Men for the big occasions [Newsletter]

Where do we even begin, after a night like that? For the first time in 16 years, AC Milan have secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League, thanks to a 2-1 win against Napoli on aggregate. And there could be a Derby della Madonnina on the cards in the semi-final.

The 1-0 win in the first leg obviously gave Milan a narrow, but still significant, advantage for the game last night. Napoli needed to come out strong and so they did, pushing and pushing in the first 20 minutes of the game or so. However, with no goal to show for it, their enthusiasm naturally died a bit.

Milan, meanwhile, defended in the best way possible and in spite of a whopping 16 corners in favour of Napoli, only a couple were dangerous. Add to that the fact that Davide Calabria absolutely pocked Kvara out there, only letting him past on two occasions the entire game (!).

There are many players to praise, and the likes of Mike Maignan and Rafael Leao especially deserve a mention, but the collective favour won the Rossoneri this two-legged tie. The second leg was no different in terms of that: they all worked for each other until the very last minute.

“They all called us underdogs, but I train a group with a big heart,” Pioli said after the game. It’s that exact approach that won Milan the Scudetto. These players clearly have a tendency of stepping up in the big games and the whole Champions League adventure is a great example of that.

The Scudetto will not be defended, that has already been decided, but this success in the Champions League sure has provided optimism for next season. With just two significant reinforcements in the summer, Milan will surely be competing for the Scudetto once again and can also dream of another UCL run.

But we need to remain in the now. This win must be enjoyed and celebrated, we can focus on next season later. A Derby della Madonnina in the semi-final would make for a beautiful, but equally anxious and nerve-racking, two-legged tie at San Siro. No matter how tough it could be, though, these are the games that we all live for.

News bulletin

➤ Milan Primavera won their third consecutive home match in the league and continued their rise up the table, but they had to come from behind against Torino. Youns El Hilali was the hero, scoring a second-half brace including a 96th-minute penalty.

➤ Sticking with the youth sector, Tuttosport are the latest source to claim that Milan are among the teams that are interested in launching a side to compete in Serie C next season to help their young talents develop. Juventus are so far the only team to take up the opportunity with their 'Next Gen' team.

➤ A story that is likely to divide opinion: Relevo are reporting that Milan are eyeing Mason Greenwood ahead of the summer transfer window amid uncertainty over his future at Manchester United.

➤ Rafael Leao confirmed after the game against Napoli that he would like to stay at Milan, but admitted that there are still some details to be sorted regarding his renewal. Nonetheless, he called the club his 'home' which is obviously a big sign.

➤ In slightly less controversial transfer target news, Milan have reportedly taken an interest in Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto. The Yorkshire club are battling relegation and could be forced to sell, with talksSPORT in England suggesting a return to Italy could materialise.

➤ Mike Maignan continues to establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and Milan are beginning to think about a potential renewal with a pay rise that would reflect this status.

In case you missed it

Make sure to check out the latest bonus episode, only available here on Substack. You can also read our latest bonus article here on Substack about the future of Stefano Pioli.