Tare Laughs Off Title Fever: Milan Focus on Como Amid Olympic Shuffle Shenanigans

Alright, lads, grab a pint and pull up a stool because we've got some proper Serie A drama brewing at the San Siro tonight. AC Milan's sporting director Igli Tare is keeping his feet firmly on the ground ahead of their rescheduled scrap with Como, kicking off at 19:45 GMT. No Scudetto fireworks from him – just a cool shrug and a focus on grinding out wins. But first, let's unpack this fixture's wild backstory, because it's got more twists than a bad penalty shootout.

Picture this: Week 24's Milan vs Como was meant to light up the San Siro on February 8. But nope – the stadium had to get dolled up for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony. For months, the boffins were plotting a bonkers relocation to Perth, Australia. Yeah, you read that right – Milan Down Under! Negotiations with the Aussies fell flatter than a punctured match ball, so they just nudged it back 10 days instead. Crisis averted, San Siro's ready, and we're all set for the action. You can track it live alongside Bodo/Glimt vs Inter on the blog if you're glued to your screens.

Now, onto Tare, the former Lazio goal machine who's swapped boots for boardroom battles. DAZN Italia's touchline terrors cornered him pre-kickoff and lobbed in the big one: 'Is this make-or-break for the title dream?' Tare? He bats it away like a dodgy through-ball. 'We're not clutching at straws,' he grins. 'Fourteen games left after this – plenty of football to play. We've got to stitch together some consistency from our good work so far. A win tonight? Massive for the table, sure. But title-deciding? Nah, not even close.' Fair play, Igli – after back-to-back victories, Milan's chasing momentum, not miracles. It's like he's the sensible mate telling you not to bet the house on a dodgy accumulator.

Team news is where it gets juicy. Rafael Leao's back in the starting XI, and Tare's buzzing about the Portuguese wizard. 'He's looking sharp physically after the last 10 days,' says the director. 'The niggles linger, but blimey, you see it in training – the lad's a beast. Never doubted him.' Pairing up with Christopher Nkunku up top, that's a nightmare for Como's backline. Bad news? Adrien Rabiot's sidelined with a suspension, while Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are only match-fit for bench duty. Still, Milan's got options – it's not like they're scraping the barrel.

Oh, and before you ask, Tare's swerved the hot potato of last week's Inter-Juve melodrama. Alessandro Bastoni's cheeky dive to get Pierre Kalulu red-carded? 'Water under the bridge,' sniffs Igli. 'Stuff like that happens, and it'll happen again. It's rubbish for the game, mind. Let's all chill, let the refs crack on, and focus on the next 90 minutes with a positive vibe.' Wise words from a man who's seen it all – no point kicking up a fuss when you've got points to chase.

This rescheduled clash feels like a pivotal moment in Milan's season, even if Tare won't admit it. Hanging tough in the table, building on those recent wins, and getting Leao firing – it's the recipe for a sneaky title push. Como won't roll over, though; they'll fancy causing an upset. As reported by Susy Campanale at Football Italia, who's been all over this beat like a rash. So, Rossoneri fans, crack on with the optimism, but keep it real. Tonight's about three points and momentum, not popping the champagne just yet. Forza Milan – let's see if they deliver the goods!