Monday, June 30, 2025

A Season of Chaos

The 2024-25 AC Milan season was not exactly destined for success. The Curva Sud began protesting at the end of the previous season, and following the departure of Pioli, the all-important selection of a new manager was fumbled and then clearly a disaster from early on. Yet this management comprised of people who are completely inexperienced in their roles kept him for six months anyway. Then they hired the right manager, but too late to save the sinking ship. And to make matters worse, they further destabilized the team in the January transfer window. That was after Ibrahimović chased off our Sporting Director, of course. And I haven't even mentioned the disaster that was the mismanagement of the entire Milan Futuro project, who were relegated to Serie D. Amidst all of this was a constant stream of toxic, negative press that was never even addressed, and a series of season-changing referee calls. Not to mention the arrests, investigation, and trial of the members of the Curva Sud and the excessive punitive measures that were not only costly to Milan but demonstrated that Milan no longer have any political clout whatsoever. An eighth place finish and no European competition were just symptoms of a season of chaos.

Symbols of just a fraction of the chaos of this season.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

The Tijjani Reijnders Appreciation Post

Two years ago, Milan's football-clueless management did the unthinkable and fired a club legend, opting to try to run the club their own way. The freefall into dark times has had very few positives, but one bright light in the darkness has been Tijjani Reijnders. Few people knew much about this modern midfielder who hailed from the Netherlands, yet he came into the squad and immediately earned a starting spot, never looking back. With his brilliant performances, his humble confidence, and his winning smile, he won our hearts as well as a number of matches for Milan. Now, he has chosen to move up to a club that still has Champions League football, with one of the best managers in the world, for the chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world. With the state our club is in, I cannot begrudge that, I am truly happy for him. Yet I would also be remiss if I did not take a moment to appreciate all that Tijjani Reijnders did for Milan.

Two years of brilliance and fun, so grateful for every minute of it.

Friday, June 13, 2025

Cardinale's Year Zero 3.0

Gerald Cardinale purchased Milan from Elliott Management three years ago, immediately after the team won their first Scudetto in 11 years. Since then, he has invested millions and numerous changes in staff and players have been made. Yet, while Milan did win the Supercoppa in January, they failed to get past the Group Stage of the Champions League this season, and lost the Coppa Italia final to the local authorities a referee Bologna. The team finished in eighth place this season, and without any European competition next season, a harsh enough financial reality for the budget that got Gerald involved and forced more big changes. Changes that will reset any kind of project they may have thought they had stumbled upon, Cardinale's Year Zero 3.0.

The fans would like a different kind of reset.