MILAN - Here are some statements, translated literally, and drawn from the interview released by Pato to Galvão Bueno during the Esporte Espectacular programme broadcast by Rede Globo last Sunday: "I'm working hard and I am thinking about the Olympics."During the last injury, Pato went to the U.S. to carry out some tests in order to help his return to fitness. The young Brazilian believes that all that work has played a role, despite the return to the pitch has been interrupted by another injury: "The decision to play at Barcelona was taken by everyone, including myself."Now, the goal is the Seleção. And on his relationship with Mano Menezes: "The only way I have to talk to him by showing what I can do on the pitch. I try to do my best."Despite the frequent injuries, Pato is determined to return to his best: "I live for football: it is my job, my life. When I can run, kick the ball, I always do it with joy, smiling. It is what I want to do. I want to get back playing well, scoring goals and making my contribution to help Milan and the Seleção."During the programme Robinho and Massimiliano Allegri praised the Rossoneri number seven. In particular, Allegri said: "Pato is a very important player. It has been a season in which he has played very little. He is very young and I think he could become the best in the world."
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Happy Birthday to Franco Baresi. The legendary club captain who is a symbol of the Rossoneri around the world, turns 52 today.
MILAN - There is a special birthday in the Milan household today. Franco Baresi turns 52. He was born on May 8th, 1960 in Travagliato, in the province of Brescia.Franco Baresi has always been the symbol of the Rossoneri colours and all that they represent. He still has much to give to all lovers of football, Milan fans and not more than ten years after his farewell as a player, the same great emotions which he gave when he played and won with the Milan jersey.A true ambassador of Milan who is universally recognized, as evidenced by the many fans who always flock to see him play for Milan Glorie. The latest example came on March 30, at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow in Scotland, where 46,000 spectators filled the stands for a sell-out match.But Franco Baresi is also much more. There are in fact many projects and charities linked to Milan and Milan Foundation in which he is involved.Happy Birthday Captain! Best wishes from the heart of all Milan fans.
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Milan, May 8, 2012: The official AC Milan page on facebook, www.facebook.com / acmilan, has now reached 10 million "like", a very important number and achievement, which confirms the Rossoneri prmacy of the Italian facebook account.
To celebrate and thank the 10 million fans who daily follow the updates, previews, exclusive videos and pictures posted on facebook, Milan has involved the entire team: the Milan players are in fact the "testimonial" of a viral communications campaign amongst the online community dedicated to (# areyouin)."Are you in?" Is the claim contained in a special commemorative shirt made for the occasion and worn by Allegri and the entire team (the gallery of photos of the team during the shoot can be viewed on the facebook page, while the backstage video is available on youtube.com / acmilan). In addition, a limited number of shirts celebrating "10 million" are on sale at store.acmilan.com, the official online store of the Club.
To demonstrate the internationality of the Milan brand, the 10 million users are from around the world (USA, Indonesia and Brazil to name a few countries). For this reason, and with the aim of increasing the engagement of supporters with the club, the content published on the page Rossoneri are often "localized" and translated into different languages of those supporters. Facebook allows you to shorten the geographical distance, therefore, involve the community and have a direct and exclusive interaction with users.
The Rossoneri's digital strategy is increasingly focused on social media, plus Facebook, Milan is on twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Google + and will soon also be on Pinterest. In addition, Milan is also active within the major social networking platforms in the Chinese market, with an official account at Sina.com and Tencent, online since last week.
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MILAN - At the players union meeting today, Rino Gattuso had this to say: "Even when you win there's always something to change in a team. Milan is an fairly old team, and something needs to change. My contract? I don't know, I'll talk with Galliani. It's been a strange year for me. I want to keep on playing otherwise I'll just play the role of father to my children. It's not the contract that's important for me, it's to feel alive."
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MILAN - President Berlusconi spoke today of his trust in the club and in Massimiliano Allegri: "Milan will get back to winning and Allegri has a two year contract with us.I don't see why there's all this dicussion", said the President from Moscow today.
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MILAN - When in 2003, Joan Laporta took over as President of Barcelona, his right hand man was Ferran Soriano, a young manager from the telecommunications industry. The club which had been in serious finanacial difficulty and had finished the previous season in 6th place, started to grow into what the club is today.On Friday 11 May, Ferran Soriano will be in Milan where at 18.30, he will present his book "The Ball Never Goes In By Chance" in piazza Duomo. He'll be joined by Umberto Gandini of A.C. Milan and Fabio Caressa of Sky Sports. Entrance is free.
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MILAN - Tickets are now on sale for Milan-Novara on Sunday at 15.00
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MILAN - La Lega Serie A has published the timetable for the final day of Serie A action on Sunday 13 May:15.00: Milan-Novara; Juventus-Atalanta;18.00: Cesena-Roma; Parma-Bologna;20.45: Catania-Udinese; Chievo-Lecce; Fiorentina-Cagliari; Genoa-Palermo; Lazio-Inter; Napoli-Siena
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MILAN - Here's the list of players suspended for the final round of Serie A action this weekend:One match bans for: Kucka (Genoa), Abate (Milan), Aronica and Cavani (Napoli), Cossu and Pisano (Cagliari), Delvecchio (Lecce), Lodi (Catania), Mascara (Novara), Miglionico (Lecce), Silvestre (Palermo), J.Cesar (Inter), Taddei (Roma), Vidal (Juventus). Two match bans for Dzemaili (Napoli), Morleo (Bologna), Palacio (Genoa) and Stendardo (Atalanta).
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MIALNELLO - After yesterday evening's derby, the Rossoneri players have been given two days off and will get back to training ahead of the last league game against novara on Wednesday.
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MILAN – On his into the Lega Serie A meeting today, Adriano Galliani spoke to the gathered journalists: “Juventus have won and credit to them. I phoned Andrea Agnelli yesterday evening and gave him my compliments. We’re in second place now after winning last year and we’re in the Champions League. Life goes on and we’ll be fighting for the title next season. Now we look to the next season without remorse or regret. With Champions League qualification, we now have the summer to look forward to and to prepare for next season. It’s acceptable to go from first to second place. Over the last two seasons with Allegri we’ve picked up more points than anyone in Italy.”Adriano Galliani continued: “Reflections? Most of all the injuries we’ve had. Also we were the best Italian side in the Champions League and we were only knocked out of the Italian cup in extra time in the second semi-final in a row. Obviously we would have preferred another outcome to second place. Top players? We already have two, Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic who’ll both be staying with us. I spoke with Berlusconi yesterday after the game and we spoke as we always do. The derby? A strange game and I don’t want to start polemics. We had a lot of goal scoring chances, we were winning at the start of the second half and then we have away a naive penalty and the rest is history. Cambiasso’s goal/non goal? Like Robinho’s goal against Catania. Contract renewals? We’ll start from this week. From tomorrow, my office will be open.”
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(IN THE PHOTO: Mattia De Sciglio during the derby)
MILAN – Massimiliano Allegri was right to put him in the first team squad for the 2011/2012 season. Mattia’s star is on the rise.Right footed and a natural full back, he also looks comfortable on the left. A complete player, the young addition to the Rossoneri first team first made his presence felt with the Primavera Italian Cup win in 2010.He’s been working with the first team this season and made his debut in Europe’s top football competition coming off the bench in the San Siro against Viktoria Plzen back on 28 September. He started the match against the same team on 6 December 2011.Since then, his training, behavior, serious nature as well as the respect that he puts into his work has earned the praise of the entire Rossoneri squad. On the field Mattia shows character and quality despite his tender age of 19.His league debut came on 10 April away to Chievo when he showed himself deserving of the trust that the team had placed in him, punctual and strong n the tackle as well as powerful pushing forward. Last night was the most difficult of his games, so far: the derby came as a confirmation that Mattia De Sciglio is on the right path and could go far.
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(IN THE PHOTO: Wembley 1963, Paron Rocco with Cesare Maldini)MILAN - 15 May-31 June, the exhibition dates at Trieste’s Porto Vecchio.Trieste dedicates an exhibition to a man who wrote his name in Italian football history. There’s probably not a single Italian football fan who doesn’t have a place in his heart for that historic picture of a young Cesare Maldini in Wembly stadium 1963 lifting the first European trophy won by an Italian team: Nereo Rocco’s Milan.The exhibition will be presented on multimedia platforms and will be under the care of by Italian journalist Gigi Granzini.Photos and film from the era as well as personal possessions, testament to a life lived with intensity and passion. A substantial amount of the material will be given by the clubs coached by the legendary coach during his long and decorated career: Triestina, Treviso, padova, Milan, Torino and Fiorentina. His family’s contribution to the exhibition was of course of fundamental importance, especially from his sons Tito and Bruno.
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MILAN - It has been a long season for Milan, starting back on August 8th in Beijing when they won the Italian Super Cup and after 52 matches on four fronts, the Rossoneri will close the campaign at home to Novara on Sunday.The team will be in the draw for the group stages of the Champions League, having finished runners-up this season after winning the title last year. It will be the club's 26th time in the competition.Below are the years Milan have played in Europe's premier competition:1957-58; 1959-601962-63; 1963-64; 1968-69; 1969-701979-801988-89; 1989-901990-91; 1992-93; 1993-94; 1994-95; 1996-97; 1999-002000-01; 2002-03; 2003-04; 2004-05; 2005-06; 2006-07; 2007-08: 2009-10; 2010-11; 2011-12.The major results are as follows:7 Wins4 Finals2 Semi-finals4 Quarter-finals
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MILAN - After the bad weather cancelled the first leg of the Milan Golf Tour, the Golf Club di Carimate, in the province of Como is the setting for the start of the competition in glorious sun. Launching the event are Daniele Massaro, Lea Pericoli, Claudio Chiappucci, Marco Bellavia and Giorgio Mastrota.
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MILAN - All the post match interviews from players and management after the Milan derby.
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MILAN – Here’s what players and staff had to say after Inter-Milan at the San Siro:
MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI
"A good performance from De Sciglio, he’s a good guy with great qualities and he has the stuff to go on to do great things. The individual episodes didn’t always go right for us and I think that that highlights even more just how well the players have done. The players put in a good performance and played well enough. Unfortunately, Abate made two mistakes in these two derbies but I don’t think it’s a problem for him. It’ll be a motive for him to grow even more than he already has. We have to get to 80 points, the last game we have is at home and we have to do the best we can in front of our own fans and we’ll get to the end of two seasons with 162 points. That’s even more evidence of how well Juventus have done. Regardless of Muntari’s goal, I think the most important games of this season were the matches against Juventus. After the game against Novara, I’ll analyze the season. From Wednesday we’ll be thinking about ending the season with a win.” ANTONIO NOCERINO
"Unfortunately tonight when I saw Abbiati and Bonera leave the field, it was the story of our entire season. The important thing is that even with so many injuries we were in it to win it right until the end. This team and this club never wastes time with ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and next season we’ll be aiming once again for the Champions League, the Scudetto and the Italian cup. We gave all we had in the face of a lot of difficulties but we were up against a team that never lost and that’s why credit goes to them. They did well.It was emotional to see the curve like that, a great choreography that made me feel proud to be a part of this team and this club. We have amazing fans. if I have to take something positive from the season, it’s been that, their support.It was an emotional evening and I’m very proud to be a part of the Milan family. It gives us the strength to roll up our sleeves and to be even more determined to give our all. We conceded the third goal in what was our best moment in the match. but that’s the way the derby is. It’s great like that, you can be punished for the smallest of mistakes every time but we have no regrets because we went for the win. We didn0’t get it in the end but we gave everything we could. De Sciglio did well, he’s a great guy, very calm and you can see that on the pitch as well. He’s from the youth team which is great because we have a wonderful youth sector. He’s quiet but very decisive and always shows respect.”
MARCO AMELIA
"It burns to have lost the derby and the title. It’s been a strange year; we’ve been through difficult moments and made some mistakes. Credit to Juventus, but now we have to think about the future. We turned the game around through a penalty that even a bit dicey then Ibra scored a wonderful goal, then the 3-2 from the penalty spot, a lot of chances after that and then another addition to my impossible goal collection, a great strike from Maicon.So many things have happened this season but this is a team that tries to make up for difficulties. We tried but the most important game was definitely the head to head with Juventus, a win then would have given us the momentum and would have been a big blow to them. It was a fundamental game. We need to think about improving constantly training day after day. We were never very lucky and that the way things went. Now we need to turn the page. We want to end the season with 80 points and with a win because it’s the last game in front of our fans. Then we have to roll our sleeves up and get to work preparing for next season.MATTIA DE SCIGLIO
"Unfortunately we were counting on getting a result here to hope for a slip up from Juventus but it went badly. My ankle? I twisted it at the end against Pazzini but I hope it’s nothing too serious. Honestly, I didn’t think I would get on the pitch but I was ready just in case. I managed to stay focused on my performance from the start and but the result is a bitter pill to swallow. We knew it was going to be tough; the derby is always different from the other games. Until today, I had only played the youth team derby, playing this game with the first team is amazing. MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI (Press conference)
"After 10 minutes, Bonera was injured and then Abbiati as well. then Muntari did his knee and De Sciglio played with a swollen ankle. It’s been the story of our season. I didn’t even need to be on the bench, all the changes were forced on us. I hope to meet Stramaccioni again because Inter have changed their coach twice and won both times. Credit to him. When I said that the match against Juventus was the season’s crossroads, it was the God honest truth. Last season it went our way with the two derby wins."
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MILAN – It ends Inter 4-2 Milan at the San Siro. The Nerazzurri took the lead on 14’ through Milito only for Ibrahimovic to equalize from the penalty spot on 44’. In the second half Ibrahimovic scored almost immediately from the kick off. Milito equalized from the penalty spot on 52’ and scored another penalty on 79’. Maicon got the final goal of the game on 87’ and Juventus are now this season’s league champions.
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(IN THE PHOTO: Ibrahimovic after making it 1-1)MILAN – A fantastic derby match ends with a bitter defeat for the Rossoneri and the title being won by Juventus with one game to spare. Allegri chose Van Bommel over Ambrosini (in the stands) and Robinho to Cassano. Milan got the game’s first chance on 12’: Robinho crosses for Ibra who hit it high from a good position. Two minutes later, a free kick from Sneijder was chested down by Samuel and Milito knocks it in, all alone in the box. Abbiati saved well from Sneijder on 19’ with Lucio scoring from the rebound, but the Brazilian was in offside. Tough times for Milan as Bonera had to be replaced by De Sciglio and then Abbiati pulled off a great save from Cambiasso and then again from Sneijder, injuring himself in the process and on came Amelia. Another great save, this time on the other end of the pitch as Julio Cesar says no to Ibrahimovic from close range. Just before the end of the first half however, the Inter keeper comes out against Boateng and concedes a penalty promptly converted by Ibrahimovic.
It was Ibra again, this time almost immediately from the kick off at the start of the second half. Boateng found him outside the box and he skipped past Lucio and lifted it over the keeper. Milan 2-1 Inter. Sneijder then tried to score the goal of a lifetime from 35 meters but Amelia was up to the task. On 6’, the referee gives another penalty, this time to the ‘home’ side and Milito brought his side back on even terms. On 10’ Muntari was unlucky after Ibra nodded the ball down to him inside the six yard box. On 15’ Julio Cesar was wide awake against Robinho who turned well inside the box on 22’ only for his shot to end high. After a couple more shots from Sneijder, Pazzini on 33’ won a handball off Nesta and once against Milito scored from the penalty spot. Milan continued to push forward but a wonder strike from Maicon gave Amelia no chance and the title now goes to Turin. Shame. THE NUMBERS
INTER-MILAN 4-2
GOALS: Milito (I) al 14', Ibrahimovic (M) pen. 44'f.h.; Ibrahimovic (M) al 1', Milito (I) pen. 7' and 35', Maicon (I) 42's.h.
INTER (4-3-2-1): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo; Guarin (17's.h. Obi), Cambiasso, Zanetti; Sneijder (39's.h. Cordoba), Alvarez (30's.h. Pazzini); Milito. Subs: Castellazzi, Ranocchia, Palombo, Zarate. Coach: Stramaccioni
MILAN (4-3-1-2): Abbiati (33'f.h. Amelia); Abate, Yepes, Nesta, Bonera (21' f.h. De Sciglio); Nocerino, Van Bommel, Muntari (32's.h. Cassano); Boateng; Ibrahimovic, Robinho. Subs: Mexes, Gattuso, Aquilani, Maxi Lopez. Coahc: Allegri
REFEREE: Rizzoli
NOTES: Booked: Julio Cesar, Cambiasso, Alvarez, Nocerino, Abate, Van Bommel. Corners 11-4
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MILAN - It's all square at the San Siro between Inter and Milan. Milito opened the scoring on 14' only for Ibrahimovic to score from the penalty spot on 44' after Kevin Prince Boateng was brought down in the box.Bonera and Abbiati have both been forced to leave the field and replaced with De Sciglio and Amelia.
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MILAN - Here's how the two teams will take to the pitch shortly for Inter-Milan:INTER: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo; Guarin, Cambiasso, Zanetti; Sneijder, Alvarez, Milito.MILAN: Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Yepes, Bonera; Nocerino, Van Bommel, Muntari; Boateng, Ibrahimovic, Robinho.
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MILAN – The league ends on Sunday with Milan-Novara at 20.45, a game that hasn’t been played in Serie A for 56 years although the two faced off in the cup back on 18 January this season. The Rossoneri came away with a 2-1 win after injury time with the winning goal being scored by Pato, unfortunately his last of the season.The next and last league match for Milan is against Novara. The last time these two teams met was 10 May 1956 with the home team getting a 4-2 win with a double for Nordhal and goals from Schiaffino and Bagnoli. In the last three seasons the tam from Piedmont has completed a remarkable surge from Serie C2 all the way to the top flight.There have been a total of 25 matches between Milan and Novara with a balance of 16 wins for the Rossoneri, 3 draws and 6 losses. The last game between the two say Milan come away 3-0 winners with a double from Ibrahimovic and a goal from Robinho. 12 of these games have been played at the San Siro where the home side have won 10, drawn 1 and lost 1.Tesser who has returned to the club after being fired in favor of Emiliano Mondonico saw his team mathematically relegated two games ago but the team are nevertheless continuing to do their duty as can be seen by their 2-2 draw in Florence and Sunday’s 3-0 win over Cesena.
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MILAN - Varese and Palermo are the final teams to have qualified for the Final Eight which takes place in Gubbio from 2 to 10 June.The other 6 teams to have already qualified are: Milan, Inter, Juventus, Torino, Roma and Lazio.
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MILAN - Here are the results from Match Day 37 of the Italian top flight:ATALANTA-LAZIO 0-2 BOLOGNA-NAPOLI 2-0 CAGLIARI-JUVENTUS (at 20.45) INTER-MILAN (at 20.45)LECCE-FIORENTINA 0-1 (Played yesterday) NOVARA-CESENA 3-0 PALERMO-CHIEVO 4-4 ROMA-CATANIA 2-2 (Played yesterday) SIENA-PARMA 0-2 UDINESE-GENOA 2-0
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MILAN - Here are the 21 players called up by Andrea Stramaccioni for Inter-Milan tomorrow evening at the San Siro:
Julio Cesar, Luca Castellazzi, Paolo Orlandoni, Ivan Cordoba, Javier Zanetti, Lucio, Maicon, Andrea Ranocchia, Walter Samuel, Davide Faraoni, Juan Jesus, Yuto Nagatomo, Wesley Sneijder, Ricardo Alvarez, Fredy Guarin, Angelo Palombo, Esteban Cambiasso, Joel Obi, Giampaolo Pazzini, Diego Milito, Mauro Zarate
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MILANELLO – Training this afternoon started at 16.00 at the Milanello sports centre.The players worked on the central pitch and started the session with a warm up followed by some calisthenics and a stretching session.Training then continued with some work on maintaining possession of the ball and elaboration of the tactics that the team will be using tomorrow evening against Andrea Stramaccioni’s Inter side.The session ended with the players involved in an 11-a-side practice match with goalkeepers.
At the end of the session, Allegri read out the 21 players called up for tomorrow's derby:
Abbiati, Amelia, Abate, Bonera, De Scigli, Mexes, Nesta, Yepes, Ambrsoini, Aquilani, Boateng, Flamini, Gattuso, Muntari, Nocerino, Van Bommel, El Shaarawy, Cassano, Ibrahimovic, Maxi Lopez, Robinho
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MILANO - Here's what Julio Cesar had to say ahead of this weekend's Inter-Milan derby tomorrow at 20.45:"There are no favorites in a derby, it's a particualr game,apart from the rest.Both teams could even be at the bottom of the table but no one wants to lose this game. We won't wat to lose it for ourselves nor for our fans. We have responsibilities to keep, that's why we want to win so that at the end of what has not been a good season,our fans can at least enjoy this moment."
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MILANELLO - Here are the 21 players called up by Massimiliano Allegri for Inter-Milan tomorrow at 20.45:Abbiati, Amelia, Abate, Bonera, De Sciglio, Mexes, Nesta, Yepes, Ambrosini, Aquilani, Boateng, Flamini, Gattuso, Muntari, Nocerino, Van Bommel, Cassano, El Shaarawy, Ibrahimovic, Maxi Lopez, Robinho.
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MILANELLO - Club CEO Adriano Galliani took a spin on a bicycle with Thiago Silva and Pato at the Milanello sports centre this afternoon.
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MILAN – According to the official Inter Milan website, here’s some of what coach Andrea Stramaccioni had to say in today’s press conference ahead of Inter-Milan on Sunday evening:"11 players will take to the pitch and it’s my job to get the most out of them both physically and mentally. We want to win and I won’t speculate on their desire to get a result. It’s a question of objectives and because it’s a derby. The game could be all the better because of this, it’s a game that’s impossible to calculate beforehand.”
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