did not like the comparison (I would be offended, too.) But once again, he diplomatically told them know. And when they asked if he had been given any reassurances about his position at Milan, he politely put them in their place, assuring them he was doing his job and was not a child constantly needing reassurances from his father. He is a master at press conferences.
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| What will his destiny be? |
Now it remains to see if Conceição can become the master of his destiny. A win for him vs. one of the Scudetto contenders may at least change the conversation around Milan, as well as help to end the season well. A loss increases the toxic narrative around his job, the players, and the club, and gives more fuel to Napoli's Scudetto dreams. Going to Napoli and coming home with all three points would do a lot to help the mentality ahead of the Coppa Italia Semifinal on Wednesday as well. It will definitely not be easy, given the odds that the team have stacked against them this season. But anything can happen in 90 minutes. This is a date with destiny.
Milan Futuro Lose 1-0 to Arezzo to Land at the Bottom of the Table
Last week, Milan Futuro were away to Arezzo. While they managed to hold off their opponents for much of the match, Arezzo score in the 73rd minute to make it 1-0. Milan Futuro did fight back, and Sia actually put one in the back of the net in stoppage time, but it was disallowed for being offside. So Milan Futuro lost 1-0 to Arezzo. If you still have the heart to watch these matches, highlights are available on the Serie C YouTube channel. Worse, Massimo Oddo was judged to have left his technical area and said something inappropriate to the referee in the 38th minute, so he will be suspended for the home match vs. Campobasso on Saturday. He was hired with 10 matches left, this is already his second suspension, and we only have five matches left to try to avoid relegation. That is one way to leave your mark on a team.
Milan Futuro Win 3-2 Over Campobasso at Home!
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| A last gasp winner for only the 5th win of the season is worth the yellow for celebrating. |
Milan Futuro won their fifth league match of the season on Saturday, defeating Campobasso 3-2 with a 95th minute goal from captain Camporese. Ironically, Massimo Oddo was not on the bench. It was his second suspension in the six matches since he was appointed. It was also the second of their five wins in which the manager was suspended this season, which you would think would send a message to management about their choice of managers.
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| That is the Camarda we know and love. |
This one got started with a great goal in the 23rd minute from Camarda, who is back to scoring ways after being mostly a spectator for the first team this season. Then Alesi scored just before halftime, making it 2-0 at the half. Campobasso pulled one back in the 55th minute, and Milan Futuro were still ahead as it went into stoppage time, 2-1. D'Alessio was also shown a red cards from the bench and sent off in the 86th minute for something, so will miss the next match. But a late handball from Malaspina gave the visitors a penalty, which they converted for the equalizer, 2-2. However, Camporese's goal in the 95th minute gave them a deserved win, 3-2 Milan Futuro! Highlights of the win can be found on the Serie C YouTube Channel.
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| Alesi's exquisite goal put them up 2-0 at halftime. |
The victory brought them temporarily into 18th place, but the other two teams below them have not played as of this writing. However, they were three very much needed points in their fight to avoid relegation. Next week, they face Sestri Levante, one of the other teams in the bottom three, so it will be a crucial match to increase the space between the teams. Coach Oddo only has only four matches left to help them try to avoid the playouts, or at the very least, relegation.
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