AC Milan’s already slim hopes of making the top four were dealt perhaps a decisive blow as they lost 2-1 against Bologna on Thursday night.
The home side had the better of proceedings in the first half but it was Milan who went in a goal up thanks to Rafael Leao. A flick-on from Santiago Gimenez was collected and he rounded the goalkeeper to slot in just before the break.
However, the Rossoneri collapsed in the second half. Firstly Santiago Castro was on hand to equalise from close range after a free-kick found its way to him, then in the closing stages Dan Ndoye also found the net from a few yards out to complete the turnaround.
It means that Milan are now eight points behind Juventus in fourth place and now also three points behind their hosts Bologna, with any hopes of a Champions League place now surely over bar the shouting.
Sergio Conceicao made one change to the starting line-up compared to the team that were beaten by Torino on Saturday, with Youssouf Fofana coming back into the side and Christian Pulisic dropping to the bench. It meant a reshuffle with Yunus Musah more on the right and Joao Felix alongside Santiago Gimenez up front.
Milan started the game well and had half an opening inside the first 60 seconds. Musah found Gimenez with a ball perhaps a little behind him, and the Mexican’s left-footed shot ended up over the bar.
It was a frantic start at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara in which Malick Thiaw was not far from another embarrassing own-goal after putting in his own net against Torino, albeit he knew a lot less about that one.
The right side was more heavily involved in the early exchanges, with Musah drawing a save from Skorupski’s legs from a narrow angle after being found by Jimenez, though it was a narrow angle in truth.
There was a real moment of danger for the Rossoneri in the 25th minute when Theo Hernandez was taken out and no free-kick was given, then Ferguson found Ndoye’s run in behind but Strahinja Pavlovic did just enough to push him off balance as he shot.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued, with Mike Maignan making what can only be described as a reaction save to keep out a cross, then Fofana seeing penalty appeals waved away after going down inside the box.
Maignan was called into action again eight minutes before the break with Ndoye feeding Dominguez on the left side of the box, who got past Alex Jimenez easy but shot at the goalkeeper from a tight angle.
Just over two minutes before the interval, Milan took the lead and it came through Rafael Leao. A long ball from Maignan was flicked on well by Gimenez to find the run in behind from the Portuguese winger, who rounded Skorupski and slotted in with his left foot.
It took Bologna less than three minutes to level the score in the second half as Milan switched off defensively. Theo conceded a free-kick and a yellow card down the left side, and from the resulting delivery Fabbian’s chest-down was fired in from close range by Castro. There were appeals for both a handball on the assist and an offside, but they fell on deaf ears and thus it was 1-1.
Bologna then took the ascendency without really creating too much in terms of clear-cut opportunities, but an hour in Conceicao chose to change the attack with Christian Pulisic replacing Felix.
Milan then had a couple of moments of their own, both coming through Musah. Firstly the USA international galloped away down the right, twisting and turning inside the box before seeing his shot stopped by Skorupski. Moments later he drove a low cross-shot that Castro blocked in the nick of time.
When Maignan came absolutely flying over 40 yards off his line to cut out a Bologna break and then collapsed in a heap of pain it looked like an injury substitution might be needed. He got up and continued though, so perhaps it was a ploy to stop a quick restart.
Conceicao did make another change with just less than 15 minutes left and it was a rather surprising one with Luka Jovic on and Gimenez off. Not long after coming on he headed a Fofana cross straight at Skorupski.
Bologna were very close to taking the lead twice in quick succession when Casale’s glancing header from a corner crashed off the post and then Cambiaghi connected sweetly with the rebound but sent it just over the bar.
They were not to be denied on their next attack though as Ndoye put the home side in front. Cambiaghi sent in a wonderful cross from the left side and Pavlovic was beaten to it at the near post, with Ndoye stabbing home from close range.
A final roll of the dice followed from the Milan coach with Jimenez – who had appealed that the ball went out in the build-up to the second Bologna goal – came off for Tammy Abraham.
Lobe this squad, feels bad but getting better in 10 years after another scudetto so it feels good
Love*
Banter era 2.0 fully engaged! Thank you Redturd.
I preferred the first one. At least we knew we were s**t then.
Pioli days aren’t looking bad at all right now.
Of course
There was expression: “They are going to cry after Pioli…”
What was even the point of letting Pioli go? Even with Pioli we never descended to this level of mediocrity. Under Pioli Milan always won this kind of matches.
Hahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Where’s the doom and gloom supporters???
Conceiceo must go! Let complete the season with the Primavera coach. After all, top 4 is now a mirage not a dream.
The simple truth is as things stand right now the management should be prepared for uefa conference league next season.
Top Management shouldn’t even think of changing coach while recruiting mediocre/fringe/misfit players.
They can secure Europa spot by wining the coppa Italia. I won’t raise my hopes because finishing with the same patten of results while other teams improve guarantees an 8th/9th placed finish at best.
Finito
Theo again
Pioli had probably hit his ceiling, and someone better was going to be needed to take the next step up. The problem? The cheap lazy management replaced hime with 3 steps DOWN. And now we’re paying the price for it. Maldini himself said we woupd need to the next step of moving forward to compete, they also fired him too. This management took the cheap lazy route and will now pay the price with no UCL
They don’t have the problem untill they can sale the players.
When they can’t sell then they will be in problem.
Second half collapse? They battered us…BATTERED US, for 90 minutes.
Yeah. We didn’t deserve the lead at half time.
so true
wow.. I’m watching the game on a white-black monitor
It looks like “Milan” plays better, and dominated the whole game. It deserve the win! yeah
Calabria got sub’ed on for Jimenez? because it happened at the same time lol
Did Calabria finally get on the winning side, can somebody tell me?! 😛
The coach is empty and has nothing to offer. Just return that joker to Chelsea. His career is long gone. Portuguese fraud.
Great game guys. What did I miss?
🤭
So the same thing expect a different result…
Yes very agreed.
I saw the first half match. And I think, that Mr. Sergio is like Pioli, so stubborn. So he is Pioli 2.0. With the same tactics and players, but want different result.
Next year this team need a very good coach, and must rebuild the team again. If we must sell our biggest assets, then so it be. But after that, bring the good players that our new coach needed.
I say I won’t watch them and I keep coming back every time for more disappointment and nerve-wracking experience. It is true that some old habits die hard. Why can’t I go and watch something far more entertaining – paint drying on the wall, for instance?
I think Americans understand that people after banter era, now are addicted watching Milan games.
So they don’t care about result. People pay expensive tickets no matter what
So many people are blaming Players it’s not about the Players it’s about couch same Players used to win under pioli but we don’t have couch right now that’s it
Embarrassing AC. Brainless players who cannot keep pace with their opponents. Today’s game shows that a massive players clean-up is required. Most boring team to watch in Serie A. A team organised about one player who is as clumsy as a drunken old man. The Maldini factor is proven to be costly as the knowledge in management is non-existent. Forget it tifosi !!!
We are so frustrating to watch at moment.
Totally out played by Bologna.
Did not deserve to lead at half time.
just two good moments all first half. Gimenez big wasted chance on 20 seconds. And then a lucky long ball that Rafa could put away 40 mins later.
Otherwise the first half was bad.
Second half Bologna got the reward for how much better they were playing.
Simple as that.
Felix was either anoymouse or poor when he did have the ball. Leao was poor all game apart from that one chance. Gimenez was mostly ineffective. Didn’t hold the ball up at all. One good flick header for Rafa and a bad miss n the first mintute. Otherwise nothing.
We did look a lot better with Pulisic on the field. He at least looks like he will do the right thing with ball and is more than a “one trick pony” like most others.
So frustrating.
Watching Leao and Theo flop on the ground every time the wind blew was so frustrating. Who knows how many goals they would have if they actually made an effort to keep running.
You would also think after the Feyenoord games, that someone had told them to stop doing that.
Conceicao doesn’t have any game plan, if we can play cowardly against teams like Dinamo Zagreb, feyenoord, Torino bologna, what do we expect from conceicao who have arrays of stars at his disposal yet he he no game plan than kick and follow pattern of play. This days we are always playing with short three (3), 1st is Theo who is now playing against Milan, 2nd Leao catching fun, 3rd surveyor Felix who walks around with no direction on the pitch, he cannot even complete any dribble or passI’m was ashamed seeing Milan running after shadow last night against bologna. If we are to play team like Liverpool home and away now. I bet it, we are going to exposed worldwide. Imagine lazy Felix with no stamina and pace, ready to go Theo Hernandez, and playful Leao that lacks seriousness this days makes no reasonable impact in the last 3 Milan matches, were always fielded in our team, while players who are hungry and willing to do better were benched. We actually have no coach yet.
I can’t see Conceiçāo staying past this summer. No tactics. No style of play. Poor performances, even after the January transfers. (The only “good” was his first matches in the super cup, which may have said more about Fonseca than Conceiçāo.) And several key players seem to be regressing under him.
Even the Greek league is better than that.
Not only there isn’t the slightest sign of improvement in any aspect, but now there is the risk to cancel the only players that were still trying (Puli and Reinders).
As for Serge and Felix, I wonder if he doesn’t even realize Felix is exposing him badly. That says a lot about his abilities.
If we won with Torino, Bologna and the upcoming match with Lazio on Sunday, we would have been in 4th place. The season is over although we can make it to Europe League or Conference League. We can also win the Italian Cup (Coppa Italia) trophy.
In the summer, we need to make huge changes. Sell Theo, Leao and the rest of the deadwood. Rebuild the squad. Hire a competent sporting director like Berta, Tare, Modesto or Paratici. As far as the coach, they should either give Sérgio Conceição a proper season or bring in another coach. Carlos Dunga would be a great choice. He’s a great coach. He has an amazing CV.
If the team plays for 90 minutes like they did after the substitution of felix even after the manager took out gimenez for jovic (!!!) milan will win most of the games. Its milan of the 2020s they outscore the opponent. Its not like it was an easy game its bologna away. Felix is talented but you dont change the chemistry of a team for a player that is here for 6 months. The team is stronger than last year. Enough with theo and leao critisism. They havent had a rest in 5 years and the two new managers this year discovered that they were the problem. If i was them i would feel under-appreciated and demotivated. When they had a formation that they actually worked with for the brief time before the second goal the team was great. Ok bologna was lucky they scored the second, it happens. On to the next game hopefully felix would be on the bench and come in for the actual milan player that is tired in the second half whoever that may be. Since we wont be in cl next year at least build chemistry with gimenez, pulisic, leao, reijnders. Also jimenez was terrible ( its ok he is a kid ) theo stood his ground quite well actually and slowly in the second half started getting forward. Its not that difficult when theo attacks fofana or the other mid in the pivot must stay back close to the defenders as kessie was doing. On a separate note I liked pavlovic and theo switching roles at the back covering each other. And also that the team adapted to the game. Ok they press high man marking kick the ball far the bad thing is that we dont have giroud that could win headers. Gimenez though seems like a hound. Hopefully he will be a success after a few months getting used to the style of play. And one last thing if the manager likes 442 so much and felix (!!! Although again he is talented) at least play felix as LM and let leao cook upfront with gimenez. Watching leao defending behind hernandez is crazy ( but he is doing it for the manager ). He is fast but he cant outrun defenders if he has to travel 3/4 of the pitch
You can see all you need to of this match in the 1 minute leading up to their first goal. We make 4 ridiculous errors in a row. Four individual mistakes by four different players. Clowns.
It starts after Theo gives a good header to Leao who flicks it to Felix. Then we see 4 errors and the ball is in our net:
1. Felix could simply play the ball into Santi, who’s open, but instead he tries some flashy flick to himself and loses the ball.
2. The ball bounces to Pavlovic, who tries a strange crouching header instead of using his feet, and he whiffs, and the ball rolls down the line.
3. Theo gives chase and could simply play the ball but badly fouls the Bologna player, taking a yellow card and giving Bologna a dangerous set piece.
4. The ball is whipped in on the set piece. Musah isn’t alert enough and plays the Bologna attackers onside after a flick header. Bologna stabs it in from point blank range.
Four awful individual errors in a row. I don’t think the team is adequately prepared or motivated by Conceicao. But it’s also players making bad choices again and again.
Embarrassing loss, embarrassing season.
We still have the Coppa Italia, but it’s time to officially write off this season and start the rebuild. Build the foundation for next year and the next several years. Only two results still matter this season (the Inter matches), and the sooner those are behind us the better. Time to start looking ahead, and time to make a fresh start.
Thoughts – We need a sporting director, a new face for the management of the club. Ibra should move along. Moncada and Furlani should return to the periphery.
We need a young coach with fresh ideas (this means no Sacchi etc).
We need a substantial rebuild of the roster. Time to part ways with Leão and Theo. The relationship has been over for some time now, time for all parties to wish each other the best and move on.
We need to reestablish an Italian core. Ricci would be a good start but we need others.
We need senior players to provide veteran leadership. It’s obvious how much we miss folks like Kjaer, even Florenzi. They don’t have to be stars but we need some mature, steady voices in the dressing room.
Most of all we need change. The project failed, we can’t make incremental changes and expect to turn it around. It’s time to acknowledge that, it must be restarted from zero.