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.

AC Milan 1, Inter 1: Act I

The curtains have closed on the first act of the Coppa Italia Semifinal's Derby della Madonnina, and we have a two week intermission until the second act. The first act saw Milan and Inter draw 1-1, with all the drama left for the second match. While Milan fielded most of their starters, there were a lot of understudies for Inter, who have some big players injured. So the suspense is tangible, almost as if this match had not even been played. For Milan, everything is on the line, while Inter are looking to win their first trophy of the year after Milan stole their thunder (and their silverware) in January. So enjoy the intermission, because the drama is going to get very real next time. This was just Act I.

Only the first Act, with everything to play for in Act II.

Coppa Italia Semifinal • AC Milan-Inter Preview: Desperation Derby

Milan have their proverbial backs up against the wall this season. After going out of the Champions League at the Group Stage, there are only eight matches left to fight for a European spot of any kind for next season. Sitting solidly in ninth place at this point, that is now just a fool's hope. We are in the Coppa Italia Semifinals, which for some inexplicable reason are a two-leg round, while every other round is only one leg, including the final. Still, in 2025, when players and everyone else are concerned about the number of matches, we're doing this. Worse still, of course, we've drawn our cheating, slimy, scum-sucking cugini, Inter. But winning this round and then progressing to the final gives us a chance at another trophy and guaranteed access to the Europa League next season, too. So despite playing a hated rival, for Milan, this is a desperation Derby.

Milan are desperate for access to Europe next season.

Napoli 2, Milan 1: Sick of It All

Waking up to the news that Loftus-Cheek was having emergency surgery when he was meant to have his first start since December was distressing enough. But seeing the starting lineups made me feel ill. Then we had to suffer through yet another match where we conceded goals and had to try to fight back, which was even more nauseating. We've seen this so many times before. But it ended Napoli 2, Milan 1, we dropped three more points, distancing ourselves further from Europe instead of trying to change our fate. And afterward, we found out that Conceição had to change three of his planned starting 11 at the last minute due to health issues. Every time there is the slightest glimmer of hope to cling to this season, everything that can go wrong does. I'm just sick of it all.

Bad luck feels bad for our season.

Napoli-Milan Preview: A Date With Destiny

With nine matches left, people have left Milan for dead. The table shows that we are in ninth place, but upon closer observation, we are only two points from seventh, four points from sixth, and six points from fourth place. Sure, that dream hinges on other teams dropping points. It also requires a near perfect finish to our season, which starts Sunday, with a trip to Napoli. The same team we unnecessarily dropped three points to in October because of injuries, suspensions, and a manager's fetish for benching our best player. And this Napoli is struggling to maintain form and fight for the Scudetto, despite not having played in Europe. As always, it will be an epic battle at the Maradona, and our team is unlikely to get any support at all from fans. But it is the first match of the rest of our season – a date with destiny.

Will they take control of their own fate?

Sérgio Conceição: Tenacious Warrior

Winning requires incredible discipline and mentality. The ability to inspire others to win requires even more, it requires leadership, charisma, character, empathy, and confidence and belief that are unshakable when everything is stacked against you. It also requires an incredible work ethic and attention to detail. As someone whose origins meant the odds were stacked against him, Sérgio Conceição somehow developed all of these qualities and then some. He won as a player, he has an unbelievable winning record as a manager, and off the pitch, he is devoted to his family and his religion and the people he loves in this life. He played football at the highest level, now manages football at the highest level, and works tirelessly to be successful in both his professional life and his personal life. He is a tenacious warrior.

He will fight to the end for Milan, and the players are responding.

Milan 2, Como 1: The Comeback Kings

Milan have been called a lot of things this season, but since Conceição arrived, names with the word "comeback" in them are starting to stick. After winning 3-2 last week having been down 2-0 against Lecce, this week, it was Como's turn. Milan turned this one around to win 2-1. Again. Conceição has already won 10 matches in all competitions since he arrived at Milan, and of those 10 wins, six were comeback wins. Hopefully, after the international break, they'll learn how to win games from the first minute. But until then, they are being touted as Serie A's comeback kings.

Bringing Milan back into the match over and over again.

Milan-Como Preview: Cutrone's Homecoming

For those who have followed Milan for more than six or eight years, you may remember a promising young player from our youth system called Patrick Cutrone. After promoting to the first team, he made 90 appearances and scored 27 goals for Milan. In 2019, he was sold to Wolverhampton because he was not in the plans of one Marco Giampaolo. But he was one of those Milan nel cuore players that just hurt to see go, and it was clearly hard for him, too. His career also suffered, and after relatively unsuccessful loan spells in Serie A, in 2022, he came home... to Como, his hometown. On Saturday evening, he will return to the San Siro as their captain, with probably only one familiar face, Matteo Gabbia, in the Milan squad. Milan are just one point from eighth and two points from seventh, so need every single point they can get. Even if that means they have to spoil Cutrone's homecoming.

Cutrone is more than welcome to come home, but Milan may spoil his homecoming.

Who Is Actually Running Milan?

Ever since Gerry Cardinale purchased AC Milan, the entire club's management has been in a constant state of change, with questions recurring as to what his goals even are as an owner. First, Gazidis left and Furlani was appointed CEO, then he infamously had Maldini fired. After a bunch of gaslighting and nonsense about "working groups" and not having people in specific positions as before, they restored an identical management hierarchy. When that was clearly unsuccessful, they asked Ibrahimović to join RedBird as an Operating Partner and Senior Advisor to Milan, a position with duties and powers that have never been clarified. It has never been clear who is making the sporting decisions in this inexperienced group of egotistical directors. Now, with additional changes to the sporting sector on the horizon, more than ever, everyone is questioning, "Who is actually running Milan?"

One or more of these men is supposedly running Milan, but who?

Lecce 2, Milan 3: Not the Journey, But the Destination

People talk about how "It's not the journey, but the destination." And I can only assume that Milan took that as a personal challenge at the Via del Mare on Saturday. Because the journey was like having your heart ripped out of your chest, stomped on, run through a meat grinder, then forcefully reformed, shoved back into your chest cavity, and finally haphazardly reattached at full time. (Obviously, I watched the whole thing, how could I not?) After going down 2-nil to the 16th place team, an own goal, a penalty, and finally a goal from the run of play dragged us back to get the 3-2 win over Lecce. Kind of like everything going on at the club right now, it was painful as hell, but eventually we got the three points. After three brutal consecutive losses, finally, at least it was not the journey, but the destination.

It took until he 81st minute, but we got there.

Lecce-Milan Preview: Things Can Get Worse

Some nightmares never cease to haunt you, and that is how I feel about Lecce's manager, Marco Giampaolo. He created the model for what this management should have done after they hired the wrong manager last summer, which is obviously to sack him in early October and hire a much better manager to right the ship. Ironically, this season, he was hired by Lecce in November to be that better manager for them after Luca Gotti was not working out. For Milan, where pundits have crucified Conceição after a  whirlwind 17 matches in just two months, Giampaolo is a reminder that things can get worse.

The man has seen an entire season in just two months.

Podcast • Crisis Intervention Training

This is a really tough time to be a Milan fan. With the effects of poor management decisions growing exponentially, and the fans getting angrier and angrier, it is difficult to remain calm when results are poor. Like crashing out of the Champions League. Or losing our game in hand, effectively ending our chances for Champions League qualification for next year. Or losing to Lazio at home after going down to ten men. Thankfully, my fellow Milanista Søren was willing to join me to help process some of the things happening at the club and provide some crisis intervention training for our fellow Milan fans.

Milan is in full crisis mode.

Milan 1, Lazio 2: Blackout

Watching dreams die is so painful. Watching them die in those horrific "Welcome to Dreamland" kits is so very much worse. But when it's your team, your dreams, it hurts on a level that people who are not supporters do not understand. When there are other things contributing to the loss of all you dreamed of, such as past managers, referees, poor management, or even other fans directly impacting results, it can feel like the whole world is against you and your beloved Milan. And it can get worse, too, because both the Primavera and Milan Futuro teams lost on the same day as Milan's stoppage time 1-2 loss to Lazio as we were on ten men. Sunday was a total blackout.

The players are the first to hurt by results like this.