Milan 2, Bari 0: Even Without Allegri

Milan played their first official match of the Allegri era on Sunday in the Coppa Italia, and managed a 2-0 win over Bari, even without Allegri. The recycled new manager was suspended for two matches after his unwelcome rage striptease act while on the Juventus bench in the Coppa Italia Final in 2024. In the saddest and most generic San Siro atmosphere I have ever seen, our new players were presented, and then the team went on to earn their spot in the next round without too many problems. There were obviously positives and negatives, but it was comforting to know they pulled it off, even without Allegri.

 A team filled with leaders, veterans, new, and young players can win even without Allegri.

Coppa Italia First Round • Milan-Bari Preview: Not Again

Sunday marks Milan's first competitive match of the 2025-26 season. Because they both finished eighth on the table and lost the Coppa Italia Final to Bologna in May, they play beginning in the First Round in August rather than the Round of 16 in December. Milan are starting the season with a recycled new manager, Massimiliano Allegri. Although he won't be on the bench for this match because he thought it was a good idea to perform a raging striptease for a referee who did not call a foul in the Coppa Italia Final a year ago when he was with Juventus. So he was given a two match suspension in the Coppa Italia and asked to keep his clothes on, for all of us. So seriously, this match comes with a warning for Allegri: Not Again.

This team... ready or not, is taking the pitch at San Siro on Sunday (sans Allegri.)

Clashing with Champions Chelsea

Milan's second friendly in as many days and final preseason friendly this summer takes them to London. There, Milan will face this year's Conference League Winners and Club World Cup winners, Chelsea. Kickoff will be only 24 hours after Milan's 1-1 draw with Leeds in Dublin. But I'm sure Allegri will rely primarily on players he rested on Saturday to start. Meanwhile, Chelsea will also be playing their second friendly in just three days, having defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Friday at Stamford Bridge. They are also paying the terrible toll of playing in the Club World Cup this summer, with one big injury already. Whereas Milan are coming off of a season of shame and disappointment, Chelsea spent last season fighting to get back to where they belong, and so Milan will be clashing with champions Chelsea.

Chelsea won a giant trophy this summer, I wonder if their special friend will also be there on Sunday?

Milan's Penultimate Preseason Challenge vs. Leeds in Ireland

The transfer market is reaching a fever pitch just as Milan prepares to take the pitch for their final two preseason matches. The first of those games is Saturday afternoon in Ireland vs. newly promoted Premier League side Leeds United. Despite Milan managing to defeat Premier League title holders Liverpool 4-2 in Hong Kong and destroy A-League side Perth Glory 9-0 in Perth, facing a newly promoted side might be just about the right level for a team that finished eighth last season in Serie A. Sure, Milan finally have everyone training with the team, including a couple of big new signings. But the team is far from complete, and there are important deals being negotiated as this is being written. It's all part of the fun of Milan's penultimate preseason challenge.

Ready to win... or something.

Seeking Glory in Perth

To close out their Summer Tour, Milan have returned to Perth in Western Australia, where they played a friendly vs. Roma last Summer. They will be facing local A-League side Perth Glory on Thursday before heading back to Milano for the rest of their preseason preparations. Their visit last year found a passionate group of Milan fans, including the members of the Milan Clubs Australia, which is the combined group of Milan Clubs from Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. With the prospect of Milan possibly playing the first Serie A match outside of Italy next year vs. Como seemingly only waiting on the approval of UEFA and FIFA, this friendly is truly about seeking glory in Perth.

Milan found glory (and a trophy) in Hong Kong after defeating Liverpool 4-2

Respecting Liverpool, Remembering Diogo

Some things are more important than football, and just three weeks ago, we were reminded of that in the worst possible way. Liverpool lost Diogo Jota and his brother very suddenly in a tragic accident. Just ten days after his wedding, less than a month after lifting the Nations League trophy with his Portugal team, and six weeks after lifting the Premier League trophy with Liverpool. Milan have a painfully historic rivalry with Liverpool in the Champions League, but that gets set aside at a time like this, when emotions are still very, very raw. Normally, this match in Hong Kong would be just another preseason friendly, but it is their first international match since losing Diogo and his brother. So Saturday will be about respecting Liverpool, remembering Diogo.

Gone, but not forgotten.

Time to Get Friendly with Arsenal

Milan kick off their summer tour in Singapore tonight with a friendly vs. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. This will be Max Allegri's first match after being appointed manager in a very overhyped move by this horrible management, even if he was not even their first choice. The same management who publicly struggled to hire a Sporting Director while still showing zero accountability for destroying this team the past two years, thus giving new hire Igli Tare little chance for success in the transfer window. (Tare was also very publicly not their first choice.) Needless to say, I am not excited for any of this, but here we are. It's time to get friendly with Arsenal.

Milan training in Singapore ahead of the match.

The Return of Allegri

After a blissful ten and a half years without him, Massimiliano Allegri is returning to AC Milan as the manager. For those of you who are new fans, count yourselves lucky that you missed the first version. Despite the fact that Allegri 1.0 brought us a Scudetto and a Supercoppa, those years were filled with unnecessarily unique lineup changes on a weekly basis, tactics that were inexplicable, and of course, his weird voice screaming "Dai Dai Dai" for nonstop. It was so traumatic, in fact, that after he left, I wrote a match review in the form of a break up letter. But, as all of my exes do, he has come back to haunt my life once again. I just wish we could have a manager who would finally truly see me for who I am. (I acknowledge that the 2005 team ended in great trauma and heartbreak, but that is part of the beauty of that song.) Unfortunately, though, Allegri is just giving me stalker vibes, which is on top of all of the other trauma this owner and management have created here. While many people are excited about his appointment, I am definitely not at all thrilled about the return of Allegri (just like people are not thrilled about stalkers.)

I know what you did last season.

RedBird's Communication Policy: Suffering in Silence

There has been a deafening silence surrounding communication from the Club that has only increased as key players left following Gerald Cardinale's purchase of AC Milan. Whereas Elliott Management was transparent with fans, creating the best relationship between the Club and the fans in my memory, RedBird Capital has chosen the polar opposite position. Which is odd, for a company that specializes in investing in Sports, Media, and Entertainment, the expectation would be a focus on marketing and communications to grow their investments in those fields. However, between denying fans access to friendlies and limiting official announcements and decreasing informational posts on social media finding out what is actually going on at Milan has been a struggle for Milan fans. Not only have there been plenty of misunderstandings betwen the club and the fans, but it has often left us suffering in silence.

"The Sound of Silence," a banner from Curva Sud's protest at the end of the 2023-24 season.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Podcast • Milan's Reality Show

This season has been filled with so much drama, it feels like a reality show. Huge wins, painful losses, changes in players and managers, and now there is a search for Milan's Next Top Sporting Director. To sort all this out, I invited Paul, the President of  Milan Club Adelaide, to tell us what it is like to be a Milan fan in Australia, and what it was like to have the club come to Australia last summer, including that amazing coreo, (spoiler alert: we find out who the awesome Zia was who was sewing the coreo and also the brains behind it!!) We also spent plenty of time discussing everything happening at the club right now, including the first team, Conceição, Milan Futuro, Milan Primavera, and the management.

Fans in Adelaide know what it is to be Milan fans.

Inter 0, Milan 3: To the Victor Go the Spoils

In 90 minutes, we destroyed their naïve, arrogant treble dreams. We dominated and shut them out, keeping a clean sheet and also forcing Inter to accept a season where they were winless against us. Five times. After pillaging their Supercoppa in January, we plundered all hopes of The Other Inzaghi™ and his FC Bankrupt side reaching another Coppa Italia final, let alone winning another trophy. While Schadenfreude is delicious, though, Milan are through to the final. We have qualified for the Supercoppa next year, which earned us €11 million this year for winning. We still have the chance at Europa League next year if we win the Coppa Italia, which would also be our second trophy of the season (and Inter have yet to win any.) Plus, Milano is red. Like for the whole season it's been red. Winning 3-0 over our city rivals, 4-1 on aggregate in the Semifinals of the Coppa Italia definitely has its rewards. To the victor go the spoils.

The Finalists.

Coppa Italia Semifinal • Inter vs. AC Milan Preview: DNA Test

This management have worked tirelessly to remove Milan's DNA and leave their own mark on the club. From removing Paolo Maldini to dismantling the Scudetto-winning team, their "mark" on the club has become associated to the marks in one's underwear when they learn we are facing FC Bankrupt for the fifth time again this season. After a brave 1-1 draw in the first leg, this match is a win or go home scenario. The reward is a ticket to the final, where Milan would have a chance to play not only for a second trophy, but also direct entrance to the Europa League. Having largely closed all doors to European competition through league play, this match is a must-win in order to have a chance at that. So it is really a test to see if there is still any Milan left at Milan... a Milan DNA test.

Have Milan got what it takes to knock out the joint-league leaders?

Milan 0, Atalanta 1: La Dea Rises

As Diavoli, perhaps Milanisti should have read the signs better. Atalanta are "La Dea," which is "The Goddess" in Italian, and we were playing on Easter. Their story had too many parallels to the Easter story. They had lost three matches, then come back from the dead. And now they defeated Milan 1-0 at the San Siro to ensure everyone knew who they were and that their Champions League qualification bid was resurrected once again. After Milan broke their 17 year curse last week in Udine, having won both matches vs. Udinese in the same season, now Atalanta have won both matches in a season against Milan for only the third time in their history. The signs were all there, we should have known that on Easter Sunday, La Dea rises.

I Diavoli were stuck in hell while La Dea resurrected their Champions League plans

Milan-Atalanta Preview: Buona Pasqua

Serie A typically does not schedule matches on Easter Sunday. Although the Pope is a football fan, he frowns upon it. But this year, all hell is breaking loose anyway, so here we are, Milan is hosting Atalanta on Easter Sunday. And it's perfect, since the Easter holiday is a symbol of renewal, that Milan are trying to jumpstart their redemption arc for the rest of the season. Some genius figured out that it is still mathematically possible for Milan to finish anywhere between second and 14th. (Maybe they were celebrating 4/20 early?) Obviously, it would be an Easter miracle for Milan to even finish top four, but it would be great to at least get a better result than we did vs. Atalanta in their house in December. So let's hope for at least that Easter miracle. Buona Pasqua.

Let's hope Milan comes "con sorpresa" in the shape of another victory.

Udinese 0, Milan 4: The Fourth Dimension

This season, Milan have been living in an alternate reality. Perhaps you could call it the Gattuso Reality™ ("Sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe sh*t.") But after all the drama with Fonseca, perhaps fans had given up hope that Conceição had the ability to take this team to another level. However, he had not been given any time to work, with a constant onslaught of matches every three days since January... until recently. But on Friday, there was a visible tactical breakthrough. And while it included a frightening head injury, it also resulted in four unanswered goals, a rare clean sheet, and serving the hateful Udinese fans their fourth defeat in a row. That's right, the final score was Udinese 0, Milan 4. It was as if Milan had entered the fourth dimension.

Pavlović and Tomori giving us the right vibes for this match.

Udinese-Milan Preview: When Racism Goes Unpunished

A year ago January, Udinese found themselves in the worldwide news for all the wrong reasons. Some of their fans had been racially abusing Maignan during the Udinese-Milan match, and for once, the referee, Maresca, followed the protocol. And when stopping the match was not enough, Maignan walked off the pitch and his team followed. Claiming that Friulians are not racists, Udinese made a spectacle of identifying five people who had apparently been responsible using video and facial recognition evidence, banned them for life, and made sure they were also prosecuted legally as well. Only to turn around to the FIGC and appeal the one match ban. Which, of course, since it's Italy, the FIGC gladly complied and the club went unpunished. But hate left unpunished grows, and their Curva Nord, who last year callously claimed that Maignan was the only one who heard the racist chants, have put up a banner in Udine that reads "Maignan uomo di me*da" ("Maignan man of sh*t.") At the same time, they posted on Facebook (the social media haven for racism) "Friuli, Udine, and the Curva Nord are not racist," urging dissent toward Maignan "within the canons of correctness" and also included "the Friulian people do not forget." So they are being racist without saying racist things, because their racist friends got in trouble. That is what happens when racism goes unpunished.

Maignan did not deserve any of this hate, least of all one year later.

Milan 2, Fiorentina 2: Aspiring for Mediocrity

When I titled my preview for this match, "Finding Equilibrium," I did not mean to suggest the teams should play to a draw. I truly was hoping that Milan would find some balance in this insanely imbalanced season and step into their own for the last part of the season. But instead, they stepped aside for Fiorentina, and while they fought back from 2-0 down, in the end they could only pull off the 2-2 draw. And unlike a lot of people, I am not blaming the manager and players as much as I am calling out management. In every single thing they have done since taking over the club, all they have done is claim they wanted success, but all of their actions have left the club aspiring for mediocrity.

The players have embraced each other, but no one is safe from the mediocrity of management.

Milan-Fiorentina Preview: Finding Equilibrium

Have you ever had an injury or illness that affected your equilibrium? It's a strange sensation, and one that would feel very familiar to Milan fans who have watched this season. One minute, the team seem fine, great even, capable of doing anything. And the next minute, they are either wobbling or actually on the ground, without even understanding what happened. Conceição, who is used to consistently winning, has struggled to understand both the atmosphere from the Milan fans this season and also something he has made a few references to as "bad luck." Yes, Sérgio, one club from Milano gets all the calls, and one does not. Beyond that, with management being about as stable as America's current president, the environment at the club has been volatile this season, making it even more difficult for players to strike a balance in their individual and collective performances. However, it is time to try to end the season well, so let's hope they can start with this match by finding some equilibrium.

The team are in a difficult environment, but need to find their way.