MILAN - Only 2,000 tickets are still available for tomorrow's Milan-Bologna Serie A game. Remember that ticket offices will be open until 18.00 CET today and from 10.00 to 15.00 CET tomorrow. It is advisable to come to the stadium early to avoid inconveniences, such as traffic jam and long queues at the turnstiles, caused by the huge crowd expected for tomorrow's game.
Monthly Archives: April 2011
AC Milan’s Massimilano Allegri reveals he has discussed signing Roma’s Philippe Mexes and Olympique de Marseille’s Taye Taiwo
During his press conference, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted the club have discussed signing Marseille defender Taye Taiwo and Roma’s Philippe Mexes
Inter cling to faint title hopes after late Pazzini brace
A stoppage-time double from
substitute Giampaolo Pazzini gave Inter Milan a sensational 2-1
comeback victory at battling Cesena on Saturday to thwart rivals
AC Milan’s hopes of celebrating the Serie A title on Sunday.
YOUTH TEAMS: BRESCIA-MILAN 0-4
MILAN - The Rossoneri Youth Team beat Brescia 4-0 in the last round of the regular season thanks to a first half goal from Fossati and a hat-trick from Palibrk. The Slovenian now has 6 goals to his name. This was Milan’s eleventh win in thirteen league games in the second half of the season and as a result coach Stroppa’s team rose to finish third with 54 points.
QUOTES FROM ALBERTO MALESANI
MILAN - As reported by Bologna’s official website, Rossoblu coach Alberto Malesani had the following to say about his team’s upcoming match against Milan in today’s pre-game press conference: “It’s not granted that Milan will win tomorrow. It will be a difficult game, but Bologna have already managed to get points against big teams. Milan may win the Scudetto tomorrow, but we’re motivated, too, as we need a good result to come out of this difficult moment. We’re aware of the fact that our opponents are superior to us: the important thing is making up for it by being humble and putting in a great performance”.
YOUTH TEAMS: BRESCIA-MILAN 0-2 AT HALF-TIME
MILAN - After 45 minutes of play, the Milan Youth Team are leading hosts Brescia 2-0 at the San Filippo Stadium. The Rossoneri had a flying start and took an early with Fossasti’s long-range shot. The young Italian scored his 8th goal in 22 games. In the 20th minute, Carmona came close to doubling the guests’ lead, but he failed to beat the Brescia goalkeeper one-on-one. Right before the break, Palibrk, who came on to replace Bertone, made it 2-0.
MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI’S PRE-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
MILANELLO - Click here to read what Massimiliano Allegri had to say in his pre-game press conference!
AC Milan’s Massimiliano Allegri: We must beat Bologna and forget about Inter’s result
The former Cagliari coach has claimed his side will not be relying on Inter slipping up against Cesena tomorrow with victory over Bologna imperative
YOUTH TEAMS: BRESCIA-MILAN, OFFICIAL LINE-UPS
MILAN - Here are the official Brescia and Milan starting elevens for the youth teams' championship game about to kick-off:BRESCIA: Sestito, Kanalu, Stankovic, Welbeckursal, Baresi, Santoni, Miljevic, Lasik, Magrassi, Pedrinelli, Tassi.MILAN: Piscitelli, De Sciglio, De Vito, Albertazzi, Bertoni, Pasini, Verdi, Santonocito, Carmona, Fossati, Samperisi.The Rossoneri have already qualified for the playoffs as in the worst case scenario they'll finish the regular season as the best fourth-placed team.
SAN SIRO ALMOST SOLD OUT
MILAN - Only 2,000 tickets are still available for tomorrow's Milan-Bologna Serie A game. Remember that ticket offices will be open until 18.00 CET today and from 10.00 to 15.00 CET tomorrow. It is advisable to come to the stadium early to avoid inconveniences, such as traffic jam and long queues at the turnstiles, caused by the huge crowd expected for tomorrow's game.
ALBERTO MALESANI NAMES BOLOGNA SQUAD
MILAN - Bologna coach Alberto Malesani has called up the following players for his team's upcoming game against Milan:Goalkeepers: Lupatelli, Viviano.Defenders: Britos, Cherubin, Moras, Morleo, Portanova, Rubin.Midfielders: Casarini, Della Rocca, Ekdal, Krhin, Mudingayi, Mutarelli, Radovanovic, Siligardi, Ramirez.Forwards: Di Vaio, Gimenez, Meggiorini, Paponi.
FINISHING TOUCHES IN THE AFTERNOON
MILANELLO - The Rossoneri were back on the training field at 11.00 CET yesterday morning as the preparation for Sunday’s game against Bologna continued.First, coach Allegri had his players do 20 minutes of keep ball. Afterwards, the Rossoneri worked on ball possession for another 20 minutes before 30 minutes of tactical exercises.The last part of the session was dedicated to a match amongst the squad, 11 against 11 on half of the pitch.Gattuso and Van Bommel followed personalised training programmes aside from some light running.Also Pato went through personalised drills.Massimiliano Allegri's pre-game press conference is scheduled for 15.00 CET, while the team is due to start training at 17.00 CET.
YOUTH TEAM: MILAN FINISH REGULAR SEASON IN BRESCIA
MILAN - One week after the first team's away game against Brescia, now it's the Youth Team's turn to visit the Rondinelle. Click here to find out more!
MILAN-BOLOGNA PRE-GAME PRESS CONFERENCES
MILAN - As for the two teams' daily schedule, Bologna are due to train behind closed doors in the afternoon, while Milan's last practice ahead of tomorrow's game is set to start at 17.00 CET. Rossoblu coach Alberto Malesani is going to talk to the media at 13.00 CET; Massilimiliano Allegri's press conference is scheduled for 15.00 CET.
SAN SIRO TICKET OFFICES OPEN TODAY, TURNSTILES TO OPEN AT 13.00 CET TOMORROW
MILAN - Tickets for the Milan-Bologna match are available at the San Siro ticket offices, which are open from 10.00 to 18.00 CET today, April 30. Eventual residual tickets will be on sale tomorrow with ticket offices open from 10.00 to 15.00 CET. Remember that reduced price tickets and tickets for children under 7 have already sold out, and that everyone - even the youngest - need a valid ticket to be admitted into the stadium. The turnstiles are scheduled to open at 13.00 CET tomorrow. For further info click here!
TRAINING SESSION TOMORROW
MILANELLO - Starting at 17.00 CET today, the Rossoneri are due to go through their final training session ahead of tomorrow’s game against Bologna.
Dynamic AC Milan target Taye Taiwo signs off from Marseille in dramatic fashion
Goal.com examines the dramatic events the Nigerian has lived through in recent days while pondering his strengths and weaknesses ahead of potential Serie A move
Serie A Preview: AC Milan – Bologna
The league leaders will host Bologna at San Siro on Sunday with one hand already on the Scudetto
Pele: I want to convince Santos’ Ganso to stay in Brazil
The legendary and World Cup winning Brazilian footballer is out to keep the prodigy from leaving the country and moving to Europe, just as he stopped Neymar previously
AC Milan’s Mario Yepes: Consistency is our best quality
Defender claims that the Italians’ ability to maintain their consistency has been vital to their championship success
Finish Strong
I don’t mean to rain on everyone’s parade but I am going to be brutally honest here, Leo or no Leo, I don’t see Inter dropping points on the weekend. By now we all know that if Milan win and Inter drop points then we can get the mathematical reassurance we have all been waiting so patiently for, and crown our AC Milan Scudetto champions. Seven long years we have waited, and while it sure was nice to see Paolo hoist Old Big Ears one last time in 2007, watching Inter win title after title, and surpassing us in the number of Scudettos won was downright painful. While winning this thing is step one to correcting the Serie A Universe, if we have to wait another week so be it, it doesn’t mean Milan can’t and shouldn’t win, but I don’t want anyone’s help when we finally take back what is ours.
With that said, Bologna is no easy task. A team that has been kicked, beaten, and even docked three points, and what have they done? They have done what a good team should do, grin and bear it, and the points they have earned this season often times in the most desperate of situations are surely deserved, and for that I respect a team like Bologna. More so than some of the other teams in Serie A, who can’t seem to be accountable for their own shortcomings, blaming everyone but themselves for their current position. For this alone, I don’t take Bologna lightly, and neither should Allegri.
As I watch the team sheet swell back to where it should be after the injury epidemic, I am bit torn as to whom the first team should be. We can pretty much assure that Ambro will go back to the CM role he dominated before Van Bommel took his place due to injury, but there are still some questions about the LM role and the strikers that Allegri will answer for us on the weekend. Seedorf has been excellent at LM and with a full weeks rest he will have fresh legs to operate on, the other option is Pirlo, and while many of us want to see Andrea back in the Red and Black, you couldn’t argue if Seedorf gets the nod with his recent play. Who am I to discredit a player who has left it on the pitch each and every match since being given the role? It simply wouldn’t be fair.
As for strikers with Pato training this week and Pippo as well, I would be lying if I wasn’t salivating to see Pippo see out this season the way he has so many before it; with a flurry a goals in the month of May. If fit he gets the nod for me, and the mere idea of him and Cassano working together intrigues me, but in the same sense you can’t discount everything Robinho has done for this team, even when he isn’t hitting the broad side of a barn his work rate has been stellar and I can never argue for his inclusion. The CAM role is up for debate and with the team at home, it may be Robinho who slots in behind Pippo and Cassano, making more of an XMAS tree than the conventional 4-3-1-2 we have all come to know and love, either way this team is plenty capable to take care of business and put us one step closer. My lineup:
Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Silva, Urby; Rino, Ambro, Seedorf; Robinho; Cassano, Pippo
So I went for the jugular, Prince looks like he could use the rest and with him and Pirlo on the bench you can change the dynamic of the match at any given moment. Plus seeing Cassano and Pippo together on the pitch is something I am sure many any Italian have dreamed of, so why not. While Allegri could use him as a sub, it may very well be his last few matches as a Milan player and no reason why he can’t see them out if fit to play. The big surprise from me is Urby at LB, if ever there was a game where this could make sense it is this one. His pace can prove effective, and if Ambro can play as he did before his injury Milan should have no worries. The kid needs to show if he can do it, and there is no time like the present, some may say it is risky, but it is a calculated one. Di Vaio is dangerous, but he prefers the opposite side so Nesta and Abate will be kept busy, why not let Urby have a crack at the left flank?
In the end, as I have said in the past, it matters little who plays, as long as they come prepared to do what is asked of them and put Milan one step closer to the goal. This team has come a long way; we endured an embarrassing season last year under Leonardo. We have shed some dead weight in a long forgotten soul, and we have come out stronger and more balanced than Milan teams of the past few seasons. One of our own will be in the stands for this one, Avia will see that the ACMilan Offside Ultras will be out in full force, but the job easy, finish strong.
BRESCIA-MILAN IN LAST ROUND OF YOUTH TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON
The Milan Youth Team is going to play its last regular season match against Brescia tomorrow afternoon. After a stellar second half of the championship with ten wins, one draw and only one loss, Giovanni Stroppa’s side is currently fourth with 51 points, behind Varese, Atalanta (55) and Inter (53).Even though the Rossoneri have no more chance of qualifying for the final phase without going through the playoffs (the group winners and the runner-ups automatically progress to the finals, while the third- and fourth-placed teams and the two best fifth-placed side will fight it out for the last two available berth in the playoffs), coach Stroppa’s lads are looking to end the regular season on a high.This year Montecatini Terme will host the final phase of the Youth Teams’ Championship.This year’s playoff games are scheduled for May 7 (quarterfinals) and 14 (semi-finals), while the finals will be held between June 4 and 13, the day of the grand final.
Mathieu Flamini urges AC Milan to sign Olympique Marseille’s Taye Taiwo
Flamini backs club to bring in Nigerian international Taiwo from French club Marseille in the summer transfer window.
MILAN REGIONAL ALLIEVI MAKE FERROLI TROPHY DEBUT AGAINST ARSENAL
The 22nd edition of the prestigious Ferroli Trophy is set to start today and will finish on Sunday, May 1. This year, the long list of participants includes as many as three English teams: Mahcnester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. The biggest curiosity about this edition is the participation of an arabic team, Aspire Academy from Qatar, who wished to take part in this year’s competition in order to measure themselves against the best European youth teams. Italy will be represented by Milan, Inter, Atalanta, Juventus, Vicenza, Chievo and Hellas Verona and hosts Sambonifacese.Omar Danesi’s Milan team is set to make their debut in the competition against Arsenal this evening, at the Renzo Tizian Stadium, San Bonifacio. Tomorrow, the young Rossoneri will play local side San Bonifacese before finishing the group stage with a match against Aspire Qatar on Saturday, April 30.Here’s the young Rossoneri’s detailed schedule:Thursday, 28 April 2011 Milan - Arsenal, at 21.00 CET, Field of San Bonifacio, Renzo Tizian Stadium.Friday, 29 April 2011 Milan - Sambonifacese, Field of Soave, Via S. Matteo, Soave (Vr).Saturday, 30 April 2011 Milan - Aspire Qatar, at 11.15 CET, Field of San Bonifacio, Renzo Tizian Stadium.SEMI-FINALSWINNER OF GROUP A VS WINNER OF GROUP B at 19.45 CET, Field of San Bonifacio, Renzo Tizian Stadium.WINNER OF GROUP C VS BEST RUNNER-UP, at 21.00 CET, Field of San Bonifacio, Renzo Tizian Stadium.Sunday, 1 May 2011 FINAL16.30 CET, Field of San Bonifacio, Renzo Tizian Stadium.
Benfica’s Rui Costa: Fabio Coentrao will only be sold for the right price
Benfica chief warns Real Madrid and Bayern Munich that Coentrao will only be sold if his valuation is met by interested parties
BOLOGNA: TREATMENT FOR BUSCE’ AND PEREZ
MILAN - As reported by Bologna’s official website, bolognafc.it, the Rossoblu’s daily training session at the Galli Sports Centre has come to an end. Buscè and Perez underwent treatment. Gaston Ramirez didn’t train out of precaution after bruising his right ankle during yesterday’s practice.
ROMA-MILAN: INFO ON AWAY SECTOR TICKET
Away sector tickets for the Roma-Milan Serie A game (scheduled for 20.45 CET, May 7) are going on sale at 15.00 CET on Monday, May 2, and will be available at the Lottomatica network. Tickets cost €31 apiece and sale is reserved for Cuore Rossonero Card holders only. Click here!
CASSANO ON FORZA MILAN! COVER
MILANELLO - This morning at Milanello, Antonio Cassano met thirty readers of Milan’s monthly magazine, Forza Milan! Antonio answered their questions and pleasantly chatted with them. The Italy star from Bari will grace the cover of the 2011 May edition of the Rossoneri magazine.
VIVIANO: "IT WILL BE TOUGH ON SUNDAY"
MILAN - Bologna’s official website, bolognafc.it, has quoted goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, who has talked about the Rossoblu’s upcoming game against Milan: “Most likely we’ll spend of the game in our own half: if Milan will play as they know, it will be tough for us. We’ll need to take the most out of our chances. It won’t be easy, but we want to get a good result”.
SWEDEN BOSS VISITS MILANELLO
MILANELLO - Erik Hamren, the coach of the Swedish national team, visited Milanello this morning to attend the Rossoneri’s training session. At the end of the practice, the Sweden boss had a short conversation with Ibrahimovic and Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri. Click here for the photos!