Milan-Fiorentina Preview: Finding Equilibrium

Have you ever had an injury or illness that affected your equilibrium? It's a strange sensation, and one that would feel very familiar to Milan fans who have watched this season. One minute, the team seem fine, great even, capable of doing anything. And the next minute, they are either wobbling or actually on the ground, without even understanding what happened. Conceição, who is used to consistently winning, has struggled to understand both the atmosphere from the Milan fans this season and also something he has made a few references to as "bad luck." Yes, Sérgio, one club from Milano gets all the calls, and one does not. Beyond that, with management being about as stable as America's current president, the environment at the club has been volatile this season, making it even more difficult for players to strike a balance in their individual and collective performances. However, it is time to try to end the season well, so let's hope they can start with this match by finding some equilibrium.

The team are in a difficult environment, but need to find their way.

AC Milan 1, Inter 1: Act I

The curtains have closed on the first act of the Coppa Italia Semifinal's Derby della Madonnina, and we have a two week intermission until the second act. The first act saw Milan and Inter draw 1-1, with all the drama left for the second match. While Milan fielded most of their starters, there were a lot of understudies for Inter, who have some big players injured. So the suspense is tangible, almost as if this match had not even been played. For Milan, everything is on the line, while Inter are looking to win their first trophy of the year after Milan stole their thunder (and their silverware) in January. So enjoy the intermission, because the drama is going to get very real next time. This was just Act I.

Only the first Act, with everything to play for in Act II.

Coppa Italia Semifinal • AC Milan-Inter Preview: Desperation Derby

Milan have their proverbial backs up against the wall this season. After going out of the Champions League at the Group Stage, there are only eight matches left to fight for a European spot of any kind for next season. Sitting solidly in ninth place at this point, that is now just a fool's hope. We are in the Coppa Italia Semifinals, which for some inexplicable reason are a two-leg round, while every other round is only one leg, including the final. Still, in 2025, when players and everyone else are concerned about the number of matches, we're doing this. Worse still, of course, we've drawn our cheating, slimy, scum-sucking cugini, Inter. But winning this round and then progressing to the final gives us a chance at another trophy and guaranteed access to the Europa League next season, too. So despite playing a hated rival, for Milan, this is a desperation Derby.

Milan are desperate for access to Europe next season.

Napoli 2, Milan 1: Sick of It All

Waking up to the news that Loftus-Cheek was having emergency surgery when he was meant to have his first start since December was distressing enough. But seeing the starting lineups made me feel ill. Then we had to suffer through yet another match where we conceded goals and had to try to fight back, which was even more nauseating. We've seen this so many times before. But it ended Napoli 2, Milan 1, we dropped three more points, distancing ourselves further from Europe instead of trying to change our fate. And afterward, we found out that Conceição had to change three of his planned starting 11 at the last minute due to health issues. Every time there is the slightest glimmer of hope to cling to this season, everything that can go wrong does. I'm just sick of it all.

Bad luck feels bad for our season.