Milan-Fiorentina Preview: Hyperfocused

Milan were not supposed to be here, this pressure was unexpected. Yet, being at the top of the table with only four games left, how could they not fight for the Scudetto? This match could be tricky. While Fiorentina seem to be falling apart, having lost their last three games straight, they managed to hand us our first league loss this season back in November. Facing Fiorentina is always emotional for Pioli, and our home form is not what it should be, either. The team will have to shrug off the pressure, play well during the afternoon time slot, and be absolutely hyperfocused.

Time to put the emotions aside and hyperfocus

Whatever Happens...

The Scudetto is back in Milan's hands after Inter let their game in hand slip through their backup goalkeeper's feet on Wednesday. Ironic that after a season in which injuries and errors were so costly for Milan, one injury and one error put Inter back in second place. But the season is far from over. There are four matches to be played for both teams (plus a Coppa Italia Final for Inter), four sets of referees who could do anything at all, so we know that anything is possible between now and May 22nd. We need to be prepared for whatever happens.

"Everything for you"... whatever happens

Finally, Italy

It is no secret that Italian football is stuck in the past. This will be the second World Cup in a row that the four time World Cup winners will be missing out on. No surprise, then, that they are also completely behind the times when it comes to the women's game as well. Yesterday, despite some initial dissent from Serie A that was "just a misunderstanding," the FIGC voted to make women's football in Italy professional, effective July 1st. Finally, Italy.

Welcome to 2022

Lazio 1, Milan 2: Mission Accomplished

Milan had one objective for this season: to qualify for the Champions League for next season. With four games left, they achieved that goal tonight, and took back first place, at least until Wednesday, when three of the Serie A makeup matches will be played. We came into this match knowing that we needed a win, and despite going down an early goal, the players fought back and pulled it off in the most extraordinary of ways. Mission accomplished.

Champions League qualified in the 92nd minute with 4 games to go

Lazio-Milan Preview: Recovery

Sarri's Lazio side were hit with the flu this week, with reports that up to ten players had fever and other flu symptoms as late as Thursday morning. Most of them, if not all of them are likely to have recovered and be available by Sunday night, but will have missed some crucial training time. Meanwhile, Milan played a brutal Coppa Italia match against Inter on Tuesday, and despite creating a lot of chances, were once again subjected to a controversial referee call. The loss was harsh enough, but how many ref calls can this squad move past and not let it affect them? This match will be all about which team makes the best recovery.

Whichever team recovers best will take all 3 points

Five Finals

Five games left. Well, for Inter, there are six. If they win them all, then that is it. With a completely healthy squad and refs who give them favorable calls, that is entirely possible. In February and early March, no one would have thought that was possible, as they could not score or win to save their lives. But here we are. Meanwhile,  Milan have made a few costly errors, too. But when you miss an average of 7.8 players for 20 matches (that's half the season,) and referees steal points from you and are suspended, thinking about how this might end is too painful. It would be nice to say that we have to win them all, no chance for error. But even if Milan do that, we will likely still be robbed, just like in the Coppa match from the other day. Because there are also still five sets of referees. For our five finals.

Focused on the last five matches

Inter 3, Milan 0: Bitter Taste

This match was a perfect metaphor for the Serie A season. Milan worked harder than Inter, had more possession, created more chances, had fewer fouls, and got robbed by the referee and VAR. Oh, and Rebić literally got an injury at halftime, he didn't even play. Meanwhile, Inter played dirtier, got lucky, got the favorable referee call, and maximized on having a full strength squad with a wagebill nearly double ours. It was the league season in a nutshell, and likely a predictor of how it ends, too. Which leaves this loss with an even more bitter taste.

When all you've done is still not enough...

Coppa Italia Semifinal • Inter vs. Milan: Breathe the Pressure

This match is more important to fans than most Coppa Italia semifinal matches would be. Not just because it is the fourth Derby della Madonnina this season, a rivalry unlike any other. And not for the Coppa Italia trophy that is at stake in the final, either. Much is being anticipated in this match because of the Scudetto race that these two teams are contending for. Even though this is a completely separate competition and this match has no bearing on that race, mentality, exhaustion, and injuries incurred in this match could impact it, that's how close it is. So this is not just another Coppa Italia semifinal second round.

Calm before the storm

Milan 2, Genoa 0: Easter Miracle

Friday started out looking very bleak, with the news breaking that Elliott were in serious talks to sell the club, most likely very quickly, and to another investment fund. After such positive financial news lately, putting everything into question was the last thing the team needed to be worrying about on gameday. But they did not seem to be distracted, and in fact, pulled off a number of miracles in front of the 70,259 fans at the San Siro. Between missing players, breaking our scoring drought, a seventh clean sheet, and more, this match turned into an Easter miracle.

Messias scores on Good Friday, then points to...

Milan-Genoa Preview: Good Friday

Traditionally, on Easter weekend, all Serie A teams play on Saturday. However, Milan have a Coppa Italia Semifinal second leg match to play on Tuesday, so we were mercifully allowed to play on Friday instead. We face a Genoa side who changed coaches since we last met, and under Blessin, they drew seven straight matches, but still sit in 19th place on the table. Milan, on the other hand, are clinging to first place after six straight clean sheets, including back to back goalless draws. Will Milan break our scoring drought and be able to take all three points to truly make it a Good Friday?

We're due for a good Friday

Torino 0, Milan 0: Complacency

Milan have said all season long that they would not make excuses. Not for the myriad referee errors that have cost us points and even potentially progression in the Champions League. Not for the plague of injuries that saw us missing an average of five to eight players for more than half of the season, just like we were missing seven players tonight. So when the referee calls nothing, does not use VAR, you have no one to substitute, and you still cannot break down the opposition's defense to score goals, then I guess you have no choice but to claim that another scoreless draw is due to complacency.

Complacency: when you've given it your all and it wasn't enough?

Torino-Milan Preview: Change of Fate?

The last time we visited the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Milan were fighting for a Champions League spot and Torino were fighting to stay above the relegation zone. After some mediocre performances, Milan had no mercy on il Toro, decimating them 0-7 in front of their own fans. But that was Davide Nicola's team that he had rescued after a Giampaolo nightmare. This is Ivan Jurić's Torino, and they come into this match sitting in 11th place. We only managed to beat them 1-0 at the San Siro in October, even if we were missing eight players. Still, scoring and winning this one could be exactly what this team needs for a change of fate.

Hopefully it will be a little like that

10 Reasons It Is Great to Be a Milan Fan Right Now

After the goalless draw on Monday, Milan fans have gone into a very dark place. At best, it could be considered an overall malaise. Fans of other teams would think we were threatened with relegation or facing a transfer ban or stuck in an ownership hold again or something. Despite dropping two very valuable points at a crucial point in the season, there are actually many more reasons to celebrate being a Milan fan right now, reasons to be grateful that you bleed in red and black. Here are just ten of them:

Pioli's on Fire

Milan 0, Bologna 0: Unfinished

You know your performance was not ideal when what you wore was more memorable than how you played, and neither were good memories. Milan's new fourth kit was on display tonight, or at least what there was of it, and it definitely seemed to distract even the players from the football. To be fair, the Bologna players were basically playing for their coach's life, and credit to them, they played quite well. But the new Milan kits were somewhat symbolic of Milan's game, as both were unfinished.

Yes, Arnautović probably is laughing at those awful kits

Milan-Bologna Preview: Monday Night Melodrama

This match features two extremes for the opposing managers. Pioli will be presented only his second Serie A Coach of the Month award since joining Milan ahead of this match. Meanwhile, Mihajlović was just re-hospitalized due to the return of his leukemia and is now possibly fighting for his life once again. That is the backdrop for the first place team hosting the 12th place team at a San Siro that will be open to 100% capacity (albeit a Monday night) for the first time in over two years. A backdrop that may actually overshadow the game, a bit of a Monday night melodrama.

Looking forward to another reunion