Milan Obsession

Any Milan fan that watched the Derby probably feels that all is lost. Coming off of an international break during which the financials were released from Yonghong Li's Milan, it's certainly not a fun time to talk about Milan. But with or without the aid of alcohol, those who bleed red and black must carry on. You're welcome.

There was a man down after that Derby, so my cohost and I were forced to carry on alone this week. Despite our sorrows, immediately after the Derby, we talked about:

• News of the Week: Trophee Kopa, more changes, new player agreement, ciao again Gandini, Festival dello Sport, another Milan derby, no passport for you, Montolivo's addition, some bald guy
• Match Review: review of the Derby
• The Finances of the Chinese Era: mindboggling numbers
• Coming up: upcoming matches

Milan have three wins in a row, and I couldn't be more frightened. Why? Because we cannot keep a clean sheet to save our lives. It's like having an amazing dinner, but knowing you're going to get mugged on the way home. Not being able to keep 90 minutes of mentality is already making our results shaky, but stand to pull the rug out from beneath us in the long run. And it's not just one game, it's happening over and over again.

An early game and podcast needed exceptional wisdom, so of course we asked Pete to join us. To find more of his wisdom, follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva. After the Chievo game, we chatted about:

• News of the Week: Debt free, Ancelotti trolls, Golden Boy, whatever with loyalty, the comeback kid, Milan Foundation, Italy callups
• Match Reviews: review of recent matches
• Clean Sheet Crisis: why we concede
• Coming up: upcoming matches

Thanks again to Pete for Cutrone. Follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva for more brilliant gifts and wisdom.

Milan·s performances and results recently are lacking, but things are improving off the pitch. The announcement that Ivan Gazidis is finally going to come to the club as CEO was contrasted by lackluster performances on the pitch. Gattuso·s lack of exper

The clouds have truly lifted at Milanello, and the source of that bright shining light is not the sun, but rather the legendary Paolo Maldini. His mere presence has changed the atmosphere at and around the club. Victory is that much sweeter when he is watching his beloved team play as a director, where he should have been since he retired. He's helped everyone raise their levels already, even Gattuso. That is the power of Maldini.

Even our guests were on International Break this week. But in their absence, we discussed:

• News of the Week: Europa League, NT duty, wage bills, players out, Conti's return, the armband fiasco
• Match Review: review of the Roma victory
• Gattuso Tactics: not an oxymoron
• Legends return: the Maldini effect
• Coming up: upcoming matches

Please try to keep yourself together for the rest of the break… Milan will be returning before you know it!

One game into the season and the media has already called for Gattuso's head. Amidst all of the ridiculous hyperbole of the media and the fans, we try to sort through what actually happened in the match and perhaps apply a more realistic view of what might happen this season, particularly with our grinta-filled coach.

Our guest this time was the amazing Debopam, who is one of the staff at goaldentimes.org. You can follow him on Twitter @rossoneri, and you should definitely check out the book "Tiro: A Football Odyssey from Amazon to Alps." For this podcast, we talked about:

• News of the Week: UEFA honor, football helping out, dysfunctional calcio
• Match Review: review of recent match
• Gattuso: Discussing the Mister
• Coming up: upcoming matches

Thanks again to Debopam for his great conversation. Follow him on Twitter @rossoneri and check out goaldentimes.org. For a real football treat, pick up "Tiro: A Football Odyssey from Amazon to Alps."

OFFICIAL: The Milan Obsession Podcast has signed Jonathan to a longterm contract as cohost. Details of the contract were undisclosed.

Following Leonardo's example, we have signed a permanent cohost, and expect the podcast to also qualify for the Champions League of podcasts this season. So while we were under the influence of extreme optimism, we previewed the new season with unicorns and rainbows.

We invited Pavlo to bring his optimism agenda and his passion and wisdom to discuss the upcoming season. Follow him on Twitter @PavloBrk. Our optimistic party included:

• News of the Week: New captain, renewal, Kaka dreams, club mentality, rap battle, Milan heart, Inter laughs
• Mercato: News and rumors
• Match Reviews: reviews of recent matches
• Season Preview: Talking players, coach, and forecast
• Coming up: upcoming matches

Thanks again to Pavlo for raining down optimism upon us. Follow him on Twitter to hold him to his rosy predictions @PavloBrk

The long awaited Return of the King, Paolo Maldini, has finally occurred. I have a theory as to why, and it all started with one lucky fan. He won a chance to meet the team, but ended up meeting Gattuso instead. After that, Leonardo was hired on. Then Higuain and Caldara came to Milan. And finally, the return of Maldini. That is a whole lot of luck.

That lucky fan is Ricardo, who flew to Los Angeles from Texas just to watch the game. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @Ricky7990. Who knows, maybe some of his luck will rub off on you. In the meantime, he and I chatted about:

• News of the Week: No B team, Montolivo get out, Strinic in, Calhanoglu's woman problems, Fasssone's lack of class, Ambrosini's new challenge, VAR replays, U.S. TV rights
• ICC U.S. Tour: second half recap
• Friendlies: reviews of Tottenham and Barcelona matches
• Milan in Los Angeles: Meeting Gattuso and watching Milan live
• Mercato: News and rumors
• The Return of the King: Maldini's glorious return
• Coming up: upcoming matches

Thanks again to Ricardo for sharing his great luck with all of us Milan fans and for his time on the podcast. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @Ricky7990

In spite of all of the changes off the pitch, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Milan up close and personal here in Los Angeles. From stalking them at the airport to meeting Gattuso to watching them play right before my very eyes, it brought me great joy at a time when there are so many unanswered questions at the club.

My favorite intern, Jonathan, also has plans to see the team up close and personal this season, but at the San Siro. We discussed:

• News of the Week: future legendary coaches, shut up and work, finally Kalinic, don't let the door hit you on the way out, ciao Capitano, no thank you Puma, train cup, U19 Euros
• Friendlies: reviews of Novara & Manchester United matches
• Serie A Calendar: 2018-19 calendar just released
• UEFA Ruling: CAS overturned UEFA's ruling
• Ownership & Management Changes: out with the old, in with the new
• Coming up: next friendlies

Thanks again to Jonathan for being a fantastic intern, a passionate Milan fan, and future San Siro pitch invader.

Another change in ownership, a ban from Europe, and a zero balance mercato. When will Milan fans catch a break? So much to talk about, but nothing that we would like to be talking about. And yet as fans, we are still here, still emotionally committed to the red and black. So it seems that hope is all we have.

A fan podcast requires passionate fans, and Pavlo is one of the most devout fans around. Follow him on Twitter for his knowledge, wisdom, and Milan passion @PavloBrk. For this podcast, we chatted about:

• News of the Week: Someone's lying, Dreaded 3 man defense returning, Spelling errors, Ciao Abbiati, New Youth Sector Director, Maldini is going somewhere, Pig farming crime, Graduation, Curva Sud statement, Serie A season, World Cup or something
• Mercato News: why it's so hard to sell players
• Ownership: the hedge fund arrives
• UEFA Ruling: waiting for the appeal

• Important Summer Dates: when and where Milan will be

Thanks again to Pavlo for bringing hope and optimism at a time when it feels like all is lost.

Raduno literally means ·rally,· and that is what is supposed to happen to kick of Milan·s new season today. But what can we rally around? The new kit is poor, we don·t know if we·ll have Europe or not still, and now we don·t even know who will own t