Milan 2, Monza 0: Pre-existing Condition

Not only did we get to see the vapid, soulless crests on the unimaginative new home kits for next season on Saturday, but we also got a preview of what our football might look like next season without a number of key players. And it was not pretty. With Conceição banned for this match, the lineups were intriguing, and I have a feeling we will hear about those choices once Conceição is either confirmed or sacked. But with the bland football on offer for much of the match, the Curva Sud's protest got most of the attention. After gathering en masse at Casa Milan, then marching to the stadium as a formidable force to be reckoned with, they had to use their creativity to create a visual protest, as banners and coreografia are still banned for them. But their protests seemed somewhat fitting as Milan struggled to pull off a 2-0 win against the already relegated 20th place Monza. The entire match seemed like a bad preview for a horror story that was actually your life. Or perhaps more like suffering from a pre-existing condition.

A painful season for everyone ends with a mediocre win.

Milan-Monza Preview: Disillusioned, Disappointed Departure

Milan fans are disillusioned with this management after a season that was excruciatingly painful and shameful. Monza fans have to be disappointed with their season, being relegated after only three wins, nine draws, and 25 losses. Yet this match will not only be the departure of Nesta's Monza from Serie A, but it will likely be the last match for an unknown number of Milan players. If rumors are to be believed, it could also be the last match for Conceição at Milan, and he will not even be on the bench, as he is suspended after last week's match vs. Roma. The San Siro will likely be pretty full, but the fans there will be disillusioned, disappointed, yet may not even be aware of the departures we are likely to see this summer.

Pavlović is all of us this season.

Roma 3, Milan 1: The American Is Out of Europe

Milan are out of European competitions next season... again. (This time for sure.) Ironically, both clubs are owned by Americans, and both fan groups have been protesting their owners and asking them to leave. But Gerald Cardinale has been the most successful at taking such a successful, valuable, historic club, and drastically changing its sporting fortunes in such a short period of time. He bought the club after they won a Scudetto and were back in the Champions League, and three years later, they will finish in ninth place in Serie A with no European competition at all next year. Roma defeated Milan 3-1 in this match, with a little help from their local authorities and the referee team. But even without the assists, Milan had less than a 5% chance of qualifying for Europe going into this match, thanks to Gerald and his incompetent management. Not that he cares about Milan's Champions League history, but now our storied club (and an American) is out of Europe.

"You know what you did."

Roma-Milan Preview: Access Denied

Ever since Maldini was sacked, the character of everyone at the club has gone downhill. Almost immediately, fans threw the legend under the bus, disparaging him and selling out his good name to worship an owner who splashed €130 million that transfer window. (Now, of course, they are spamming the club's social media comments with images of Maldini begging for his return.) Then there were a few fans caught on video racially abusing Lukaku, as well as our players getting into hot water for singing anti-Juve songs. And it has continued to deteriorate, leading to the fans vandalizing the Stadio Olimpico and fighting with rival fans after losing the Coppa Italia Final on Wednesday. After already being denied their prepared coreografia that evening, now all Milan fans have been banned from attending Sunday's match vs. Roma. Which is just as well, because the Curva Sud had announced they would not be attending already, leaving the players "in their shame." The real shame, of course, is Milan's owner and management, whose actions are the real reasons for the fans' access denied.

Tammy Abraham scored two against the team that owns him. in the Coppa Italia.

Milan 0, Bologna 1: Drinking the Bitter Cup

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.

A bitter cup indeed.

Coppa Italia Final • Milan vs. Bologna: One Cup to Rule Them All

Milan's season has been like a journey through Middle Earth, and we have found ourselves at the end of the season closer to midtable than where a club with this history belongs. We have battled Orcs, Trolls, and even a Balrog along our way. Perhaps our most amazing battle was defeating the Nazgûl in three of our five meetings, while drawing twice, including winning the Supercoppa at their expense and breaking the curse they held over us. But for a guaranteed place in European competition next season, we have one important battle left: the Coppa Italia Final on Wednesday. A win is the only acceptable outcome for our dignity, so the team have headed to Mount Doom to face Bologna for one cup to rule them all, and to Europe bind them.

The Fellowship of Milan are ready for the One Cup to rule them all...

Milan 3, Bologna 1: Mommas Boys

Friday was dedicated to the mothers... kinda, and our boys showed up for their mommas in a big way. After going down a goal courtesy of Orsolini, his 15th of the season in all competitions, Conceição once again made all the right subs and Milan scored three goals to secure all three points. Not only was this win crucial for confidence ahead of our Coppa Italia Final with Bologna on Wednesday in Rome, but results went our way this round, and the 3-1 win over Bologna pushed us up into eighth place in the league, too. The guys got to show their love for their mothers with a feel-good, important victory in a way that only a bunch of mommas boys can.

Just a bunch of mommas boys with their mommas.

Milan-Bologna Preview: Thanks, Mom... Kinda

Fans are preparing for a type of Coppa Italia preview match on Friday, facing Bologna in the league ahead of our Final with them in Rome on Wednesday. But the Club are trying to squeeze every last bit of commercialism (with a bit of sentiment) out of Mother's Day on Sunday. Last year, players wore the surnames of their Grandfathers on the backs of their shirts for Mother's Day (in most cultures, the mother's maiden name is her father's surname.) While they are adding some nice initiatives, they are also obviously adding some merch sales and incentives to get more moms to the stadium. So a match that should be about wrapping up our season in the best possible way is still about the club's marketing, who are promoting a message of "Thanks, Mom... kinda."

Well-intentioned (I think,) but kinda poorly thought out.

Genoa 1, Milan 2: The Mentorship Program

There is a team in Serie A this season who has excelled at defeating themselves above all else. The team with the third highest wagebill, but stands in the ninth place on the table. I speak, of course of Milan. If there is a way to concede a goal when they are otherwise playing well, they will find it. If the entire team is focused, but just one error could change everything, one individual will step up... always. However, with Conceição, that has been slowly changing – Milan will choke first, but then come back and draw or win. In fact, Milan have earned 19 points now coming back from a losing situation, the most in Serie A, according to OptaPaolo. But Genoa are still learning the first part, and lost 1-2  to Milan, largely due to taking part in the self-defeating mentorship program.

Celebrating Genoa's generosity.

Genoa-Milan Preview: Monday Night at the Marassi

The recent flip at the top of Serie A as well as the drama of five teams competing four fourth place has seen Milan become increasingly obsolete in the conversation about the league. In fact, despite having finally found some consistency, that they are ninth place and not really in that conversation are the main talking points surrounding the team anymore. Genoa, too, have slipped into that midtable mediocrity where no one really cares about them anymore. So, with all the other teams playing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, this match is more of an afterthought to the weekend, like those leftovers in the refrigerator that no one cares about. Just a Monday night at the Marassi.

Milan need to continue their recent consistne form.

Venezia 0, Milan 2: An Afternoon in Venice

Venezia has the only stadium in Serie A that is only accessible via water taxi (boat.) Which gives them a unique home advantage, for the players from opposition teams who get motion sickness or are not used to traveling by boat. But it also gives players the coolest arrival look. And perhaps looking cool helped with Milan's confidence, because Venezia, despite their position on the table, have caused some problems for the biggest of teams this season. So, despite the fact that Milan pulled off a 2-0 win away, this match was not just a relaxing afternoon in Venice.

We are all Gabbia right now.