Milan-Bologna Preview: Make it Stop

First, we plummeted from third place all the way down to seventh. Meanwhile, the performances plummeted even further. There were discipline problems, racial abuse, and injuries. Now, ritiro, the most useless “team building” (read: punishment) activity ever known to man. And in ritiro, Caldara ruptured his ACL and will be out again for another 5-6 months. As if that weren’t bad enough, we are facing an in-form Bologna that are determined to climb the table as much as possible in their last four games, coached by our former manager, Mihajlovic. Please, someone, just make it stop.

Like a shark that smells blood in the water

Mihajlovic was abruptly and ridiculously fired from his position at Milan by our former pedophile owner, Berlusconi, just six weeks before the end of that season. How ironic, then, having been brought in by Bologna at the end of January to replace our old friend Pippo Inzaghi (again), that he should have the chance to potentially help end Gattuso’s tenure just before the end of the season.

Bologna have clawed their way up out of the relegation zone and into 14th on the table, with 37 points. They have three wins and a draw in their last four matches. That includes their 3-1 win over Empoli last weekend. For that match, Mihajlovic lined up Skorupski; Mbaye, Danilo, Lyanco, Dijks; Pulgar, Dzemaili; Orsolini, Soriano, Sansone; and Palacio. He will be missing Mattiello to injury. Mihajlovic will also be missing Soriano and Mbaye to suspension.

Flashback - none of these people will be on the pitch for Milan

Gattuso will be missing hope, belief, grinta, and apparently the professionalism and commitment of his entire team. Joining Bonaventura on the “take the rest of the season off (with a brutal injury) are both Calabria (compound fracture of his leg,) and Caldara (ruptured ACL incurred in training this week.) Both Conti and Strinic are doubtful with their injuries as well. Additionally, we will be missing Romagnoli due to his recurring “I can’t keep my mouth shut” injury that resulted in a red card last week. After being forced into a ritiro this week, it will be a miracle if they show up with even a pulse.

It’s just too much to bear anymore. This was a season where fans were inspired and there was so much hope after so much heartache. And this team, the one that gave us hope, tanked harder and faster and worse than any other team in recent memory, all at the wrong time. Plus all of the heart wrenching injuries, unpunished racial abuse, and more. Now we have to face Mihajlovic, who smashed into our hearts (and also smashed at least one whiteboard,) and then was taken from us against our will. He smells the blood in the water and will have no problems taking advantage of our pain. It’s just too much. Just make it stop.

This post inspired by the music of the Smiths’ “Stop Me if You Think You’ve Heard This One Before”

Serie A Week 35

Milan vs. Bologna

Monday, May 6 • 20:30 CEST (2:30pm EDT)

This match can be streamed LIVE on ESPN+ in the U.S.