Ibrahimovic says that he wants to carry on playing football at the top level for years to come…
Monthly Archives: November 2010
AFTERNOON TRAINING SESSION FOR BRESCIA
MILAN - As reported by the official website of Brescia, coach Iachini’s team went through a morning training session today, focusing on tactical preparation. After a couple of matches amongst the squad, the players finished the session with a series of shooting drills. Bega and Diamanti worked separately in the swimming pool. Brescia’s next training session is scheduled for 10.30 CET tomorrow.
IBRAHIMOVIC BACKTRACKS
MILAN - Regarding his interview with Vanity Fair, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made the following statesment: ”I do not intend to ritire in three years, also because I have a contract with Milan until 2014; moreover, my transfer to Barcelona in summer 2009 was exclusively my decision.”
Milan Reveal Alexandre Pato’s Recovery Remains On Schedule
Pato will grace the pitch again in the New Year…
A.C. MILAN OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE REGARDING PATO
A.C. Milan Medical Director Gianluca Melegati has announced that after finishing the first phase of his recovery process at the Physioclinic, Alexandre Pato has started another phase of his rehabilitation today at Milanello. His progress is constant and is going on without any set-backs, in accordance with the preset schedule.In addition, the medical staff have decided to consult a US-based muscle specialist, irrespective of the progression of the current injury, in order to determine a future prevention strategy.
GOLF: CONGRATULATIONS TO MATTEO MANASSERO
MILAN - Matteo Manassero, a great golf player and passionate Rossoneri fan, has capped off his first professional season by winning the European Tour’s Newcomer of the Year Award. In October, the talent from Veneto became the youngest champion in the history of the European Tour, winning the Castello Masters at the age of 17 years and 188 days.Thanks to this achievement, Manassero has joined past winners, such as Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia.
Italian Players Association Confirms Strike Action On Weekend Of December 11-12
The Italian Players Association have confirmed their intention to proceed with strike action on 11-12 December…
MILAN-BRESCIA: THE DISCIPLINARY SITUATION
MILAN - Neither Milan, nor Brescia have suspended players going into the two teams’ Serie A encounter Saturday evening. The following players are one yellow card away from suspension:Milan: Pirlo, Ambrosini, Ibrahimovic.Brescia: Martinez, Zebina, Vass, Bega.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Tells Manchester City Striker Mario Balotelli To Join Milan
Mario Balotelli is being pulled away from Manchester City and towards Milan by the hand of Zlatan Ibrahimovic…
NEW AUCTION ORGANISED BY MILAN FOUNDATION AND RADIO ITALIA
MILAN - Shirts worn by the Rossoneri in the Milan-Fiorentina game will be on auction from 25 November to 16 December.The initiative promoted by Milan Foundation and Radio Italia will be carried out in three phases.All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Rossoneri NPO. Click here to find out more!
ANDREA AND LUCA ARE BACK
MILAN - A double training session awaits the Rossoneri today at Milanello.Milan were back to work at 10.00 CET this morning, going through the first part of today’s double training session. The Rossoneri, including Andrea Pirlo and Luca Antonini, practised on the central pitch of the Milanello Sports Centre, starting with the warm-up, which was followed by a series of athletic drills, such as stretching and running exercises.Then the group got divided into two: Pirlo, Robinho, Flamini, Montelongo, Papastathopoulos, Boateng and Yepes trained in the woods, doing a series of up-hill runs, while the rest of the team finished the session in the gym. To be noted is Pato’s return to Milanello: the Brazilian worked in the gym this morning. The next practice is scheduled for 15.00 CET today afternoon.
UNDER 19: 5 ROSSONERI CALLED UP FOR ITALY-ROMANIA
MILAN - Tomorrow, an important test awaits the Italy U-19 side against Romania. Five Milan Youth Team players have been called up for the international friendly. Go to the Youth Sector News section of ACMilan.com to find out more!
Tactics Tuesday: Substitutions
Substitutions can make or break a match and they can just as simply make or break a Coach. Allegri came under fire this weekend for his lack of substations and while they have been puzzling of late and often late I think Saturday’s problem was not as dramatic as it is being made out be. In fact just a few days ago Allegri was a hero for subbing on Ronaldinho who scored the second goal, but if you take a close look at both matches, you would easily see that lightning rarely strikes twice.
I think it is important to first consider what Allegri said following the match:
“The team put in one of its best performances this season. My lads played with high intensity, despite our busy schedule.
I’m sorry for the result, because we could have won the game, but in any case my players did well this evening.
As for Sampdoria’s equaliser, I can say that our man-marking was poor on that occasion, that’s why the ball finished at Pazzini’s feet.
Sending on Ronaldinho sooner? The team was doing well, so I didn’t want to break our balance by making changes. It just didn’t seem right, because we would have risked giving them chances for counter-attacks. Because of this, I thought it was better not to change the team that was doing well.
My players are very determined, motivated, which makes me satisfied.”
This quote touches on a few important factors when a Coach is considering making a substitution. While we can agree fatigue is often one of those contributing factors, this is often an easy choice and a like for like substitution. What I find more important is his recognition of the match and the success of the team leading up the 90th minute. To put it rather matter of factly Milan were buzzing following the Samp goal, and it is just the response that a Coach would want. Why would he make a choice to remove the man who scored earlier in the match, Robinho, and the man who has scored pivotal goals week in and week out with Zlatan? He also needed to take into consideration that a change could open the door for a Sampdoria counter and giving away a point is not the mark of a title contender.
So if you consider his two subs in the 90th minute, one was correct and one was not. Not bringing on Flamini sooner for Rino or Seedorf was truly an error. It could have allowed Ambro a bit more freedom to get forward and given Milan an extra runner for Samp to have to mark. As for Ronaldinho, agree or disagree, Allegri has deemed more of a liability than a viable option so his unwillingness to bring him on sooner was a preservation of the result more than anything else, something none of us can argue with considering the table position in a difficult away venue. Ronaldinho scoring the second against Auxerre in a match that was nailed down is far different than what happened on Saturday and I think it needed to be understood.
It would also help if Allegri had more dynamic options of the bench. As it stands there is not true CAM sub for Clarence so changes are often like for like, and with no real striker understudy on the bench the idea of getting Zlatan and Robinho off is also a challenging. At this point Allegri has shown that he would rather a fatigued player, playing in his natural role, than a player being shoe horned into a position on the pitch that is not for him, and potentially a detriment to the team. Considering the unbeaten run, and the position on the table, I can’t disagree.
Milan & Juventus Target Alessandro Matri Is Not For Sale – Cagliari President Massimo Cellino
Cagliari president Massimo Cellino won’t budge on keeping Alessandro Matri from Milan or Juventus…
Milan Rumours Regarding Palermo’s Massimo Maccarone Are Weak – Agent
Milan are not making an approach for Palermo strike Massimo Maccarone…
MORNING TRAINING SESSION UNDERWAY
MILANELLO - The team has begun training at 10.00 CET. Andrea Pirlo and Luca Antonini are working with the rest of the group. The second part of today’s double practice will take place in the afternoon.
Palermo Can Challenge For The Top Places With Javier Pastore – Luciano Moggi
Luciano Moggi believes Palermo can challenge Inter, Milan and Juventus for the top places…
RESUMPTION TODAY
MILAN - The Rossoneri are going to resume preparation for the match against Brescia at the Milanello Sport Centre today. The team is due go through a double training session, with the first part starting at 10.00 CET and the second at 15.00 CET.
Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri Cannot Guarantee Ronaldinho Regular Action
Milan tell Ronaldinho he cannot expect to be first choice without making an effort…
Milan, Chelsea And Manchester City Continue To Track Benfica’s David Luiz – Report
Thiago Silva will be used by Milan to persuade David Luiz to join from Benfica in January but interest from English clubs will be high for the defender.
Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri Hails Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Leadership Qualities
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has praised the leadership qualities Zlatan Ibrahimovic displays on and off the field.
BRESCIA 2010-2011: ANDREA CARACCIOLO IS THE LEADING SCORER
MILAN - At the moment, Andrea Caracciolo is Brescia’s leading scorer with 5 goals. His team, Milan’s next opponents in the championship, has scored a total of 11 goals in Serie A this season. Brescia have been eliminated from the TIM Italian Cup by Catania.
SERIE A: IBRAHIMOVIC’S FIRST GOAL CAME AGAINST BRESCIA
MILAN - Brescia is the first Italian team Ibra scored again. The historical event dates back to Round 1 of the 2004-2005 season. On 11 September 2004, Juventus beat Brescia 3-0 at the Rigamonti Stadium, with Ibrahimovic scoring the Bianconeri’s third goal.
TIM YOUTH TEAMS’ CUP: CITTADELLA-MILAN IN THE QUARTERFINAL
MILAN - Title-holders Milan are facing Cittadella in the quarterfinal of the TIM Youth Teams’ Cup. The first leg will take place in Veneto. The progressing team will play the winner of the quarterfinal between the winner of Empoli-Fiorentina and that of Sampdoria-Torino.
Alessandro Matri Won’t Leave Cagliari During The Winter – Roberto Donadoni
Cagliari boss Roberto Donadoni won’t let go of Alessandro Matri half-way through the season…
YOUTH SECTOR: 8 VICTORIES
MILAN - The Milan Youth Sector teams had quite a successful weekend, highlighted by the Youth Team’s win against Udinese. Click here for the results!
Carlo Garganese’s Calcio Debate: Milan Must Not Play Daniele Bonera & Here Is The Proof
The Rossoneri remain favourites for the Scudetto despite their draw with Sampdoria, but they can’t afford Daniele Bonera costing them any more points, writes Carlo Garganese…
Palermo Are As Good As Milan, Juventus & Inter – Walter Sabatini
Palermo are on the same level as Juventus, Milan & Inter, claims former director Walter Sabatini…
VETERANS OF VÉLEZ SARSFIELD AND MILAN TO PLAY FRIENDLY MATCH
On 1 December 1994, Milan played Vélez Sarsfield in Tokyo for the 33rd Intercontinental Cup. Now, sixteen years later, the two sides meet again, this time at the José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires, home to Vélez. The match has been organised as part of the centenary festivities celebrating the foundation of the Argentinian club on 1 January 1910.Like all events involving the Milan Veterans selection, this friendly match will benefit Milan Foundation. In fact, a part of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Rossoneri NPO.The Argentinian team will be represented by José Luis Félix Chilavert, Christian Bassedas, José Oscar Flores, Héctor Almandoz, Roberto Pompei, Patricio Camps, Marcelo Gómez, Omar Andrés Asad with coach Carlos Bianchi on the bench. The Milan Veteran selection will travel to Buenos Aires with an excellent squad: aside from Nelson Dida and Simone Braglia, who will share time between between the posts, also Franco Baresi, Billy Costacurta, Pietro Vierchowod, Giampiero Maini, Cafù, Christian Panucci, Stefano Nava, Roque Junior, Serginho, Stefano Eranio, Angelo Carbone, Mario Bortolazzi, Daniele Massaro and Maurizio Ganz will take to the field. The Rossoneri party arriving from Europe and Brazil will be joined by Argentine players Fernando Redondo, Josè Antonio Chamot, and Andrés Guglielminpietro.
RESUMPTION TOMORROW
MILAN - The Rossoneri are going to resume preparation for the match against Brescia at the Milanello Sport Centre tomorrow. The team is due go through a double training session, with the first part starting at 10.00 CET and the second at 15.00 CET.