Yahoo Sports ‘Worst birthday in history’ – Mazzara believes Milan fans and management have suffered ‘total break’
Journalist and columnist Pietro Mazzara has once again taken aim at the AC Milan leadership after last night’s birthday debacle against Genoa.
Milan’s 125th anniversary celebrations fell rather flat as they played out a disappointing 0-0 draw against Genoa at San Siro, which further complicates the league position.
The team created very little and looked quite lethargic throughout, then what they did create was wasted, mostly by Alvaro Morata. It was not the response the coach will have wanted after his post-Red Star rant.
Milan have even dropped into eighth after Bologna beat Fiorentina earlier in the day, and the pressure is ramping up on Fonseca to turn things around, but pitchforks are also sharpened and pointed at the management too.
Mazzara published his weekly column for MilanNews in which he spoke about the anger of the fans that was on display after the game, with the title: ‘The worst birthday in history for results, atmosphere and disillusionment. Break with the now total fan base’.
“Of Milan-Genoa last night, of what happened on the pitch, of the standings and of the parade of great legends present in the stands, little will be remembered. Because the most impactful thing is the definitive break between Milan and its fans,” he began.
“The jeers at the end of the match, the protest chants inside the stadium, the banners displayed outside because they were blocked by the police authorities (they would have been placed on the balustrade of the second tier without the ban) and the new chants: ‘We are not Americans!”’and ‘Cardinale you must sell’ are the result of a heavy atmosphere that, for months, has been felt around Milan.
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“When it was pointed out, we were considered those who do not understand, those who root for the ultras and other similar things. No, it is not like that and it is sad to have been right. Because being among the people makes you really understand the sentiment of the fans, who are disenchanted and even if they still go to the stadium in droves (now we will have to see for how long), they go for the colours, not for the technical project.
“As of December 16, Milan are eighth in the standings, without a playing identity and without positive sporting prospects for the future. Who knows if Gerry Cardinale received the images of the end of the match and the sound. A situation like this, on an environmental level, has not been experienced since the ‘full banter era’ when, after a Milan-Genoa in December 2013, there was another protest.
“But that Milan was aware of its limits and did not indulge in announcements of grandeur that were not respected. It is really complicated to type on the keys, because in these 16 years following Milan I have seen really everything, but the signs of what was happening were evident to everyone.
“And today people are tired, fed up with having to go to the stadium and suffer without a hope of being able to reverse the trend. Hearing about the Scudetto until a few weeks ago was already hard to believe, today it is also difficult to think about participation in the next edition of the Champions League.
“Because there is a photo that makes an impression: Rafael Leao’s reaction at the end of the match. Hands on hips, sad eyes with Torriani who goes to console him. Those eyes told us more than dozens of words.
“The board must now take responsibility, just as Cardinale must. Fonseca is also guilty, but now everyone’s sights are set on the ownership and its emanation. The structure that was intended to be given to Milan has foundered before everyone’s eyes.
“And Paolo Maldini’s post, which arrived at the stroke of midnight, was the final blow to an evening that saw the canvas torn before the eyes of those who made that canvas a masterpiece.”
