MILAN - Milan are in the quarter finals of Europe’s top competition for the first time in 4 years. The Rossoneri had some problems in the first half and went to the changing rooms three goals down but did better in the second half and even came close to scoring on a few occasions.
As expected the home side came out quick and went ahead after only 7 minutes through Koscielny who found space in the area and managed to get the ball past Abbiati with his header. Milan pushed forward immediately but were unable to make themselves look dangerous in Arsenal’s area. The home side on thew other hand were able to take advantage of some lapses in the Milan defence and van Persie looked dangerous on two occasions with Abbiati doing extremely well against the Dutchman. Arsenal continued to push forward and Milan had problems getting out of their won half. On 25’, the second goal came. This time it was Rosicky who took full advantage of a rare error from Thiago Silva who put the ball past Abbiati with a well place right footed shot. Milan had trouble getting back into the game and on 43’ Chamberlain found some space on the right and worked his way into the box. Nocerino and Mesbah sandwiched him and the ref gave a penalty and Van Bommel made no mistake. Milan had a great chance to put the game beyond reach before half time through Stephan El Shaarawy who put his shot just wide.
Milan took to the field in the second half with more conviction with the Rossoneri looking for the single goal that would put the game to bed. Ibrahimovic and El Shaarawy both try but can’t find it. Arsenal looked dangerous on 58. A counter attack put Gervinho inside the area and Abbiati pulled off not one but two miracles. First he saved the initial shot that took a huge deflection, then he saved the follow up from Van Persie. Milan continued to look for the goal. First El Shaarawy has a shot saved after running almost the entire length of the pitch. The it was Ibrahimovic who brought the best out of Sczesny in the Arsenal goal. Nocerino had the best chance for the visitors. A ball played across the box by Aquilani (on for El Shaarawy) seemed to just need a touch to knock it in but Sczesny was there. Ibrahimovic was also unlucky with a late effort while Arsenal seemed to run out of steam as the game went on.
After three minutes of stoppage time, the whistle went and thanks to that amazing first leg performance, Milan are through to the semi-finals.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - The Rossoneri are through to the quarter finals of the Champions League. It ended 3-0 at the Emirates stadium after first half goals from Koscielny on 8', Rosicky on 26' and Van Persie (pen) on 43'. Milan played a solid second half and go through thanks to the 4-0 win at the San Siro.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Arsenal get the start they wanted as Milan suffer a nightmare first half. A goal from Koscielny after 7', another from Rosicky on 26' and a penalty from Van Persie on 43'. A big second half to come.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Here's how the two teams will take to the pitch shortly at the Emirates stadium for Arsenal-Milan:ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Rosicky, Walcott, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Van Persie.MILAN: Abbiati, Abate, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Mesbah, Nocerino, Van Bommel, Emanuelson, Robinho, Ibrahimovic, El Shaarawy.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - The gates at the Emirates stadium have been opened ahead of Arsenal-Milan this evening at 20.45.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - The team meeting has come to a close and players and staff are now on their way to the Emirates stadium for this evening's Champions league Arsenal-Milan at 20.45 (Italian time).
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Three Dutchmen are expected to play this evening. Arsenal have Van Persie while Milan can count on Van Bommel and Emanuelson.Clarence Seedorf misses out after picking up an injury in the firsr leg at the San Siro.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Milan and Arsenal have scored 108 goals between them in their respective leagues this season. Arsenal 55 goals in 27 matches and Milan 53 goals in 26 matches.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Milan will play their 350th match in UEFA competition this evening at Arsenal.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Kevin Prince Boateng turns 25. Best wishes to the midfielder from everyone connected to Milan.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - At the Emirates Stadium Massimiliano Allegri talked about how Milan would approach the match against Arsenal.The coach said: "I think we will play with three strikers, we do not want anyone out of their natural role. We cannot look back at the 4-0, Arsenal will want to bounce back and they are a formidable team. The match against La Coruna should make us realize that the game needs to be played in the right way." "We cannot make any mistakes and we want to get through at all costs. El Shaarawy is developing but has to learn. I thought it was the right thing to do to play him tomorrow to help his development I agree with Ibrahimovic when he says that this team is more mature than last year."He added: "We know how English teams play, so it's going to be important to have the right approach to the game, with great attention and a great pace because I'm sure they'll try to raise the pace and try to find an early goal."I think we need to step on the pitch fired up for 90 minutes without thinking what we did in the first leg. I would never expect my team would feel more relaxed. In football, anything can happen."
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - One of Italian football’s greatest names, Gianni Rivera, is to receive the UEFA President’s Award for 2011 at a special ceremony to be held on Monday 12 March in Milan, Italy.
Rivera, whose playmaking brilliance thrilled the crowds and brought success to AC Milan and Italy during a superb career in the 1960s and early 1970s, will be presented with the award by UEFA President Michel Platini during a ceremony at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza next Monday at 12.00CET.
Speaking about the award, Michel Platini said: “Gianni Rivera is surely one of the great ambassadors for football at both club and country level, having worn the AC Milan jersey over 500 times and represented his country at four FIFA World Cups. He was also one of the greatest passers of all time who was known for his impeccable dribbling and distribution. In addition, Gianni Rivera was a true gentleman, both on and off the field of play, and he has remained so to this day. It gives me great pleasure to honour him with the UEFA President’s Award for 2011.
Rivera joined Milan from US Alessandria Calcio 1912 in 1960, meeting immediate success. He won Serie A in 1962 and went on to lift the European Champion Clubs’ Cup in 1963. He then repeated this winning streak – with another league title in 1968 the prelude to him lifting the Rossoneri’s second European Cup in 1969 as captain.
This triumph earned him individual plaudits and he was awarded the France Football Ballon d’Or in 1969.
Rivera played a total of 501 Serie A matches for Milan, scoring 160 goals. Internationally, he represented Italy 60 times, scoring 14 goals. He participated in four FIFA World Cups – 1962, 1966, 1970 and 1974 – and was part of the Squadra Azzurra that won the UEFA European Football Championship in 1968.
Gianni Rivera, now aged 68, is the latest in a distinguished group of football greats to collect the UEFA President’s Award – a tribute to outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities. Recent recipients include Raymond Kopa (2010), Eusébio (2009), Sir Bobby Charlton (2008) and Alfredo di Stéfano (2007).
Media wishing to attend the award ceremony are kindly requested to contact the Milan press office by emailing giorgia.buizza@acmilan.it and riccardo.coli@acmilan.it no later than Friday 9 March. The ceremony will be followed by a photo opportunity on stage and a press conference attended by Gianni Rivera, Michel Platini and Milan vice-president and CEO, Adriano Galliani.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - The team will do some stretching this morning and then have lunch before leaving for the Emirates stadium at 17.15 local time.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Urby Emanuelson was also present at the press conference: "It doesn't matter if I play in the league or the Champions League, in whatever role. The biggest difference is that the Champions League is very fascinating. It is always nice to come and play in England, I have just been there with the Dutch national side. Here players are motivated, football is fast, facing with them is exciting,"
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - At the Emirates Stadium Massimiliano Allegri talked about tomorrow's game: "I think we will play with three strikers, we do not want anyone out of their natural role. We cannot look back at the 4-0, Arsenal will want to bounce back and they are a formidable team. The match against La Coruna should make us realize that the game needs to be played in the right way. We cannot make any mistakes and we want to get through at all costs. El Shaarawy is developing but has to learn. I thought it was the right thing to do to play him tomorrow to help his development I agree with Ibrahimovic when he says that this team is more mature than last year."
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Arsene Wenger is optimistic that Arsenal can give a good account of themselves against Milan after their 4-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League round of last sixteen.
The Gunners manager said: "We have a lot of absentees but we will give a real go. We are a side that can score goals and we have proved that.
"If Milan can score four goals then so can we. The target is to find a good balance between attacking and defending because we have a double target - not to concede as well.
"We have had a week where we caught Tottenham in third place and now I know my players will have their pride and they'll come out tomorrow to give a different performance."
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - The squad landed at Luton at 16.40 local time and Allegri and Emanuelson will hold a press conference in the evening.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - The squad have left Malpensa aiport for London where they will play Arsenal tomorrow evening.
Read the original Article Here
(IN THE PHOTO: Alberto Aquilani training ahead of the first leg against Arsenal)MILANELLO - Milan trained in the rain this morning at Milanello.The team worked agility and then played a match where coach Allegri tried out different line-ups he could employ against Arsenal. Antonini and Aquilani trained with the team while as scheduled Emanuelson trained in the gym but was named in the squad.Allegri called up 21 players for the trip to London: Abbiati, Amelia, Roma, Abate, Antonini, Bonera, Mesbah, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Yepes, Aquilani, Calvano (n.54), Emanuelson, Innocenti (n.35), Nocerino, Van Bommel, El Shaarawy, Ganz (n.56), Ibrahimovic, Robinho.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Massimiliano Allegri has named a 21-man squad for the Champions League match at Arsenal: Abbiati, Amelia, Roma, Abate, Antonini, Bonera, Mesbah, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Yepes, Aquilani, Calvano (n.54), Emanuelson, Innocenti (n.35), Nocerino, Van Bommel, El Shaarawy, Ganz (n.56), Ibrahimovic, Robinho.
Read the original Article Here
MILANELLO - Nineteen players plus the three goalkeepers. The team trained in the rain at Milanello. Alberto Aquilani trained with the full squad as the team went through their paces for the match against Arsenal at the Emirates Satdium tomorrow.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Here is the injury update from the coach: "Boateng is on the mend and if all goes well we will be available for Parma. Nesta has to be evaluated. Gattuso, in days, not many, will be back playing. Maxi Lopez should be available the week after Milan-Lecce."
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Massimiliano Allegri: "I do not have many options in midfield, with three midfielders available. Apart from Aquilani returning from a long stop, he does not have many minutes in his legs and could come in handy during the game. Mesbah could play in midfield, but tomorrow I will assess whether to change the midfield."
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Ahead of tomorrow's Champions League match at Arsenal Massimiliano Allegri: "Emanuelson is doing quite well on the injury front, Aquilani is ready for the bench."
Read the original Article Here
MILANELLO - Milan gathered at 10.30 at Milanello to start training at 11.00 ahead of their trip to Arsenal.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Here, in addition to the recent formation on the injured players and the likely line-up in the Breaking News section of the official website, are some comments from Massimiliano Allegri today: "Tomorrow may seem like an easy game, but only in appearance. In reality it is not. We must have great concentration, we must not underestimate the game. We have a great opportunity to reach the quarter-finals and we will do everything we can to get there. Ibrahimovic? Hopefully he will win the Ballon d'Or, although much will depend on the results that we achieve this year. Along with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the three of them are at this moment the best players in the world. In any case this is not Ibrahimovic or Allegri's Milan, Milan has been built by the club that in a year and half have brought in Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Boateng, 20 players in total. And in this year and a half, thanks to this, we have won the Scudetto, the Italian Super Cup and now we are fighting on all three fronts."
Read the original Article Here
MILAN – Milan will be up against Arsenal once again on Tuesday evening in the Champions League last 16 after winning the first leg at the San Siro. The Gunners are back in form in the Premier League. They lost 2-0 to Sunderland in the FA Cup but then beat Tottenham 5-2 at the Emirates and yesterday came away from Anfield with a 2-1 win yesterday. Arsenal have 49 points and are in the Champions League zone.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - After the win over Palermo, Massimiliani spoke to the Milan Channel.
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - Here are the results from this afternoon's games: Palermo-Milan 0-4 (Saturday)Juventus-Chievo 1-1 (Saturday)Parma-Napoli 1-2Fiorentina-Cesena 2-0Lecce-Genoa 2-2Roma-Lazio 1-2Siena-Cagliari 3-0Udinese-Atalanta 0-0Bologna-Novara (at 18.30)Inter-Catania (at 20.45)
Read the original Article Here
MILAN - The referee for Arsenal-Milan at the Emirates stadium will be Damir Skomina (Slovenia). He'll be assisted by Primoz Arhar and Marko Stancin. Mitja Zganec will be fourth man.
Read the original Article Here