Udinese-Milan Preview: Hurdle

As much as Milan fans are flying high on what seemed to be an effortless performance on Thursday, this game could be our stumbling block. Sure, we are 23 games unbeaten, top of Serie A and to of our Europa League group, but the season is young, and so is our team. It is clear that we are tired, and Udinese will be hungry to be that team that broke our streak. Fans will be hungry, too, because the game is at lunchtime in Italy. So even if this seems like a match we should obviously win, this one could prove to be a hurdle.

Our former player could trip us up

AC Milan 3, AC Sparta Prague 0: The Portuguese Inquisition

There is a classic Monty Python sketch called "The Spanish Inquisition," in which three Spanish Cardinals burst on to the set shouting "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!" and listing their chief weapons as fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms. Tonight at the San Siro, Sparta Prague probably didn't expect the Portuguese inquisition. With two of the three goals scored by our young Portuguese players, our principal weapons were youth, skill, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to winning, and red and black uniforms. No one expected the Portuguese inquisition.

Youth, skill, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to winning...

Europa League • AC Milan-AC Sparta Prague: Pressing On

After a fiery clash with Roma on Monday that saw both the head referee and VAR referee suspended for one month for doing who knows what instead of refereeing, players and fans were left unsatisfied and unsettled with the 3-3 draw. They will host AC Sparta Prague at the San Siro on Thursday in hopes of getting the result they deserved. Amidst the steadily climbing cases of COVID-19 and the neverending schedule of matches, Milan are pressing on.

Pressing forward

Milan 3, Roma 3: A Tragedy of Errors

The phrase "a comedy of errors" implies that there is some kind of humor to be found amongst travesty. However, set against the backdrop of Gigio Donnarumma, Hauge, and three staff members all testing positive for COVID-19 ahead of the match, and new restrictions removing all fans from the stadium, the stage was certainly set for a tragedy, not a comedy. And the match did not disappoint. Between the errors of our new backup keeper, and a referee who lost control of the match after having made a number of blatant errors, the 3-3 draw was not representative of the performances of both teams. No one was left laughing, it was a tragedy of errors.

Saving €.8 million per year has already cost us 2 points

Milan-Roma Preview: Stress Test

Following injury, illness, or surgery, a cardiologist will often run a stress test to see if the heart is working properly again. This test puts the heart under controlled amounts of stress while monitoring function to determine the fitness and function levels. This match for Milan is similar, in that Milan are in he midst of an amazing unbeaten streak, along with a dense schedule and a few injuries, with plenty of matches ahead of us. Roma are in great form, and thus this is the perfect opportunity to see if our form is a true measure of our team's abilities, or if we have just been really lucky. Either way, certainly, for fans, this match feels like a stress test.

Calhanoglu has passed his stress test

Podcast: Great Time to Be a Milan Fan

Thursday's win away to Celtic seemed to really emphasize the new era of Milan that has been growing since January. With 21 matches undefeated, the youngest average aged team in Europe, it is truly a great time to be a Milan fan. Denmark native and Kjaer expert Søren has seen the greatest and some of the poorest Milan teams, and we sat down to discuss all things Milan this week.

He's got our back

Celtic 1, Milan 3: Proving Grounds

Going into this match, Milan had some injury concerns. We knew we were missing Rebic and Calhanoglu, for example, two important pieces in our starting lineup. We also knew that we had exciting young players on the bench who were looking for some playing time. But would they be enough in an important match? Is young talent enough? Could they stay focused and mentally strong in a European match? Tonight, our young players were at the heart of a deserved victory, a match won with both talent and mentality as Milan made Celtic Park their proving grounds.

Proven

Europa League • Celtic-Milan Preview: So It Begins...

Milan begin this season's Europa League group stage with a trip to Celtic Park in Glasgow. Both teams have some significant injuries, but Milan are coming off of the high of winning our Derby this weekend, while Celtic lost their Derby. Getting through the group stage will obviously be important to both teams, but Milan's mentality may prove more valuable than Celtic's home advantage, especially without fans. Neither team have ever won the Europa League, although both have a history in European competitions. This match will be the first of many for Milan to prove themselves worthy of getting back to the Champions League, where we have won seven titles to Celtic's singular title. So it begins...

Current mood

Podcast: The Derby, Death, and Football

Hell yeah. Milan won the Derby. Undefeated since the restart, top of the table, but earning a win over Inter is by far my personal favorite accomplishment. However, unfortunately, it came under the cloud of a discussion about a deadly virus and a protocol that promotes politics instead of health, safety, and life. Still, despite Italy and Serie A's complete failure to do the right things, Milan were not to be stopped. Aaron and I celebrated what was for both of us a Saturday morning celebration of epic proportions. 

The answer to life, the universe, and everything

Inter 1, Milan 2: All the Feels

Victory. Delicious victory. That's all I can think about right now. We won. We beat Inter, breaking our Derby curse. We're at the top of the table. Undefeated since March. It's been so long since Milan brought me so much happiness, I almost forgot how it feels. And even better, we are showing no signs of stopping. I literally have all the feels.

All the feels

Inter vs. Milan Preview: Derby Be Damned

Even if Milan hasn't won a Derby della Madonnina for three years, and even then only in extra time, this match always gets the hate flowing for me. Those vile, wiretapping grass snakes always need to lose, even if on paper, that is unlikely, as they have spent almost three times as much as we have on players in the past few years. But this year's Derby has a new twist. The global pandemic has literally gone viral on the two squads, with eight players currently testing positive for Saturday's big match. We can play the match and ignore the health and safety of our players and staff, or we can try to postpone it and see if the Lega Serie A will screw us over like they did Napoli. We are damned if we do, and damned if we don't.

Kind of like that, only imagine if Kjaer was facing a deadly virus

Derby Dilemma: Football? Or Safety?

Anyone who has ever seen a Derby della Madonnina knows that safety is typically the last thing on anyone's mind. From the flares Inter fans threw on the pitch that actually hit Dida on the head, to Ibrahimovic knocking Materazzi unconscious by doing what every Milan fan always wanted to do, it kind of redefines the idea of a fiery match. But this Derby is different. Milan have two players who are currently testing positive for COVID-19, and Inter have six players testing positive. Despite both teams following the approved protocol from the Lega Serie A, it begs the question: should the teams play on Saturday with so many players infected? Do we choose football? Or safety?

Fans rarely make the right choice

Jens Petter Hauge: Viking Invasion

Amongst Milan's recent signings, one stands out. He is young, he only turns 21 on Monday, and he is completely unproven in the five major European Leagues, having only ever played in Norway. Milan fans met him for the first time when he scored and grabbed an assist against us in our Europa League third qualifying match. Yet there was something different about him, something almost magical, something that is difficult to put a finger on. Perhaps it is simply because he is part of our Viking invasion.

The Viking has landed

Confessions of a Female Sports Fan

Being a fan of sports is amazing. Unless you are female, then there are centuries old social rules which are stacked completely against you. Even worse, trying to write or podcast about sports shines a light on the societal beliefs which exceed stereotypes and elicit such shocking levels of hate and abuse. Despite many other women telling me that women simply need to insert themselves in order to affect change in regards to sexism in football, I don't know a lot of women who would be willing to put up with what I have for nearly ten years now just to blog and podcast about my favorite team. And I know zero men who would put up with it, either, or even understand the deficit my gender creates for me before I even open up my laptop.

Female fans often stand alone, metaphorically

Podcast: Learning to Win

Milan continued their feel good story of the year with a perfect start to the season ahead of the international break. They even survived an insane penalty shootout in the Europa League last week, and lived to qualify for the Group Stage. With the mercato closing today, Vinny and I had so much to talk about, including how fans are learning to win.

Believe in winning

Milan 3, Spezia 0: Youth Culture

According to @OptaPaolo, Milan are the first team in the five major European leagues to start seven players under the age of 21... ever. After years of begging for a young talented team, Milan are fulfilling that dream. And we had a dream game, too. One of those young players scored a brace, with the other goal coming from a wise old 22 year-old. With a little support in the second half from our "veteran" players, we dominated and defeated a newly promoted side with something to prove. More importantly, we continued our winning streak and kept another clean sheet, too. Smashing records and winning games feels great, but it feels even better with our new youth culture.

The kids are alright

Milan-Spezia Preview: We Meet Again

Spezia are newly promoted to Serie A, their first time in the top flight since Serie A proper has existed. But it is not Milan's first meeting with them. Six years ago, with Tassotti as interim coach between Allegri's sacking and Seedorf's arrival, Milan faced off with Spezia in the Coppa Italia. We may have beat that Spezia team then, but times have changed. This Spezia team got past Nesta's Frosinone side to win promotion to Serie A. And this Milan team are rebuilding carefully under the tutelage of Paolo Maldini. Two very different sides from before, and yet, we meet again.

So we meet again, Spezia

Rio Ave 2 (8), AC Milan 2 (9): Eternal Suspense

If ever there were a match that was like climbing a sheer cliff wall, then walking on a tightrope across hot lava only to find that there was a river filled with piranha to cross after that, this would be that match. Both teams were playing for a spot in the Europa League Group Stage, and 90 minutes simply wasn't enough to determine which team won. Nor was 30 minutes of added extra time. In fact, it took 24 of the most intense, nerve-wracking penalties ever to settle this match, and I, for one, still haven't recovered. This match was one of eternal suspense.

Massive celebration for our massive hero