Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is hopeful that Gareth Bale may return from injury for the Champions League return tie against AC Milan.

Carlo Ancelotti leapt to the defence of Gennaro Gattuso following the AC Milan midfielder’s headbutt on Tottenham coach Joe Jordan.

The Rossoneri Youth Team is visiting coach Pavanel’s Triestina side at the Visogliano Sports Centre tomorrow afternoon. The last encounter between Milan and Triestina dates back to October 16, when coach Stroppa’s lads thumped their opponents 5-0 in Round 5 of the championship, thanks to goals from Ganz (hat-trick), Pasini and Carmona. It was a clear win - with the biggest margin this season - for Milan, who’ll take to the field again tomorrow, determined to keep their unbeaten run alive. In fact, the young Rossoneri have won their last three games, scoring three in each encounter (Milan – Atalanta 3-2, Padova – Milan 1-3, Milan – Cagliari 3-1). The Rossoneri’s position in the standings has improved lately as the team has been rewarded with some precious points for their recent convincing performances. The Milan Youth Team’s win against Cagliari see coach Stroppa’s team leapfrog Brescia for fifth place (the Biancoblu lost to Chievo) and are now eying the fourth position, currently occupied by the Flying Donkies and Atalanta (with a four-poin lead ahead  of Milan). The team from Friuli, on the other hand, has had some ups and downs as they’re coming off a 4-2 loss to Udinese after a demolishing 7-1 win over Triestina one round earlier. Tomorrow’s match will be the last one for coach Stroppa’s team before the Viareggio Cup, where the Rossoneri are due to play their first game on Tuesday, at 15.00 CET, against Nagoya Grampus from Japan. The team will arrive in Viareggio to reach its accommodation on Monday evening, after going through a training session and having lunch at Milanello.

Juventus sporting director Beppe Marotta has laughed off rumours that the Turin club might try to sign Andrea Pirlo from AC Milan.

MILAN - The disciplinary situation regarding the upcoming Chievo-Milan Serie A game (Bentegodi Stadium, Verona on Sunday, 15.00 CET) is as follows:Milan: no players suspended; one yellow card away from suspension: Bonera, Pirlo.Chievo Verona: Mandelli and Sardo suspended. One yellow card away from suspension: Andreolli, Cesar, Mantovani, Pulzetti, Rigoni.

MILAN - Click here for all the necessary information about the sale of Milan-Napoli (February 28) tickets! Tickets are going on sale tomorrow (Friday, February 18) at the branches and ATMs of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group. The following restriction applies to the sales: residents of the Region of Campania, except for Fans’ Membership card holders, are not allowed to purchase tickets for the match. Our e-ticketing service will available for supporters living abroad from February 18 to 24. Click here to find out more!

Tottenham coach Joe Jordan has branded Gennaro Gattuso “pathetic” after the AC Milan midfielder claimed a racist remark provoked his headbutt this week.

Tottenham coach Joe Jordan has branded Gennaro Gattuso “pathetic” after the AC Milan midfielder claimed a racist remark provoked his headbutt this week.

MILAN - Interviewed after today’s press conference held by A.C. Milan and MSC Crociere, former Rossoneri captain Franco Baresi talked about what he expects of the upcoming Chievo-Milan Serie A game: “It will be tough. Chievo are dangerous at home, they’re doing fine from a physical point of view, they run a lot and they’re organised, so we need to prepare well. Some players who didn’t play in the Champions League could get into the team this time, so we’ll be fresh and we’ll have to play to win.”

MILAN - As reported by Chievo’s official website, the Gialloblu played a friendly match at Paschiera today. Coach Piolo’s men scored a whopping ten goals against Abbiategrasso’s amateurs. Moscardelli, Jokic and Thereau (twice) got on the scoresheet in the first half (4-0), while after the break substitutes, Dimitrijevic and Uribe (twice) continued to scoring. Also Sardo, Granoche and Fernandes grabbed second half goals. Andreolli, Bogliacino and Pellissier were rested, but the trio is expected to re join the group in tomorrow’s training session, set to take place at Peschiera at 15.00 CET.

A.C.Milan Chief Medical Officer Dr Gianluca Melegati communicates that Daniela Bonera has suffered a strain of the flexor hallucis longus muscle in his left big toe. The player’s recovery time will be determined in the coming days.Christian Abbiati went through all the drills of today’s training session with the rest of the squad and therefore can be considered available for selection.

Tottenham Hotspur fullback Vedran
Corluka is likely to miss several weeks of first-team action
with an ankle injury sustained during Tuesday’s stormy 1-0
Champions League victory against AC Milan in the San Siro.

AC Milan managing director Adriano Galliani claims the headbutting incident which saw AC Milan vice-captain Gennaro Gattuso charged with gross unsporting misconduct has been blown out of proportion.

MILAN - Click here to read what Mian CEO Adriano had to say in his press conference today as Milan and MSC renewed their sponsorship agreement!

MILAN - Milan CEO Adriano Galliani, interviewed at the end of the International Tourism Expo, where he signed the renewal of Milan’s sponsorship agreement with MSC Crociere, talked about Gattuso’s incident and the team’s progress in the championship. Here is what he had to say:ON GATTUSO’S CASE:“Yesterday, Milan made its stance clear regarding this issue. I can just repeat that it was an episode that we didn’t like, an episode which we cannot accept, but it was just a moment of madness so it’s understandable. Gattuso has appeared in 104 international cup matches and has been sent off only once. And as for bookings, he’s numbers are under the European average regarding yellow cards collected by defensive midfielders, which he is. He was provoked. Of course, even when provoked, a player shouldn’t react like Rino did. But under no circumstances would I criminalise this incident, it was just an episode. Definitely not a nice one, but an episode we have stigmatized. That’s all. This is not something that could cancel out or undermine the successes of the 25-year-long Berlusconi era. On February 20, that is, next Sunday will be the 25th anniversary of our takeover at Milan. 25 years of impeccable behaviour cannot be erased by a second or two and I absolutely wouldn’t criminalise this episode. I repeat Rino Gattuso, who joined us in 1999, right after the league title won with Zaccheroni on the bench, has played 104 games in Europe and has been sent off only once. I’ve looked for it. Do you know why he was sent off? Because of a blow he gave to a current Milan player, Ibrahimovic, after the Swede held him during a Milan-Ajax match in September 2003. The one from Tuesday was an episode that we didn’t like. I spoke to Rino yesterday, but let’s not blow it out of proportion. It was just an episode and has to be treated as such”.More to follow…

Cesare Beggi’s National Allievi earned an important win at the Rigamonti Sports Centre, Brescia. The Rossoneri youngsters played a great game, putting in a quality performance. Plenty of scoring chances were created in the first half, with the best one missed by Boateng, who, faced only by opposing goalkeeper Marson, couldn’t find the net in the 40th minute. The course of the game didn’t change after the break: the Rossoneri kept dominating the play, but this time Boateng took his chance: he hit the back of the net with a left-footed effort after taking a pass from Spaziale, “It was a good game, we did well right from the kick-off - commented Beggi - the goal arrived in the second half, but in reality we should have been up at half-time. We showed our strengths in the best possible way, with accurate passing and great intensity. I’m satisfied with the boys, everything worked to perfection.”After today’s win the Rossoneri have 43 points in the championship.

Coach De Vecchi’s Regional Giovanissimi team defeated Brescia 4-0 in the two teams’ recent league match. Modic opened the scoring with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area, which ended up in the top corner. Also Cutrone, Careccia and La Ferrara got on the scoresheet for a rampant Milan. Following their success against Brescia, De Vecchi’s team is leading championship with a 100% record.

This afternoon Milan’s Regional Giovanissimi 98 side will play Brescia in a championship encounter at Vismara. After a 3-0 victory over Atalanta, the young Rossoneri are looking to make it two in a row against coach Lazzarin’s team.In the meantime, Carmine Nunziata’s Berretti side is ready to take on Polish team Legia Warszava in an international friendly. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 16.00 CET, in via dei Missaglia 117.

MILAN - Click here to view the photos taken at the press conference at BIT as Milan and MSC Crociere renewed their sponsorship agreement!