Well, it’s the last game of the season and we have a lot of farewells on the docket. As has been expected, Pioli is indeed leaving with today’s game being his last game in charge. We’ll have more to say about the Pioli-era in the coming days and weeks but one thing is clear: Pioli…along with Maldini…are largely responsible to turning Milan around. We are forever grateful to them both and our hearts go with you and your next journey.
There are two other farewells and they involve two wily veterans who each had major parts to play in the last 3+ years. Olivier Giroud has signed with Los Angles FC and will come here to the states in July. He announced this news before the last game but today will be when we say goodbye. After years of #9 curses, Giroud – largely thought of as Zlatan’s backup and nothing more – proved to be a crucial piece of the Scudetto campaign and Milan felt whenever he wasn’t out there.
Simon Kjær is also leaving as he too is out of contract. He has yet to say if or where he is going to play next. Both men came in a lead and different points of their Milan tenure and while Giroud had some expectations that followed him, Kjær was an under-the-radar signing. A Serie A vet, Kjær immediately stabilized a shaky backline and helped Milan finish in second the year before the Scudetto. He got injured about the midpoint of the Scudetto season and hasn’t quite looked the same since but he always gave an herculean effort.
We will miss all these men and wish them all the best moving forward.
MATCHDAY:
LAST FIVE
MILAN: LWDDL
SALERNITANA: LDLLL
FORMATIONS
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mirante; Hernández, Tomori, Gabbia, Calabria (C); Reijnders, Florenzi; Leão, Bennacer, Pulisic; Giroud
SALERNITANA (3-4-2-1): Fiorillo; Pasalidis, Gyobmer, Pierozzi; Zanoli, Coulibaly, Maggiore, Sambia; Kastanos, Candreva (C); Tchaouna
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 2:45pm EST/5pm GMT
PLACE: San Siro, Milano
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount+ and FuboTV here in the US of Aye and Canada, BeIn for our Aussie pals, ESPNPlay for our fellas in T&T, JioTV for our Indian leoni, and illegal streams that support dictators and oligarchs everywhere.
*Let us know if this needs updating*
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
An interesting lineup but as for what to expect, who knows. I would expect something of an open game with lots of goals. Surely one Leão darting run with a cutback pass for a Giroud header is in the cards, right???
With both teams having nothing to play for, and Salernitana have the league’s worst defense by quite a distance, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a score line in the 5-1 range. So expect some fireworks and a joyous San Siro.
Lastly, I expect all 5 subs to be used today and for Kjær to be brought on with a standing ovation (likewise one for Giroud when he comes off). I hope the broadcase stays on after the final whistle so we can see Pioli’s farewell from the fans.
Here’s what Lisi thinks (partial quote here, you can find his thoughts in totality in Thursday’s Whip Around): I think Milan gets a few early and rolls. Leão smiles and shines. Might get a goal and an assist. Take Milan to lead by half. After that they rotate. Only bummer here is that in these meaningless games there isn’t unlimited subs. Otherwise everyone would play. MILAN WINS
One last time for Pioli. Let’s do this!
Forza Milan
gillis