We are (still) the champions [Newsletter]

Wow. Who was expecting that? AC Milan put in their best performance of the season on Sunday evening as they beat Napoli 4-0, climbing to third place in the standings. Above all, though, they now have a mental advantage over the Partenopei ahead of the Champions League tie.

From start to finish, Milan did everything right at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and deservedly came away with all three points. Complete domination, which sent most of us watching into shock mode. Where was this Milan at the start of 2023 and can the performance be replicated? As always, if you want the news bulletin straight away, scroll down!

Ahead of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Napoli, the Rossoneri have certainly got themselves an advantage. In addition to showing Luciano Spalletti’s men that they can win the fixture, they proved to themselves that they are still the champions of Italy and that is perhaps the most wonderful thing.

Napoli may be Scudetto-bound, but Milan are the champions as things stand and they will not give up easily. The battle will transfer over to the Champions League, given just how much a semi-final spot would be worth for morale and also financially, which is crucial these days.

You can tell that the last few months have taken their toll on Stefano Pioli. After a win, he’s usually very positive but after the big win, he seemed more relieved than anything. And that made for a very reserved response about what’s to come for Milan: “There is no euphoria, it was a good performance against a great team but now we have to think about the next one. We can’t throw away any more opportunities.”

Clearly, the tactical choices for the game worked out in favour of the Rossoneri and remains to be seen how much they can keep for the Champions League games. Napoli have been given a heads-up, but equally Pioli and his staff will have identified certain situations that could have worked better.

In short, the ‘chess game’ between Pioli and Spalletti - as the Italian press has described it - will be very interesting to follow in the coming weeks. First, though, Milan will take on Empoli at San Siro before getting one or two days off for Easter celebrations. It’s an opportunity they cannot throw away, as Pioli expressed it.

News bulletin

➤ Milan Primavera resumed their league campaign after the international break with a 1-0 win over Udinese to lift themselves out of the relegation play-off spots. Youns El Hilali got the only goal, and it was a thunderbolt into the top corner.

➤ The Milan Women suffered another disappointing result in the Poule Scudetto round as they were unable to really lay a glove on Serie A Femminile leaders AS Roma in a 3-1 defeat on Saturday afternoon. 

➤ How exactly did Stefano Pioli get the better of his opposite number Luciano Spalletti to record a 4-0 win at the Maradona? La Gazzetta dello Sport have highlighted five tactical moves that created a checkmate that Beth Harmon would be proud of.

➤ There was a flashpoint during the game in Naples as Luciano Spalletti exchanged some heated words with Paolo Maldini and Rafael Leao in the tunnel. The former Inter boss gave his side of things after the game.

➤ According to Il Messaggero, one of the players on Milan’s wish list ahead of the summer is Tammy Abraham. The Englishman has scored seven times this season, is good friends with Fikayo Tomori and the Rossoneri need to freshen up their attack.

➤ Brahim Diaz was among the best performers on the field in the win over Napoli, and despite the fact he would be happy to stay at Milan beyond the expiry of his loan deal, his future remains a mystery to be unravelled in the coming weeks.

➤ It appears as though Milan’s interest in Dominik Szoboszlai never went away and they are plotting a summer attempt to sign him according to Tuttosport. Rafael Leao has been doing his bit to help things on Instagram.

In case you missed it

Make sure to check out the latest podcast episode, as well as the bonus podcast (only available here on Substack!). You can also read our latest bonus article here on Substack which takes a look at the loanees and their performances.