Not for the first time since Gerald Cardinale purchased Milan, the players, fans, and everyone at the club are left bitter and empty, and now without any guarantee of European competition whatsoever next season.Wronged by the local authorities, the referee, and the local police entrusted with keeping fans safe. Some fans blame Conceição, many blame the players. But most people know that the vapid, empty, soulless black hole that is Milan now comes from Gerald himself and the inept, inexperienced, and negligent people he has put in charge of this beloved, glorious, historic club. It only took one goal and some very creative refereeing, but Bologna won 1-0 and lifted their first Coppa Italia trophy in 51 years. They are also guaranteed a Europa League spot next season, which is helpful after their 3-1 loss to Milan on Friday put their European qulification in joeparday. But Milan could only watch in pain and with shame, drinking the bitter cup.
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| A bitter cup indeed. |
Our season has been over so many times, it is not even funny. Out of Champions League after the League Phase, fighting for a shameful eighth place finish in the league, and with only a Supercoppa and an illustrious Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi to show for the season. And credit to Bologna, because they played well in this match. Also, I am happy for Pobega, and really happy for Calabria, because he lifted three trophies this season in spite of being shoved out of his lifelong club (including the illustrious Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi.) Also, that Bologna won their first Coppa Italia trophy in 51 years is such an accomplishment.
However, there is a pattern that I have not missed this year. Our first match with Bologna was controversially rescheduled due to flooding in the area, despite other events in the area not being canceled or rescheduled, and despite Serie A and Milan making every possible attempt to play the match behind closed doors, at a neutral venue, etc. And when that match was played, eventually, Bologna won, taking all three points.
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| The game was definitely overhyped. |
Sure, Milan won on Friday at San Siro, damaging Bologna's European hopes. And after that, despite having inquired about the possibility of coreografia and then putting it all together and traveling, bringing it to Rome, the Curva Sud were once again forbidden by local authorities in Roma on the day of the Coppa Italia to have flags, banners, or coreografia of any kind. But Bologna fans were allowed to do it all.
During the match, Milan fans parked where they were asked to, and the local police were there, guarding the parking lot and the cars. Yet when the Milan fans came out, they found that many of their tires had been slashed. And for some of them, all four tires were slashed, so they were stranded. (I don't think this was part This act of vandalism is bad enough, but why did the police allow it to happen?
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| While you have a legend, Roberto Baggio, on the pitch, there was mayhem off of it. |
I am in no way proud of, nor am I condoning what some of the Curva Sud did after the match in the stadium. They vandalized some of the seats, leaving graffiti in particular for members of Roma's Curva members, and they also vandalized some bathrooms. That is wrong, and they do deserve punishment. There was also some fighting between the two sets of fans outside the stadium afterward.
But it is only Milan fans being punished. The Milan supporters' section will be closed for our final away match on Sunday. Which also happens to be at the Olimpico, with the same authorities who banned their flags, banners, and coreografia, the same police who allowed fans' tires to be slashed. Bologna fans slashed tires and fought with Milan fans, even though their team won, but there is no punishment for them.
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| Sometimes, it just seems like too much. |
Are you seeing the pattern here? Well, there's more...
Our referee in the rescheduled Bologna-Milan match in February was Mariani. Yes, the same referee we had for our Coppa Italia Final. And in that match, he turned a blind eye to a lot of violence, particularly Bologna players on Leão or other Milan players violence. As in Bologna could have been down to ten or fewer players in the first half of that match as well. And that damaged the mentality of the Milan players in both matches, and the numerical difference likely influenced the outcome of both matches as well, as they won that one 2-1 in their house.
But I have not yet told you about the Coppa Final...
People say "Milan played poorly." or "Bologna deserved the win." I would ask them to go back and watch the first half. It was very evenly matched. In just the third minute, Leão sent a ball into Jiménez that seemed to catch him slightly off guard, and he sent it over. Two minutes later, Orsolini was offside at the other end. Then Ferguson sent a shot wide from distance. Costa sent a dangerous header in that Maignan saved, then Fabbian's rebound went just wide. But at the other end, Beukema nearly scored an own goal as Skorupski made a point blank save, then a double save on Jović. This was definitely a final.
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| The game was evenly matched, at least for the first half. |
Chances continued. Miranda had a shot easily saved by Maignan. Then Jović crossed the ball over to the right to Jiménez, who sent it forward to Leão, who took it forward, and sent it wide across the face of goal in what would have been a beautiful team goal. Mariani's first card of the match was in the 38th minute, on Tomori, for a foul on Ndoye. Holm wanted a penalty for contact from Pavlović in the box in the 39th minute, but Mariani tried to communicate that he would help them in other ways. A couple of minutes later, Pavolović redeemed himself for any perceived error with a fantastic clearance.
Holm took a shot, but Maignan saved it. Then came the travesty. Ferguson lunged in with both feet to Leão, who was at full speed, and was rewarded with a bloody nose when Leão's flailing leg kicked him in the face as he was crashing down. Mariani actually did show the yellow card to Ferguson, who was wearing the captain's armband. However, in UEFA or FIFA competition, or most competent referees would have shown a straight red. That is an incredibly dangerous and potentially career-ending kind of challenge, the likes of which rules were written for. So at this point, Bologna technically have one more player on the pitch than they should, and it's only the 43rd minute.
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| Milan looked for opportunities and created chances. |
Shortly before this, though, in the box, Beukema had elbowed Gabbia in the box. Given that it happened in the box, it should have been VAR reviewable, I believe. So Beukema, too, could have been sent off for violent play. Meaning Bologna really should have been on nine players before halftime. Nine players. Nine vs. eleven. Are you telling me that doesn't change this match?
And that's not all, not even close. Less than a minute after play restarted, Ferguson, who should not have even still been on the pitch, had his arm wrapped around Pulisic and pulled him down outside of the area. And Mariani showed Pulisic the yellow card. For allowing himself to be fouled, I guess? Again. in a European competition, or with any other serious referee, Ferguson would have at least been shown a second yellow at this point. So bare minimum, Bologna are down to aat least ten men, if not nine.
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| Strange that he reffed both season-changing must-win matches for Milan vs. Bologna. |
Leão and some of the other players were so angry at the halftime whistle that Florenzi had to push and pull them away from Mariani before going into the tunnel. As professional athletes, should they have just let it go, or used it to fuel and motivate them for the second half? Sure, that is the ideal. But they are also human beings. And not only were they rattled by the physical pain of the hard fouls, and by the referee's multiple injustices, but they were probably pretty upset that they did not have a numerical advantage at this point. And after all they had been through this season, and all the many, many injustices they had endured, this series of unjust events clearly affected their mentality.
Meanwhile, Bologna were clearly emboldened by their many advantages. Their fans were able to suppor them visually and audibly, their henchmen fans were in the parking lot slashing Milan fans' tires with the blessing of the Roma police, and they had caused some bodily harm to their opponents with the support of the ref, even getting the opposition player carded when their player should have been sent off.
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| The play was always physical. |
It is with this mental state that the second half kicked off.
Still, Milan were in the game, creating chances. But they were not particularly clinical. Bologna, on the other hand, scored with their second chance in the second half, Ndoye, of course, who had just come back from injury. 1-0 Bologna.
The goal took more wind out of the sails of Milan, but they kept fighting. Leão attempted an overhead bicycle kick in the 55th that did not work at all, but to be fair, there wasn't much more he could have done there. Fofana got the ball in to Jović, but it was too deep, and he sent it wide. So Conceição decided it was time for subs.
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| Jović was Conceição's choice to start... would another choice have been different? I doubt it. |
In the 62nd minute, Walker replaced Tomori, Santi Gimenez replaced Jović, and João Félix replaced Álex Jiménez. Normally, these would have been game changing subs. But not only had Bologna come back with a mental advantage, and knowing they had one or two more players than they should have, now they were up a goal. So they just had to tighten the screws, and they could lift a trophy.
And that is exactly what they did. Although, to be fair, they kept putting their heads in the way of Milan players' boots. The next victim was Lucumi, and João Félix's boot caught him as he was trying to jump over the Bologna defender. Santi Gimenez had a shot on target that was saved, then Castro's attempt went wide at the other end. Pulisic's shot was saved, although Skorupski was the third Bologna player to put his head in front of a Milan player's boot while saving it.
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| Santi Gimenez praying on the sidelines before coming on, but his prayers were not answered. |
In the 76th minute, our former captain, Calabria was subbed on, joining our own Pobega, who had already subbed on. It was at this point, I realized with dread that we were not coming back from this one. And Italiano putting both Milan exes on was as much about the mental game as it was tactical.
João Félix asked for a handball in the 79th minute. It was one I would not have given, but it did meet the criteria for what referees were told at the beginning of the season they would be calling. Not that Mariani making bad calls was even a surprise byt this point. Nor was the lack of call the next minute when Castro elbowed João Félix in the face, either. The odds got stacked higher and higher as Milan's hopes finally seemed to be fading.
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| João Félix battles in the air. |
Theo made a great tackle in the 87th minute, then Conceição brought on his final two substitutions: Chukwueze for Fofana, and Tammy Abraham for Pulisic. But it was too little, too late. Yet another player's head was the victim of a collision with a Milan player's body, but this time, it was Pobega's elbow slamming into Beukema's face, and technically, it was his own teammate.
The players all immediately signaled for medics as my pathetic American commentator was not even noticing there was an injury because he was trying to sort out tactics. Honestly, it's truly frightening what passes for commentary here. However, Beukema was down and required quite a bit of patching up and a fresh shirt, as his white shirt was covered with blood. (It took the commentators a full two and aa half minutes and seeing all the blood to figure out what was going on, by the way, and they've still not found out how to say his name right and probably never will.)
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| It's not that Milan did not have quality. |
Odgaard got the last shot off, which Maignan easily saved. And as stoppage time wore on, Bologna just defended tighter and tighter, so Milan could not even get an idea for a chance on goal. It is telling of this season that the final whistle blew when Leão was being forced all the way down into our own end by Calabria. Our best player being shut down by our former captain and Scudetto winner who bleeds red and black and had been a bandiera, whom they pushed out so they could loan an older player from a top Premier League side. And we lost to a team that we had enriched with now two of our players for free.
Milan have a lot of players they have sent away for free or very cheap to strengthen our direct opponents, and most of those opponents are above us on the table. Okafor, who has barely even played, is in line to win the Scudetto with Napoli. In third place, there is De Ketelaere, who they shipped out at cost, and Daniel Maldini, whom they gave to Monza, then Monza turned around and sold him for profit. Sure, we supposedly got 50% of that deal, but why not 100%? That was absurd.
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| Calabria consoling Leão says so much about our former players. |
Then there is Kalulu at Juventus, at least they got a loan fee for him, Juve are in fourth place. Roma have Saelemaekers, who has done very well for them this season, and are in sixth place, having an incredible run under Ranieri. Then, obviously, Pobega & Calabria, who not only won the Coppa Italia from us, but are also in seventh above us on the table. And Adli is also at Fiorentina, playing well, they are only a point behind us. Perhaps if we had simply kept those players, our season would have been different?
But that is unlikely, and here is why. Not just the authorities and police, who have been incredibly harsh to Milan fans all year. Not just the referees, like Mariani in both Bologna matches, but so many referees for so very long. They can, have, and will continue to walk all over Milan and its fans because Milan has zero political clout. No, let me take that back. Milan has negative political clout.
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| It speaks volumes about this management that our former captain lifted the cup. |
Gerald claims he wants to build a stadium, but has not been to a Milan match since September (I think?) But he slipped quietly into Italy the Friday before Easter to meet with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (Ibrahimović and Furlani,) and also reportedly to meet with the criminal, Paratici, whose next hearing for his criminal trial is scheduled for this week. (But Gerald di not stay for the game two days later.) Gerald reportedly desperately wants him to be our Sporting Director. Paratici's accomplishments at Juventus after Marotta left were costly, unimpressive, illegal, and resulted in Juventus not renewing his contract. (But he is given credit for Marotta's work much like people give Moncada credit for Maldini and Massara's work.)
Speaking of Moncada, Boban released a deluge of truth bombs this week, including clarifying that Moncada was a good scout, but all scouts basically had access to all the same players, and it was the directors who chose and signed the players. He also called out Scaroni, who basically publicly replied, "I know you are, but what am I?" like most 78 year old men do. Boban also pointed out that Furlani is definitely a Milan fan (I still have my doubts,) but he has no business working in football.
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| Maignan did all he could as well. |
I could go on forever about the ineptitude of this management, but I have already said so much. From the moment they delayed Maldini and Massara's renewals, to questioning why an investment banker was replacing a CEO with 40 years of football experience, to the sacking of Maldini and Massara, to their cleaning house with 17 players out their first transfer window, attempting to have Ibrahimović fill the void that Maldini left, and so many other things this past two years. People focusing on this season... it is only the symptoms of the much bigger problems.
And now we are facing no European football. Paolo Maldini came in and in just four years, won us a Scudetto, got us back into the Champions League, and even into a Semifinal. It has only taken two years and a few hundred million spent in transfers to destroy that all and put this club in a downward spiral of a vapid, empty, soulless, existence with no hope and no future. They don't take any responsibility, and they keep doing the same things they have always done. One journalist this week quoted Einstein, saying, "Problems are not solved by the minds that created them."
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| Don't blame the manager, blame the management. |
Many blame Conceição for this loss, but Arrigo Sacchi said that he is the least to blame, having arrived in complete chaos. Last summer, this management of clowns insisted on hiring a foreign manager for reasons unknown to even the most conspiratorial theorists out there. And then they took the wrong one on top of that. But Conceição would have clearly done much better if given a preseason and time to train the players. His track record in cup finals is quite good, but this will be a black mark on his record not of his own making. And the press report that had he won this match, he would have been confirmed, now he will definitely be leaving. Which is absurd, because when they look at salaries, and having no Europe next season, they will wish they would have kept him.
People say these players do not care about the shirt. I would offer an opposite idea: perhaps they care too much about the shirt. It is this management who could clearly careless about this historic club. The players are sweating blood for the shirt, but they do not have what they need to succeed. And they are harshly criticized, taking the brunt of the criticism, actually, when it has taken people two years to see what is really going on, and have an inkling of what they have been going through.
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| Many of these players will likely not be here next season. |
Could they have played better in this match? Always. Bologna never took their eyes off the prize, stayed focused, and even physically put their heads into it. Because they had every advantage. Meanwhile, Milan players let everything get into their heads mentally – the pressure of the season, all the injustices, and even just Bologna's intense style of play. But to be fair, they have never had the actual support of this management, they are more like hostages in some kind of terrible nightmare.
And now, it is all too late. We are all punished for this management's relentless narcissism and vast inexperience and lack of knowledge or aptitude, or even ideas whatsoever. These players have wasted their careers here, and now must try to figure out what is best for them and their careers, especially without Europe. On average, players have lost 25% or more of their market value in the last two years. The reputation of the club plummeting, and fans are terrified and hopeless for the future. Thanks to Gerald and Company, we are all drinking the bitter cup.
Congratulations to Tammy Abraham, who was the Capocanonniere of the Coppa Italia tournament this year with four goals.
This post inspired by the music of Garbage's "Empty"
Be sure to check out the latest Milan Obsession Podcast
Campionato Primavera 1 Week 38
Reviewed by Elaine
on
10:11 AM
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