When I titled my preview for this match, "Finding Equilibrium," I did not mean to suggest the teams should play to a draw. I truly was hoping that Milan would find some balance in this insanely imbalanced season and step into their own for the last part of the season. But instead, they stepped aside for Fiorentina, and while they fought back from 2-0 down, in the end they could only pull off the 2-2 draw. And unlike a lot of people, I am not blaming the manager and players as much as I am calling out management. In every single thing they have done since taking over the club, all they have done is claim they wanted success, but all of their actions have left the club aspiring for mediocrity.
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| The players have embraced each other, but no one is safe from the mediocrity of management. |
This one started out particularly painfully. A terrible defensive mistake from Musah directly led to Fiorentina's possession, then Guðmondsson got past Tomori and took a shot that got caught between Thiaw's legs as he tried to save it, leading to an own goal. 1-0 Fiorentina. Three minutes later, a play that again started with Musah not being able to defend, led to a play in which no one defended and Moise Kean scored a second goal. 2-0 Fiorentina, and it was only the tenth minute.
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| Worst way to start a match. |
In the 12th minute, Tammy Abraham was down with a worrying knock, but after treatment, he was able to play on. The Musah "I have lost all confidence in myself whatsoever show" continued. I like Musah, I believe in him, but he did not believe in him in this match. When Leão put in a great cross in the 19th that both Tammy Abraham and Musah completely missed because they were not even considering the possibility of it, the match became physically painful to watch.
Two minutes later, Maignan showed up for duty, with his first of another seven great saves on Guðmondsson. Shortly after that, it was Tammy to the rescue. Tammy Abraham had a great give-and-go with Pulisic, and Tammy's imposing 6'4" (193 cm.) frame beat veteran keeper De Gea to pull one back for Milan. 2-1 Fiorentina.
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| Tammy showed up for work today. |
With Tammy's second goal of the week, having also scored against Inter midweek, I have to say that I love him coming into form. I think he and his close friend Tomori had envisioned playing together and killing it, one in attack and one in defense. However, the reality is that they've rarely even been on the pitch together, and even less frequently both had good matches simultaneously. Such a shame, because BFFs destroying the opposition is something that I think would make everyone happy.
During the celebration, Conceição was finally able to make a very, very early substitution that he had actually been waiting to make. He pulled Musah off and brought on Jović. That cannot be an easy decision for a manager. Was it made out of Conceição's hunger to win? Or compassion for Musah, to not let him make any more blunders? (Or maybe a little of both?)
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| The media view him in his villain arc, but he definitely saved the game, and maybe Musah, too. |
Either way, it was reported that Musah was booed by the fans in the stadium, and went straight down the tunnel to the dressing room, distraught. This wasn't even his first early substitution, Conceição had also hauled him off in the 36th minute vs. Lazio. Worried for him, Conceição first sent Florenzi, then Pavlović to talk to him. Within ten minutes, Musah re-emerged and warmly embraced Conceição.
The same fans who say horrific things about Musah 365 days a year were suddenly worried about what this early substitution would do to his mentality, with the more brazen fans still cllously claiming he should have never even started. However, what choices does Conceição even have in midfield? None of these fearless keyboard warriors have been able to offer me any answers.
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| Fofana is the best we've got, and he's been struggling, but he needs a partner to shore up the midfield. |
Bondo is not it. There's a reason he was at Monza, why he only cost €10 million, and why he is so excited to be at Milan. Because he won the contract lottery. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be harsh, and maybe he'll grow into the role, and some fans are "withholding judgment until we see more minutes." However, there's a reason we haven't seen more minutes, and the ones we have seen have shown us the answer.
The lack of any midfielder to be able to hold their own defensively has been increasingly problematic since Kessié left three years ago. Then two years ago, they sold Tonali, and now, in January, they let Bennacer go. Suddenly, we concede goals like a sieve, and everyone is confounded? It's football, not trigonometry. We need a freaking proper defensive midfielder (or more would be nice, but can we please get at least one?)
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| Jović arrived to save the day. |
Jović, who had been quite vocal about his lack of minutes ahead of this match, definitely made a difference. Suddenly, Milan were creating chances. Leão nearly even scored a header. Things started getting more intense as well. After having been carded a few minutes earlier for a foul on Reijnders, Pablo Marí once again fouled Reijnders in the box, but Ayroldi refused to even blow his whistle. I get that you don't want to send a player off before halftime, but you also cannot deny penalties and just let players do whatever they want. That's how you lose control of matches and people get hurt.
At the other end, a new rivalry developed, as Dodô and Theo Hernández started passionately arguing. I am neither a professional lip reader nor a native Italian speaker, but I'm pretty sure they were arguing over whose bleached hairstyle was better (which is obviously Theo's, what is even going on with Dodô's hair?) This, Ayroldi decided to card. You cannot be dragging one another's hairstyles. (I think Ayroldi was just jealous, because he could never pull off bleached hair at all.) Both of them were shown yellow cards, which did not even stop them from arguing. But I do think it was trivial, because Dodô said afterwards that "Theo is for me the best fullback I've seen play. It was a pleasure to challenge him."
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| Just a couple of showgirls trashtalking each other's bleach jobs. |
After the girlfighting abated, Luca Ranieri scored a fantastic goal, and was absolutely incredulous when it was immediately called off because Parisi had fouled Pulisic in the buildup to the goal. Still 2-1 Fiorentina. In the 48th, Pongračić kicked Theo Hernández in the knee after trying to clear the ball when Theo would have been one v one with De Gea, which is supposed to be dangerous play. But Ayroldi did not even whistle for a foul or stop play, let alone have a VAR review. But of course, Walker was shown a yellow card for fouling Ranieri just a minute later.
Milan came out fired up after halftime, with Jović putting in a nice cross that Fofana tried to slot home, but Ranieri was there to block it. In the 50th minute, Pongračić fouled Tomori and they were seen getting pretty heated, even pushing back and forth, but obviously, we only card for talking, not for physical violence, remember?
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| Just because Pongračić got to the ball first doesn't mean his kick wasn't dangerous play. |
At the other end, Mike had another point blank reflex save on Moise Kean. After easily managing a Mandragora shot that was straight to him, at the other end, Pulisic fed the ball in and Tammy Abraham sent in a fantastic header that required an even more impressive De Gea save. Jović had a chance, but sent it just high and wide.
In yet another episode of Milan's "bad luck," Pongračić shoved Leão down in the box with both hands. From behind. If Leão had been wearing any other shirt, that would have absolutely been a penalty. But instead, Ayroldi gave the ball to Fiorentina. Absolutely unbelievable refereeing. Conceição did use this stoppage in play, though to sub off Tammy Abraham, who had been limping around for a bit for some reason, and introduced Santi Gimenez into the match.
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| Apparently, shoving attackers in the back with both hands who are one-on-one with the keeper is not even a foul? |
In the 56th, De Gea made a double save, first on Reijnders, then a lightning fast save on Pulisic's rebound, and then Santi Gimenez put the final rebound into the side of the net. Then, as if it was deja vu, Pongračić shoved Leão down in the box with both hands in the back. Again. And again, Ayroldi did not give a penalty, or even the foul. This time, though Leão did give an ironic clap toward the ref, which he would have missed, but for Ranieri tattle-telling on him like a four year-old.
So Leão was booked for being fouled in the box, and Fiorentina were given possession. How can Milan fans blame our players when this is what they are dealing with from the referees? In an Inter match, if that had happened to an Inter player, the Pongračić would have been sent off by this point. He had hit Tomori in the face, and shoved Leão down in the box twice. It's insane. Then Pulisic was also shown a yellow for a foul on Guðmondsson. Which, at least that was the right call, Pulisic was also pissed off and frustrated. It just feels like we play a Derby in every match, Milan vs. the referee, and we just cannot win.
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| Leão getting a yellow card while Pongračić got nothing was far more ironic than his clap. |
Maignan had another big save on Beltran, then a minute later, Tomori's ball forward just went rolling through Fiorentina's defense, and Jović saw it, ran for it, and like a predator, pounced on the chance and scored against his former team. Now it was level, 2-2 all. And while Jović did not particularly celebrate, he just grabbed the ball and ran back to the center to restart, he did stop off at the bench long enough for a quick acknowledgement from fellow Serbian, Pavlović, one warrior to another. If we had a Milan yearbook, Pavlović would win for most passionate celebrations.
De Gea was booked for timewasting, because we don't card for players getting shoved down in the box from behind, but heaven forbid the goalkeeper should waste time. These are the important calls. Fofana had an attempt that may have even grazed the outside of the post, it was just wide. Maignan had another big save on Moise Kean, he's going to be traumatized by Mike in his dreams. And De Gea also made a huge save on a speeding Theo Hernández.
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| Everyone needs a BFF like Pavlović. |
In the 76th minute, Santi Gimenez was through all alone vs. De Gea, who, on the edge of the area, managed to touch the ball with his foot, but send Santi flying. Gimenez landed awkwardly on his hip. He tried to keep playing, but went to ground a few minutes later, and despite being a sub himself, had to be subbed off in the 80th minute. Meanwhile, Theo and Dodô were once again caught chatting, but this time, I think they were just exchanging recipes or something, they did not give Ayroldi cause to card them again.
Conceição made multiple changes in the 80th minute, bringing on Chukwueze, João Félix, and Bondo for Pulisic, the aforementioned Santi Gimenez, and Fofana. Reports say that Santi only suffered bruising on his hip, nothing serious, so he is expected to be available on Friday. Maignan mad another save on Moise Kean, then Theo sent a shot wide at the other end. Maignan saved a shot from the Dodô of inferior hairstyles, then another massive save on Moise Kean in the 86th minute. Choosing Maignan as MVP for this one was the obvious choice.
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| Maignan made seven saves... again, and was the undisputed MVP. |
There was an Adli sighting, as he was subbed on for Fiorentina in the 89th minute, just another reminder of the harm this management has inflicted on this club, because he was probably better defensively and especially at maintaining possession than any of our midfielders we've been seeing in that midfield duo. Shortly thereafter, Dodô scored a goal, but it was rescinded for an offside call. Palladino could not let his players have all the drama, so he got himself red carded in the 92nd minute, perhaps weighing in on the Theo-Dodô controversy, which was so over already.
Once again, Milan dropped points when they needed them most, even if this match was still better than the debacle under that other manager in Florence earlier in the season. I don't understand why everyone is being so harsh on Conceição when he has now managed 22 matches in just three months, but having only two full weeks to train with the whole squad. The players are doing their best under the circumstances, but management have stacked the odds against them from last summer and even before that. And now, during training this week, Kyle Walker fractured his elbow and immediately had surgery to repair it, so as not to waste any time and get back as soon as possible. But sure, it's all the manager's and players' fault, all this "bad luck."
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| Walker is going to be a big miss in a defense that is already struggling. |
At least the fans have returned to cheering for their team. Support that is so very needed and appreciated. Especially since they've been dealing with stupid things, like the local police apparently banning their "Only for the shirt" banner being hung at San Siro for this match. I mean, it's a dumb banner, considering they have not been about the shirt at all this season, but they have been gagged and limited all season long in every other way, even if it is because of the actions of the criminals amongst them. But even commentator Dario Massara said this week, "If I were a Milan fan, I couldn't wait for this season to end." He gets us. Because no one wants to keep watching when your club's management is simply aspiring for mediocrity.
Milan Primavera Lose Their Second Match In A Row to Cesena
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| Guidi's Primavera side have suddenly dropped in form at the worst point in the season. |
After a season where, as one of the youngest Primavera sides, Milan were punching above their weight, management's plight for mediocrity has infected even our youngest players. Cesena scored a goal in just the 29th minute, then right before the whistle for halftime, Nissen scored an own goal to put Cesena up 2-0. A tough match after last week's loss to Sampdoria, and one which allowed Verona to overtake Milan Primavera by a point, leaving Guidi's side in seventh place on the table. Highlights of the match are available.
Milan Futuro Win Two In A Row for the First Time This Season
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| Two goals, two wins in a row, two goal scorers, and two very happy faces. |
In what seems like a miracle, Milan Futuro won... for the second consecutive league match, something they had not done all season. And it was away. And Oddo was even on the bench. Their 2-1 win over Sestri Levante was especially helpful, considering the home side are also fighting relegation. Milan Futuro went down a goal in just the sixth minute. But they fought back, and Alesi scored an stunning goal in the 68th minute to equalize.
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| Alesi's goals are works of art. |
Sestri Levante had a player come on in the 77th minute who was involved in a physical altercation with a Coubiş off the ball just four minutes later, causing him to receive a straight red card and leaving his team on ten men. Milan Futuro were able to capitalize on the man advantage with an Ianesi goal in the 84th minute. The highlights are worth the watch just for the Alesi goal, he has scored some amazing ones this season.
This win, along with other results, pushed Milan Futuro up to 17th, but with only three matches left, the chances of Milan making it to 15th place and guaranteed safety are quite slim. However, there is still a slight chance of not having to play the playoff matches, should they be able to create a nine point distance between themselves and the team they would face in the playoffs (as of now, five points more than Sestri Levante have.)
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| Álex Jiménez was suspended in Serie A this week, so helped Milan Futuro in Serie C. |
However, this weekend, they face the second place team, Ternana, who recently fired Abate. But they lost their first match under Liverani, their new manager, so maybe Futuro do have a chance in hell. The playoff and playout schedule has been released, with both Juve and Atalanta's U23 sides likely to make the playoffs, while Milan are trying to avoid the playouts. (Choosing the right manager matters.) If Milan Futuro are required to play the playout matches, they will be played on May 10th and 17th.
The Coppa Italia Final Ends in Heartbreak and Loss for Milan Primavera
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| Second place in a final still feels like a loss. |
After working so hard to reach the Coppa Italia Primavera Final, the 3-0 loss to Cagliari Primavera was a heartbreaker for Guidi's boys. Things went wrong in the 20th minute, when Milan conceded a goal by Vinciguerra to put Cagliari up 1-0. Their lead doubled with a goal from Bolzan 15 minutes later. Milan Primavera were thrown a lifeline when they earned penalty late in the first half, but Bonomi, on his birthday, hit the crossbar and the ball bounced down and out to keep Milan off the scoreboard. In the second half, Trepy put the nail in the coffin with a 69th minute goal to make it 3-0 Cagliari Primavera.
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| Guidi has his work cut out for him to find a way to motivate this squad after 3 straight losses. |
Cagliari's average age was a full six months older, at 19 years old compared to Milan Primavera's average age of 18.5 years old. But it wasn't just the age difference, Cagliari were confident and hungry for that trophy, and Milan Primavera, logging in their third consecutive defeat with this match, seemed not quite mentally up for the task. There are highlights of the match if you want to see for yourself. Milan Primavera don't play until Monday, when they host Monza. Guidi has until then to figure out how to get their mentality back.
Be sure to check out the latest Milan Obsession Podcast
Campionato Primavera 1 Week 33
Reviewed by Elaine
on
6:00 AM
Rating:
