Amorim's Milan passed their first test on Sunday, winning 2-1 away to Torino. But Friday night, they will be facing what is perhaps a bigger test: facing the newly promoted Venezia at the San Siro. Sure, Abate's Torino were probably a better team on paper, but Milan have such a history of struggling against the newly promoted or lower table sides, even before Allegri. Plus, after two years of failing to qualify for Champions League, they will be facing their own fans, who may actually be worse than a stadium full of opposition fans when things start to go poorly. So, even if they are facing Venezia on dry land, facing these additional challenges, they will still be testing the waters.
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| With reasonably positive preseason performances, Milan will want to continue the good vibes. |
Venezia spent last season in Serie B, having been relegated the previous season. But, with club president Duncan Niederauer at the helm, they won Serie B last season to gain immediate promotion back to Serie A. Amongst American owners and club presidents, Niederauer, former CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, infamously not only wore the club jerseys and attended matches, he also sat with the Curva and joined the team and fans for celebrations as well. In May, however, he became a minority owner and a new club president named, Francesca Bodie.
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| Giovanni Stroppa as a Milan player, now he is coaching Venezia |
This summer, Venezia brought in plenty of new players despite their limited budget, including signings of: forward Albion Rrahmani from Sparta Prague; center back Armel Bell-Kotchap from Verona; Kornel Lisman, a winger from Lech Posnań; center back Bartol Franić from Wolfsburg; a Juve NextGen midfielder, Mattia Campagnon; and midfielder Lorenzo Berardi from Pescara. They also took several players on loan: center back Matías Moreno from Fiorentina; Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipó; and Simon Sohm, another midfielder from Fiorentina. Finally, there were the free transfers: Toma Bašić, former Lazio midfielder; Icelandic midfielder Thórir Jóhann Helgason on a free from Lecce; and right back Thierry Correia on a free transfer from Valencia.
Long story short, they did everything they could to upgrade their entire squad to be competitive in Serie A and avoid the drop. Unfortunately, their first match did not go as planned, as they lost 2-0 to fellow promoted side Lecce at home on Sunday. Their manager Giovanni Stroppa, a former Milan player who came up through our youth system, managed the team last season when they won Serie B. His lineups for the opening loss were a 3-5-2 with Filip Stanković (yes, son of former Lazio and Inter's Dejan;) Schingtienne, Bella-Kotchap, Franjić; Hainaut, Enrique Pérez, Busio. Bašić, Correia; Yeboah, and Akor Adams. Stroppa already has three players out injured: Matías Moreno, Sverko, and Adorante.
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| The latest iteration of the Milan squad training in Milanello's gym preseason. |
Meanwhile, Amorim is riding an opposite wave, one of victory and things going a lot more in his favor, even if much of Milan's transfer market has come down to the very last minute. Tomori, Fofana, and Santi Gimenez, are all frozen out and still training separately ahead of finding a new club. Amorim was asked about their future in his press conference, and he said if they do not find new clubs, they will still have no part in the team. Ouch. When did Milan become so cruel and heartless? (and stupid, too?) Additionally, Rafa Leão, who seems on the verge of a transfer, has not been called up, and Ricci, who is reportedly having medicals pending a permanent move to Como, will also not be in the squad.
That leaves what I would expect a very similar starting lineup (if not exactly the same) for Amorim. Until Moreira and Rabiot gain match fitness for sure, and until Estupiñan and Musah show their true colors, this bizarre starting 11 who don't seem to have quite enough to actually score, but are somehow preferred to players like Luka Modrić, who was one of the players who played the most minutes last season, and the young Bartesaghi, who is better at both defense and getting crosses into the box than Estupiñan. I mean I like Amorim, but maybe he has a case of permanent jet lag? I definitely do not agree with his starting 11.
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| Amorim's mixed bag new "A" team. |
There will be a lot of San Siro virgins for Milan Friday night. Amorim, for starters, Ramos, Moreira, and Diawara as well. This will be Gila's first match for Milan, but he will know San Siro well as an opponent, and while players like Comotto and Alphadjo Cissè may have also been to the San Siro before, should they play, it will likely be their first time playing there. That in and of itself can be very overwhelming and intimidating.
The San Siro crowd has forcibly been changed by management and local authorities, though, so it will be interesting to see how the fans participate/are allowed to participate. There is a special tribute to Baresi planned ahead of the match, with this being the first home match since his passing and it also happens to be the anniversary of him captaining Milan to our 4th Supercoppa win. Sunday's win seemed to make even the most skeptical Milan fans happy, but given the state of our club, we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. So, even if this is a match that Milan should easily win on paper, given everything, it still may be a match where the team is just testing the waters.
This post inspired by the music of Foreigner's "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Serie A Week 2
Milan vs. Venezia
Friday, August 28 • 20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)
In the U.S., this match can be streamed in Spanish on Telemundo or Peacock,
Milan Futuro vs. ACD Sant'Angelo 1907
Sunday, August 30 • 15:00 CEST (10:00am EDT)
This match is not being televised in the U.S.
Cesena Primavera vs. Milan Primavera
Sunday, August 30 • 16:45 CEST (10:45am EDT)
This match is not being televised in the U.S.
Reviewed by Elaine
on
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