Milan-Torino Preview: No Room for Error

Allegri puts on his creepy smile in front of the press and tells everyone that everything is okay, but Leao's anger during and after the loss to Lazio said more than any of the Mister's calculated words ever could. Tensions are high, too much has been asked of certain players, and the team are not nearly as united as Allegri would have us believe. So many people have been speculating about the title race that they have forgotten to look in the rear view mirror, and that battle for top four is coming for us. Fast. As Milan are set to host Torino at the San Siro on Saturday evening, they need to pull together and find a way to return to winning ways, because there is no room for error.

That smile... the false bravado... now it's time to do that thing where he drags the team to qualification.

Lazio 1, Milan 0: No.

Going into this match, there were a lot of expectations. After losing the Derby, Inter had dropped two points, giving Milan an unexpected opportunity to gain five points on the league leaders within eight days. Would Milan be able to insert themselves back into the title race like this? Could they pull off a win without the suspended Rabiot? Would Estupiñan be able to follow up his Derby heroics? Would Milan's defense remain strong, despite recent injuries? Would referees ruin yet another match and cause us to lose more points? Would Milan show up when it mattered most? With a 1-0 loss to Lazio away at the Stadio Olimpico, the answer to all of these questions was a resounding NO.

Are the team actually united? Apparently that answer is also NO.

Lazio-Milan Preview: When It Matters Most

Allegri has said all season that our position on the table did not matter until March. After being robbed of three points vs. Parma three weeks ago, Milan made statement wins vs. Cremonese and then obviously the Derby vs. Inter last week. Now we are away to Lazio, and there is the potential for any little thing to mess up our ultra boring, super defensive, slow roll to the finish line. For one, the referees, obviously, who remain the story line of this season. Secondly, Daniel Maldini, who was treated poorly by Milan, and also has a history of scoring against us. And, as if that wasn't enough, there are so many other things that could go wrong, such as silly mistakes, injuries, and more. So Milan will need to have a perfect game, and also hope that the stars align, because now this is when it matters most.

Time to see if this team can beat the refs and the odds (as well as Lazio)

AC Milan 1, Inter 0: Never Bet Against Milan

On Sunday, Milan dispensed with Derby rivals Inter 1-0, with Estupiñan becoming an unlikely Derby hero. However, a lovely story emerged afterward from a journalist that demonstrated that Estupiñan's goal was not a fluke, but the result of belief in him from coaches and staff on down. The journalist shared that he was asking Allegri's assistant, Landucci, about Estupiñan as they were leaving the stadium the week before after the Cremonese win. Landucci was so sure that Estupiñan was more than ready for Dumfries and Henrique's Inter, that he was willing to bet a pizza on it. Well, that pizza is going to taste even better after Milan won their second consecutive Derby, but Landucci has to be most proud of a player like Estupiñan, who has worked and waited all season for a night like this. And I think the journalist learned an important lesson, as well: never bet against this Milan.

Even with the most unlikely heroes, this Milan can never be counted out.

AC Milan vs. Inter Preview: Keeping Them Honest

The Derby della Madonnina is always a fiery affair. However, with Inter always whining and cheating, it makes it that much more triggering for Milan fans, particularly since Inter got away with murder during Calciopoli (okay, I don't have any evidence of the murder part, it's just a colloquial phrase. But it could have happened.) But this year, the refereeing has been so blatant, in-your-face, egregious, and some other adjectives that haven't even been made up, but will be someday specifically for the scum-sucking lowlife crosstown team, Inter Milan. They are not even trying to hide it. So the very least Milan can do is play so well, the referees will have have absolutely nothing to favor Inter with. "Honest" is an incredibly loose term when it comes to the Nerazzurri, but Milan will be doing their best to keep Inter (and their referee employees) honest.

Maignan kept them honest in the last Derby with his penalty save on the Turkish Traitor™.

Cremonese 0, Milan 2: What Is This Madness?

After staying up to watch a match at 3:30am my time, and managing the overlapping Primavera match that started 90 minutes prior and the Futuro match that began immediately after, at the final whistle of the first team's match, I was left with a feeling I did not recognize. I was at peace, I was happy, and there was no rage flowing through my veins about egregious refereeing injustices. I mean, I am used to winning, this 2-0 victory away to Cremonese was our 16th league win this season. But even with two of the referees who are known for making huge blunders working as our head ref and VAR ref, there was no huge controversy, no blatant robbery, no grave injustice. What is this madness?

Two goals scored, and nothing stolen from us by the refs? Madness.

Cremonese-Milan Preview: Shaky

Milan are playing the lunchtime fixture away to Cremonese, the team who defeated them on day one of the Serie A season. With all of the recent referee incidents, injuries, and players who have simply not been fully fit, this is not likely to be a fixture for the faint of heart. Allegri had to increase the fear by pointing out how long it has been since Milan have won vs. Cremonese. To make matters worse, Cremonese are now hovering just above the relegation zone, which is the most dangerous place for Allegri's Milan to face a team, and the place on the table where coach Davide Nicola does his best work, too. So no one can begrudge Milan fans who are going into this one feeling kind of shaky.

The team were booed for losing their first match... can they overcome the mentality issues to win?

Podcast: 15 Years of Milan Obsession

Milan Obsession has reached an impressive milestone: It has been 15 years since this blog was created, and this podcast is also 13 years old. In a full circle moment, Allegri is back at the club, and if it is to become a complete circle, then we should be winning the Scudetto this season (but don't hold your breath on that one, the AIA are beyond corrupt.) Instead of just having a guest or two, I took a trip down memory lane and found a clip from each year of the podcast that also chronicles Milan's history during that time, and shared a little bit about my own personal journey and presented a new challenge for the next 15 years.

15 long, beautiful, painful, glorious, stressful, amazing years of Milan worship

Milan 0, Parma 1: Smash and Grab

Near the end of the broadcast of Milan vs. Parma, the brilliant commentator from the World Feed, Thomas Holmes Reed, described this match as "the definition of a smash and grab" for Parma. And honestly, it was so perfect. Loftus-Cheek's face was smashed, and Parma grabbed all three points with an assist from the VAR refs, who are becoming increasingly more powerful than the head refs in Serie A. The final score was Milan 0, Parma 1, and any fans who were not consumed with concerns about Loftus-Cheeks well being were shocked and outraged by what had just happened. Again. Milan's 24 match unbeaten streak was over, Landucci's perfect win record was gone, and Inter's lead grew bigger, with only their referees having played in this match. It truly was the ultimate smash and grab.

They told us what to believe instead of our own eyes.

Milan-Parma Preview: The Danger Zone

After a week that Serie A probably wishes never happened, Milan host Parma at the San Siro. Milan's 1-1 draw with Como on Wednesday, all drama aside, was a disappointing two points dropped and a ninth draw this season. And while there are clearly forces working against Milan, I cannot help but think that Allegri's mentality that a draw is better than a loss is flawed. Sometimes, a loss can reset a complacent mentality of continued dropped points. Which brings me to Parma. Parma are 13th on the table, so neither a big team that Milan has dominated, nor a traditionally lower table side, the kind that Milan has struggled with all season. They are kind of in that sweet spot of the great unknown, aka the danger zone.

We need to believe, but this match could trip us up.

Milan 1, Como 1: No Olympic Spirit Here

This match was postponed due to the Olympic Opening Ceremony being held at San Siro. The ceremony was stunning, showing the very best of Italy, with the theme of "Armonia," (Harmony) and emphasized peace and good sportsmanship. Clearly, they took all of those good vibes with them, because this match was fiery and a bit savage, and of course, there was more controversy regarding the refereeing and discipline. The final score was Milan 1, Como 1, but the score does not even tell half the story. Had Mariani actually called everything, he'd have blisters on his lips from using his whistle so much. And certainly, the wrong manager was sent off as we saw some shocking behavior from Fabregas. Things got uglier as the game went on, showing some of the worst of Italy, there was no Olympic spirit here.

If managers get to participate now, can we re-sign Gattuso please? 

Milan-Como Preview: No Koalas for Cardinale

This match has been debated since last summer, because our owners were not content with having traveled to Perth, Australia twice in two years. Due to the Olympic Opening Ceremony at San Siro, they wanted us to play a Serie A match on foreign soil for the first time, regardless of the logistics and fan protests and how it could negate the legitimacy of the entire season. But now, finally, we are here, and ready to take on Fabregas's Como. You know, the guy for whom Allegri's Milan of 2013 lives rent free in his head after we crushed his Barcelona side in the Champions League? But most importantly, we will not be in Australia, the place both team's wealthy owners wanted us to be, for some reason. So there will be no koala bears for Cardinale.

Gerald will just have to look at Ibrahimović's photo album from the last 2 trips.

Pisa 1, Milan 2: Winning In Spite of the AIA

Serie A has a long history of referee controversies. Many are familiar with the name "Calciopoli," but few understand what actually happened. However, it's so much more than that. Whether it was a single team conditioning the refs for a season or more to create hysteria and cry victim when they rightfully lost, or the more recently coined "Marotta League," truth and conspiracy are not always far apart. That was demonstrated yet again this weekend, beginning on Friday with our match and carrying through to another scandalous Derby d'Italia on Saturday. However, this time, not only did Milan win 2-1 over Pisa in spite of absurd ref calls, they won in spite of an atrocious record of dropped points against relegation teams. That's what you call defeating the odds and winning in spite of the AIA.

Modrić knew that it was actually a huge victory for Milan.

Pisa-Milan Preview: Leaning Toward Pisa

Friday night will be yet another big test of the lower table teams for Milan. Pisa come into this match in 19th place, a position that has been cursed for Allegri's Milan this season, seeing us drop points every single time. Additionally, Milan were frozen out by the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony last weekend, and may have had a little too much rest. Pisa are down to their third string goalkeeper, but have 12 draws this season, so could easily take points from Milan. Also, it happens to be where Allegri debuted against Milan as a player, so that could jinx Milan, too. For that reason, it is easy to see why some might be leaning toward Pisa.

The players will need to lean on one another to be able to bring home all three points.

Bologna 0, Milan 3: Revenge Is Best Served Cold

After such a chaotic year last season thanks to our own management, two of our three encounters with Bologna were fraught with controversy. Facing off with the club who were the benefactors of a conspiracy to ban all of our fans for the Coppa Italia final, not to mention some very shady refereeing, while wearing the coccarda tricolore patch this year was triggering, to say the least. And given our circumstances and recent performances, I had no idea what to expect for this match. However, at the end of the day, Milan served up a 3-0 win over Bologna in their house in a dominant performance that was one of the least stressful Allegri matches of the year. And I must admit, revenge is best served cold.

Revenge is best served so very, very cold.

Bologna-Milan Preview: Tuesday Trial

Tuesday night, in Bologna, Milan will be tested in a few different ways. For one, We know that Milan have done well against the top of the table sides, and notoriously poor against the lower table or newly promoted sides. But Bologna are right in the middle, in 10th place. While Allegri pointed out their recent league record has been poor, they are coming off of a midweek win in the Europa League last week. These present unknown dangers for a Milan team struggling to hold itself together with duct tape, a team that only improved by one player in the transfer window, and has many injuries. Then, there's the fact that Milan haven't played in nine days, so in these and many ways, it will be a Tuesday trial.

Our back line especially will be tested on Tuesday night.

Roma 1, Milan 1: Shut Up and Take It

In Allegri's prematch press conference, he used the phrase "zitti e buoni," which basically means "shut up and be good." And while Maignan was outstanding, voted MVP in fact, and others had some highlights to their performances, I am not sure the team got the "be good" part of that message, as in playing well. The 1-1 draw with Roma was disappointing for sure. Worse still, with Andrea Colombo as the referee, the players were calmer and more level-headed than he was, with two of the four yellows he gave (only to Milan players, of course) supposedly being for "behavior" rather than fouls. There is a history with him, of course, that goes way back, but even more recently, he has shown that he not only has an agenda against Milan, but is also a terrible referee. However, our players mistook "zitti e buoni" as more of "shut up and take it."

De Winter was a hero, but can't have felt as great about his first goal with the result like that.

Roma-Milan Preview: A Fox in Wolf's Clothing

It is no secret that Gasperini's Atalanta gave Milan some brutal defeats in recent years. But the question always was, what would he do at a bigger club? Well, so far, this season, he has done quite well, despite that club being Roma, who never win anything anyway. Coming into this match just four points behind Milan on the table and sitting in fourth place, Gasperini made it no secret this week that he was focused on this match even before their Europa League match on Thursday. While Milan did manage to defeat Roma 1-0 in November, Allegri knows this will be a very tough match. Gasperini may be cunning like a fox, but this time, he is a fox in wolf's clothing.

The team will have to be united and to beware of the fox amongst the wolves.

Milan 1, Lecce 0: Füll-proof

Allegri may have finally found a cure for the small team syndrome Milan have been dealing with this season. And that cure was a giant, muscle-bound German striker who was willing to play with a broken toe, even after being robbed of €500,000 in valuables only a few days before. While I certainly prepared for the worst against a relegation-threatened side, and most of the match was pretty dreadful football, Lecce were missing players to injury and were unable to score. So, Milan finally got a 1-0 win over Lecce, not dropping points to a team in danger of relegation. And even though plenty of players put effort in, it was "Lücke," ironically the one who filled in our gap, who made the difference. You could say that the plan was Füll-proof.

A Füll-proof way to earn three points.

Milan-Lecce Preview: Hostage Situation

Sunday night, Milan host the currently 17th placed Lecce at the San Siro. And if you've been paying attention at all this season, that means we will struggle and drop points. Because that is how Allegri rolls. He will make too many changes, especially since he does not always sub well during the matches and we have had this crazy run of playing so many matches so close together. It's like we are being held hostage. And Lecce will obviously play their best game of the season against us, even if we have already faced them twice and won both matches. But this one has another element, as the two teams are negotiating over Camarda, who has a shoulder injury. Milan claim it is serious and could require surgery to heal properly, while Lecce officially claim he only needs rest. Milan have asked to end his loan early, while Lecce want to keep him. So this is not just a football match, but a hostage situation.

Will Camarda's future be held hostage by people more interested in money than his development?

Como 1, Milan 3: Our French Heroes

This match began as dreadful as the last two, if not worse. Como were clearly playing much better than Milan, much more possession, and creating more chances. Or, as Fabregas pointed out, Como "made 700 passes to their 200." But, our Frenchman Nkunku converted his penalty to equalize at the half, Maignan made superhero level saves, and their compatriot, Rabiot, scored two brilliant second half goals. So Milan defeated Como 1-3 at their lakeside home, thanks largely to three of our French players, our French heroes.

Our two biggest heroes of the night.

Como-Milan Preview: Making up for Lost Time

Thursday night, Como host Milan in a match that was meant to be played in December, but Milan were too busy seeking riches in Saudi Arabia. Not only does the Lega Serie A have zero morals when it comes to who hosts their Supercoppa, but they are really, really bad at scheduling. And for Milan, despite the prize money they were given for the purpose of the Saudi government's sportswashing of their human rights violations, this match comes at a more difficult time than originally scheduled in terms of both injuries and mentality. Still, the match must go on, so both teams will be making up for lost time.

Time to rally the team and make up for lost time... and points.

Fiorentina 1, Milan 1: Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

When they say that Milan cannot catch a break, the Lega Serie A took that very literally. They scheduled this match less than 72 hours after our Genoa match on Thursday night. UEFA is working to make that against UEFA rules for the health and safety of players, but Serie A does not care about their players. I don't know that more time would have made a difference in the result, as Allegri truly has a problem with the lower table teams this season. To be able to finish with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Fiorentina thanks to a late goal was likely in the cards already, but the toll that playing matches so frequently takes on our players is another issue. And our recurring injuries show that. But it's football, and we are Diavoli. There ain't no rest for the wicked.

Dropping points along with too many matches may be taking its toll on the players.

Fiorentina-Milan Preview: Rock Bottom

If you feel like Milan just played, you are right. The Lega Serie A, also known as the Marotta League, scheduled Milan's games less than 72 hours apart (but "according to the rules it's possible.") And if one lower table team was not enough for you this week, Sunday evening, we play the team just below Genoa, who we barely managed a draw with on Thursday. That's right, Fiorentina, one of the Seven Sisters of Serie A is actually having a much worse year than Milan had last year. Given the controversy the media whipped up around our last meeting with Pioli's Fiorentina in October, and the way Fiorentina seem to suddenly be rising from the dead, yet Allegri plans to rest our best players, this one could easily be Milan's rock bottom.

Things could get better, or they could get much worse...

Milan 1, Genoa 1: Lower Table Mentality

Milan have dropped all their points this season to newly promoted or lower table sides. (Okay, Juve are fourth and Atalanta are seventh, but with a little  historical context, you can understand the mischievous implication of them being lower table sides.) Sure, I warned about the hazard this match presented in the preview. Genoa fall well within the Allegri Danger Zone™, so it really should not have been a shock to drop points yet again to a lower table team. It is almost as if the team lowers their mentality for these matches, and the opposing teams raise their mentality to compete with a top team. And only a stoppage time goal from a quality player like Leão saved us from complete humiliation, giving us the 1-1 draw with Genoa. Other than that, it was 90 minutes of lower table mentality.

Even our best players did not have enough to push past the 17th place team.

Milan-Genoa Preview: Hazard

Thursday night, Milan will be hosting Genoa at the San Siro for the final match of Round 19. Thanks to some help from the referees Napoli (whomever you believe,) Milan will maintain their second place spot on the table, but a win will keep us within one point of first place. However, Genoa sit in the precarious 17th place, also known as the Allegri Danger Zone™. As a team in the lower half of the table, especially so close to the relegation zone, they pose a very real threat for Milan to drop points. Even Allegri spoke in his press conference of Genoa's performances since De Rossi was hired as their manager. Despite this being a formality on paper, that makes this match a potential hazard.

If you've seen De Rossi's tattoo, you'll know we have been warned.

Cagliari 0, Milan 1: Checkmate

This match was not going to be easy. Allegri knew that, and anyone paying attention knew that. In addition to the tensions between the two clubs and the fans, the away match to Cagliari has never been easy. And Pisacane has shown that he is a young coach to be watched. While I have seen many fans describe this match as "boring," for me, it was more like watching a chess match between the two managers, both having played and managed for Cagliari. One young, one more experienced. And this was a match that Milan was not necessarily favored to win, either. But for once, Allegri read the game and subbed like a chess master, leading Milan to the 1-0 win over Cagliari. Checkmate.

Allegri played this one like a master.

Cagliari-Milan Preview: Facing the Music

Playing away to Cagliari is never easy. Last season, immediately following what was arguably Fonseca's best win, Cagliari met Milan goal for goal in a tense 3-3 draw. Even when Conceição met them at San Siro immediately after winning the Supercoppa, Cagliari managed to earn the 1-1 draw. However, this time, Cagliari have a serious point to prove after Cardinale insulted their club in an interview back in October. And for Allegri, he is returning to the club that launched his Serie A career, where he won the won his first Panchina d'Oro (Golden Bench) award for best Serie A manager for the 2008-09 season, as voted by his peers. Cagliari will be facing some angry Milan fans after violating the regulations and not giving them enough tickets while also charging them double what the home fans are paying. Needless to say, emotions will be running high as everyone is facing the music.

Gabbia returns to lend a hand, but only starting from the bench.