Moving Past Injustice

After waiting so long to see Milan return to the Champions League, Wednesday's match was a soul-crushing experience. The way that referee Cünet Çakir managed the match was criminal, and it looks like UEFA will be suspending him. Certainly, he will not be reffing any Milan matches any time soon. However, that does not change the injustice of a game Milan clearly could and should have won, yet instead took zero points from. Nor does it help the probability that this match could make the difference in our quest to move past the Group Stage in an already difficult group. Pioli has been amazing with the mentality of this young team, but this will be a true test of his capabilities, if he can inspire this team to move past this injustice.

All you can do is put it behind you and move forward

AC Milan 1, Atlético Madrid 1: True Crime

I would like to report a homicide. Cüneyt Çakir killed the beautiful game tonight, and I was a witness to this horrible crime. What started out as a beautiful and completely dominant performance from Milan turned into a crime scene, one which the Turkish ref left with blood on his hands. His calls were inconsistent and largely one-sided, and the penalty call at the end, even with a VAR check of over two minutes, absolutely wrong. Even Simeone had no qualms about saying that Milan were the better team. And although millions watched this crime worldwide, nothing was done to stop it. When a ref kills a game, there is nothing you can do to bring it back to life. All that is left to do is hope that he is never allowed to do this again, that this true crime is investigated properly.

Çakir the Murderer of the Match

Champions League Group Stage • AC Milan-Atlético Madrid Preview: Then and Now

Our last Champions League match before this season was away to Atlético Madrid in March of 2014, a time when Seedorf was briefly coaching and Bonera was still playing. Kaká was the only highlight of that match for Milan, scoring his 30th Champions League goal, and also left the club that season. Atlético Madrid went all the way to the final that year, only to lose to Real Madrid. Diego Simeone has been coaching Atléti since 2011, but so much has changed at Milan. Pioli is the seventh new coach at Milan since then, and Bonera is now one of his assistants. Milan are having a great season, having built exponentially on the past two, whereas Atlético are struggling, despite having won La Liga last year and the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2018. Let's hope that those trends continue for this match, as we hope to focus less on the then and more on the now.

That was the end of an era

Spezia 1, Milan 2: History

From the moment the lineups came out, we knew this match would go into the history books. Daniel Maldini starting for Milan meant that this was the first time in Serie A that three generations were starters in the league. Not to mention that all three have now played for the same club. Exactly 4500 days after Paolo Maldini's last match, Daniel was in the starting lineup. Then he scored. There are just no words as to what this means as a Milan fan. Watching his father celebrate in the stands was emotional for so many more people than just him. But this game was more than just the Maldini dynasty continuing, Milan also managed to turn their backs on a piece of history last February, when they inexplicably lost 2-0 to Spezia at this same stadium, the game that knocked us off our season-long perch at the top of the table and sent us spiraling downward mentally and on the table. Clearing out the ghosts, taking all three points, and even going top of the table, at least temporarily, was a win-win-win. All of which made this match not just any game, but also history.

Historic start

Spezia-Milan Preview: The Spice Must Flow

Milan are still undefeated in the league, but the games are coming so quickly, it seems impossible to keep it up. Saturday, we are away to Spezia, which means "spice" in Italian. Sitting 17th on the table, they certainly do not seem to be in control of their fate. But never underestimate the power of any team, particularly since their only win came on Sunday, and they nearly overthrew lower table Juventus on Wednesday. Also, the last time Milan went to Spezia, we lost, and it was then that Milan's season really started spiraling downward. Milan are still struggling with a long and mysterious early injury list, but hope to recover at least Giroud for the bench on Saturday. Milan are still searching for health and vitality, but with their youth and mentality have the potential to rule the universe. The spice must flow.

We could use his vision and power again

Milan 2, Venezia 0: Ugly Win

Milan desperately needed some player rotation for this match, and Pioli provided most of that rotation in the defense. But it took bringing on the big guns in attack to seal the deal, which they did with the beautiful football that we are growing accustomed to. For nearly 70 minutes, the game was not so pretty, but it also wasn't the worst I've ever seen. And well done to Venezia for putting up such a valiant fight. Unfortunately, it was a few "fans" who made this match turn ugly, when they shone lasers into Mäenpää's eyes as Milan were taking a free kick. After all of this time away from the stadium, you would think that they would just be happy to be back. But after having two of our players racially abused in our last two league matches, and Inter and Fiorentina fans brawling in the streets yesterday, the seedy underbelly of Serie A is back in all of its horror, making what should have been a great victory an ugly win.

Cowardly fans turn the beautiful game ugly

Milan-Venezia Preview: If Looks Could Kill

Milan are hosting the newly promoted Venezia at the San Siro midweek, or what should be called Milan Fashion Week for football fans. Venezia's jerseys are legendary, gli Arancioneroverde have three of the strangest colors, yet time and time again, Kappa produce the best looking kits for them. Outside of their looks, however, they sit one point above Juventus and the relegation zone, so they will be desperate for a result. If looks could kill, Venezia would win the league. Unfortunately for them, they are going to have to win on the pitch.

Killer looks

Podcast: Notwithstanding Injuries

Milan survived an epic week with three massive games, pulling four points but plenty of positive comments about our performances. All of this notwithstanding a new list of injuries that is more difficult to explain than in previous seasons. Once again, I invited Boaz from Scudetto Podcast to catch up on the matches, some Milan news, and to discuss what is happening with injuries at Milan and what the club is doing about it.

Too many injuries, and yet still going strong

Juventus 1, Milan 1: Tired in Turin

Milan have had one difficult week. With three very tough matches against three difficult opponents, as well as an early spree of injuries, we knew this one would be tough. Despite Allegri's side giving probably their best performance of the season, though, Milan were able to leave with a point. A result that is much better for us than it is for them, given that they are now actually in the relegation zone with only two points from their first four matches. A very opposite position than they are used to being in. Milan, though, held on and fought bravely back from a goal down to grab the pointe, despite being visibly tired in Turin.

The Juventus voodoo

Juventus-Milan Preview: The Opposite Game

Milan should be grateful to face Juventus at this stage in the season, before they have found their form. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Juventus cannot be happy about finding a Milan side that is very confident and in form. Milan have the consistency of a manager and many players continuing a project, whereas Juventus have a new (recycled) manager and lost their poster boy for character deficit, and don't even seem to know what to do with their incredibly expensive squad. Juventus actually won their midweek Champions League match against Malmö, while Milan lost as they were away to Liverpool midweek, but Milan's loss was actually a more impressive performance against a significantly more difficult team to a team that has actually won the Champions League. Facing off in Turin on Sunday will be like playing the opposite game.

Tomori scored his first goal vs. Juve, will he do it again?

Liverpool 3, Milan 2: Nervy

Like a child taking its first steps, Milan stepped onto their first Champions League pitch in seven years. For the first 40 minutes or so, they played like a deer in the headlights, having gifted an own goal and being pinned back in their own half for much of that time. But a double save from Maignan on a penalty and two goals in two minutes had Milan shake off their nerves at the half, and for much of the second half, they held their own. It was all Liverpool could do to equalize and then take all three points. What started out as a very nervous team turned into a very nervy performance from Milan.

Nervy.

Champions League Group Stage • Liverpool FC-AC Milan Preview: Brilliant Mistake

Before Istanbul and Athens, I knew Liverpool primarily for its history of producing music and musicians that richly influenced modern music since four bad haircuts from Liverpool changed everything in 1960. After 2005, when Milan suffered the excruciating loss to Liverpool on penalties in the Champions League Finals after having been up 3-0 at the half, I wanted nothing to do with anything from Liverpool or its music ever again. However, since the redemption in Athens in 2007 with two goals from my Super Pippo, some of the music has made it back into my playlist. Maldini and others have mentioned that the night in Istanbul is the one match that still keeps them up at night, and I, too sometimes look back on what was so much more painful than a brilliant mistake.

This is where the history and the present merge

Milan 2, Lazio 0: Plug and Play

Despite concerns going into this game about Milan not having a proper striker to start and also facing a Lazio team that had scored the most goals in the league, this game was fun. Lazio's midfield has also been widely envied by other clubs, but Kessie and Tonali made them look like schoolchildren tonight. Watching this team is such a joy now because it seems like no matter who Pioli plugs into the lineup, they all work together, play well, and have fun doing it. They make it look so effortless and easy, like an old school plug and play.

Joy

Milan-Lazio Preview: Ingenuity vs. Continuity

Looking at the next eight days for Milan can be incredibly overwhelming, so it is ideal to truly think of one match at a time lest we end up hyperventilating or having a panic attack. While both Lazio and Milan won their first two matches comfortably, the international break, injuries, and COVID make this one less predictable. Milan have home advantage, which now with fans back will hopefully be different than in recent times where they struggled at home. Another interesting factor for this match is that Lazio have a new manager in Sarri, who is known for his ingenuity and style of play, whereas Pioli is known for his consistency and strength in mentality. This will be a big test for both teams, but particularly to watch the battle of ingenuity vs. continuity.

Both experienced coaches, both different strengths.. which will prevail?

Podcast: Calm Before the Storm

International breaks can be kind of boring for fans who love their club teams, but this one has been a bit of a calm before the storm. Adreano from The Calcio Guys joined me this time to discuss the latest in Milan news, including the Champions League, players on International duty, and the mercato. We also previewed the upcoming Milan-Lazio match and our chances against the storm of facing Lazio, Liverpool, and Juventus all in eight days.

The storm is coming

The Mercato 11: Milan's Summer Transfers

Much has been discussed about Milan's mercato, with most experts giving the club the highest marks in Serie A for our summer transfer window. Looking at all of the players in and out, Milan is also recognized as having truly strengthened the squad. And they are right, it was another fantastic transfer season for Maldini, Massara, and the entire technical side. Milan's summer transfers make up Milan's Mercato 11.

Youth, experience, continuity, and consistency

Junior Messias: Believe in Your Dreams

As children, we are taught to believe in fairy tales, but as we grow up, reality sinks in and we become cynical, believing that there are no Cinderellas, and that dreams don't come true. Except when they do. Every once in a while, there is a Cinderella story in football, and Milan's new signing Junior Messias may as well wear glass boots and show up in a carriage for training, because his dream just came true. After growing up playing football and dreaming in Brazil, a near death experience caused him to turn his life to God (sound familiar?) After moving to Italy, he began working to achieve his dream of playing football at the highest level. Now, at the age of 30, he will be playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Maybe fairy tales do still come true, if you are like Messias and believe in your dreams.

Believe