MILAN - Milan youth team will play Newcastle United in their first group match of the Viareggio Cup today at 17.00.

MILAN - Milan's youth team the Giovannissimi Regionale B beat Napoli 1-0 to reach the final.

MILAN - Adriano Galliani has confirmed that Massimiliano Allegri will be coach of Milan next season. He said: "President Berlusconi spoke to the coach on Saturday morning to explain what he had said in the Veneto region and for the 270,000th time I will say that Allegri will be our coach next season and when we renewed his contract until June 30th, 2014 the president agreed with me."
Galliani added: "The team will be more or less the same next season. Balotelli is a first-class player and you can see that by the presence he has."

 
MILANELLO - Stephan El Shaarawy has been speaking to Milan Channel about a number of issues.
The young striker could not go to the opening of the Viareggio Cup due to adverse weather conditions but by remaining at Milanello he could also receive treatment on his knee injury.
El Shaarawy said: “I was disappointed not to go but I wish all the teams well and I know that the Viareggio is an important window for young players.”
Looking back at the match at Cagliari, he added: “It was a difficult match because they played in an aggressive and determined manner. They put us under pressure in the first half but we came out and played our game after the break and managed to find the equalizer.”
Speaking about his new partnership with Mario Balotelli he said: “I think we are getting too much criticism and we need time to develop an understanding as we have only played two games together. 
“We have to improve certain aspects of our game but I do not think that we are incompatible because I set up Mario for a goal against Udinese and we have been combining well in training. 
“We have no problems and the battle for third place with Inter will be long apart from the derby. There are a lot of matches ahead of us and plenty of points and we have a tough game against Parma coming up. We are at home and so we will look to win which is the important thing.”
As for his injury problem, Stephan added: “I have had this knee problem for the last two or three years. The staff at Milan have treated me but now and then during a match is causes me some problems.
“I felt it during the match against Cagliari and it was right to come off as I could not finish the match. We need to get all the injured players back because we need everyone fit. Pazzini has scored a lot of goals and he is really important.”

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MILAN – Italy’s sporting authorities have imposed a €15,000 fine on Inter Milan for racist chants during last night’s match against Chievo at the San Siro stadium.  The fine was reduced as the club in question cooperated with the forces of law and order to prevent and stop the chants.
Here are the suspensions handed out to players and staff:
Delio Rossi (Sampdoria coach) – 2 match ban.
Colombo (Napoli) – 2 match ban; Ambrosini (Milan), Astori, Dessena and Conti (Cagliari), Biondini and Bonaventura (Atalanta), D’Ambrosio (Torino), Ledesma (Lazio), Rigoni (Chievo), Marchisio and Peluso (Juventus) – 1 match ban.
 

MILAN - Here are all the results from the Rossoneri Youth Sector's fixtures this weekend.

MILAN - Parma's club website reports that due to heavy snowfalls, the team trained indoors today.
The players who took to the pitch yesterday worked out in the gym while the others played a game of indoor football at PalaLeoni.
 

MILAN - On 2 June last year, Pope Benedetto XVI came to the San Siro where he recieved an AC Milan Jersey from Franco Baresi with the number 16.
Here's a photo from that special day.
 

MILAN – Here are Milan's results from matches played on Friday:
21 May 1993, Cagliari-Milan 1-111 May 2001, Inter-Milan 0-620 May 2005, Milan-Palermo 3-314 April 2006, Milan-Inter 1-012 Fedruary 2010, Milan-Udinese 3-29 September 2011, Milan-Lazio 2-22 December 2011, Genoa-Milan 0-2

MILAN - The photos from the presentation of Milan's Poker Gala Event with Izi Poker.

MILAN – Adriano Galliani, club Vice President and CEO along with Fabio Schiavolin, CEO of Cogetech S.p.A – leading Italian gaming firm – presented the first edition of the GRAND POKER GALA this morning in Via Turati.As the club’s Premium Sponsor, iZiplay Poker has organized a poker tournament for the Rossoneri world. Qualifications start online from 1 March to 10 April. After this period, the players will ‘take to the pitch’ on Sunday 28 April at the San Siro stadium!200 players will face off for an entire day in the biggest poker tournament ever organized in a football stadium.Between one hand and another, game play will stop at 15.00 for all the players to get behind the team who will take to the pitch against Catania. After the match, the games will continue with every winning hand taking the players a step closer to the final.Regardless of gender, status or where you come from, once in front of the computer, it makes no difference and that’s why poker is considered one of the most democratic games in the world. Only the best players will have the chance to take a seat at the final table. In the end, only one will remain, the best.The winner will left the trophy in the club’s highly prestigious Trophy Room while the other finalists will participate in another on of iZiplay’s live events.All proceeds from the event will go to charity in the form of the Milan Foundation and the Francesca Rava N.P.H. Italy Foundation.

MILAN – The news that Pope Benedetto XVI will resign on 28 February has reached the club and all players and supporters. The decision was announced by the Pope himself during his Latin mass. “In today’s world, subject to fast mutations and questions of great relevance for life and faith, the governance of St Peter’s requires great vigor of both the body and spirit. Vigor that within myself has reduced so much in  recent months that I have to recognize my incapacity to administer that which has been entrusted to me. Due to this and in full awareness of the gravity of this decision, I wish to announce that from 28 February, the seat of St Peter will be vacant and the conclave for the election of the next Pope will be called.”
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MILAN - Here's the list of players called up for the Vareggio Tournament by coach Aldo Dolcetti. The Rossoneri Primavera side have been drawn in a group with Newcastle, Empoli and Congo Under19s:
1.Narduzzo, 2. Ferretti, 3. Pinato, 4. Lucarini, 5. Lora, 6. Speranza, 7. Aniekan, 8. Cristante, 9. Petagna, 10. Spagnoli, 11. Ganz, 12. Andrenacci, 13. Pacifico, 14. Bortoli, 15. Rondanini, 16. Iotti, 17. Piccinocchi, 18. Henty, 19. Bastone, 20. De Feo, 21. Pedone, 22. Petkovic, 23. Prosenik, 24. Tamas.

MILAN - In the club's Trophy Room in Via Turati this morning, A.C. Milan and Izi poker presented the first edition of the Poker Gala.

It was an interesting lineup, almost inexplicable. Yes, we play Parma in five days, Barcelona in ten, and while the loss of Monty was plainly evident, it didn’t have to be this way. The shortcomings of the roster were clear for all to see, the lack of a true depth in midfield was painfully evident but Allegr’s choice to start Ambro, Muntari and Flamini was a bit baffling. Ambro can keep it simple as can Muntari, but the midfield resembled a shuttle instead of a football team. Shuttle forward, shuttle back, shuttle sideways, never collecting the ball, never making the simple passes they were most likely instructed to accomplish. The fact of the matter is Allegri could have played Boateng, not sure why he didn’t, he also could have opted for a 4-3-1-2, but the point is his choices are limited.

When he finally opted to pull El Sharaaway, whose form has dipped dramatically of late, the team remained balanced with the inclusion of Boateng and it was Bojan moments later to bring the team back to an attacking formation. Bojan failed to make impression yet again and Robinho came on for Niang but it was Balotelli who was the hero yet again. Astori did his best to “impress” the Milan Brass with a wrestle down of Balo and a second yellow, but it was only enough for a draw as Milan managed more shots, significantly more possession but like last week couldn’t finish chances. Yes the midfield was a bit off and lacking, but it was not terrible and had Milan converted some early chances this match would have been a comfortable three points away from home, but a draw is good enough.

Now Milan play the next four at home and continue to work up the table, slowly but surelyl. I am sure the daggers and arm-chair tacticians will be out in full force questioning the Coach with the obvious benefit of hindsight bias. Sure three points would have been nice, but they are never a given and never away from home. We all know Milan never take the easy road, so we press on…in the meantime take a cue from Mario in the photo above.

MILAN - President Berlusconi was interviewd this morning on Uno Mattina and clarified his remarks on Massimiliano Allegri, widely reported in the Italian media over the weekend:
"I was just joking with a person close to me and I said this phrase in Venetian dialect. Then, of course the papers, as they always do…"
 

MILAN - All the post match interviews from Cagliari-Milan.

MILAN – Here’s what players and management had to say following Cagliari-Milan this afternoon:MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI (PRESS CONFERENCE)"It’s a good point against a good Cagliari side. They defended well and we could have done better in certain moments of the second half. The team did well but we misplaced some passes. It was our first time at the IS Arenas which was sold out for the game and I think that helped Cagliari. You need to have balance. We wouldn’t have qualified for the Champions League by winning today either and the league has a long way left to go. There are 14 games left and now is the time that we need calm because when you’re playing catch up, it’s easy to drop concentration levels and physical lucidity. We didn’t concede any big chances, there were only two breakaways. I won’t comment on what the President said as I never do. I’m focused on working with the team that I have available to me. We’re enjoying ourselves and fighting hard to get to our targets. Balotelli is getting fitter, he hasn’t played a lot this season and now he’s played three games in a week. He has to rest well as on Friday we have an important game against Parma to get to third place for at least a couple of days. I’m happy to be back in the city where I started my Serie A coaching career. Football is not an exact science, you need a lot of different pieces and there’s always the team that you’re playing against Cagliari played well today. In the end it’s a point won. I never thought that we’d win all the games from here to the end of the season. A point is important as a single point can make all the difference come the end of the season.”MATTIA DE SCIGLIO"Robinho is a quality player. When he comes on he always creates dangerous situations. We have a good squad with important players. We didn’t take to the field with the right attitude and we allowed them to create problems for us. We gave them the first half and even more, we woke up very late, we could have done more. For how the game went, we did well to get back into it, but the three points would have been really important for us to get that third place spot.”SULLEY MUNTARI
“I’m happy, it’s an important point for us. We wanted the three points, but that’s the way it goes. We move forward. We worked hard to get to where we are and the staff helped me a lot to be able to give my contribution to the team. I tried to score in the first half and I could already see the ball in the back of the net. Niang did well with the cross and the defender did well to take the ball off me.  Many players have left from last year and now we have young players both in the middle and behind. The fight continues and that’s what’s good about football. You have tough months but with hard work, you can get back into it and do well.”
 
PHILIPPE MEXES
“We hoped to do better but in the end it went the way it did. The important thing was not to lose and now we have to win against Parma. We were very compact in the middle of the park and tried to score in the first half, then we conceded the first goal at the end of the first half. We tried to get the winning goal at the end of the game like we did last week but we couldn’t do it. I’m feeling much better. I was in some pain after the game against Atalanta but I’ve been working a lot with the fitness coaches and I’m ready to play my part and help out where I can.”MATHIEU FLAMINI
“It’s just as well that we scored. It’s s shame because the team really gave everything, we wanted to win this game. We’ve shown that the team has character. The league is a marathon and there are lots of games. The climb continues and it’s shame we didn’t get the three points today. Now we’ll turn to Parma which is an important match and then after that, Barcelona. I want to show in every game that I have the quality to play for this team.”

MILAN – Here are the details from this afternoon’s match at the IS Arenas:Cagliari: Agazzi; Murru (70′ Ariaudo), Astori, Rossettini, Pisan; Conti, Ekdal, Dessena; Ibarbo, Thiago Ribeiro (56′ Cossu), Sau (75′ Pinilla). Subs: Avramov, Casarini, Perico, Nené. Coach: Pulga.Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Mexes, De Sciglio; Ambrosini (65′ Bojan), Flamini, Muntari; Niang (80′ Robinho), El Shaarawy (60′ Boateng), Balotelli. Subs: Amelia, Gabriel, Antonini, Yepes, Zaccardo, Nocerino, Traoré. Coach: Allegri.Referee: Giannoccaro Goalscorers: 45′ Ibarbo (C), 82′ pen. Balotelli (M).Booked: Murru, Conti, Astori, Dessena (C), Niang, Mexes, Ambrosini (M).Sent off: Astori (C).

(IN THE PHOTO: Robinho in action at the San Siro last season)
MILAN – Here’s a look back at the last games played between the two sides at the San Siro as well as ex-players from the past and the present and the match moments that have made history both at home and away.
MILAN-PARMA, THE LAST FIVE MATCHES PLAYED BETWEEN THE TWO AT THE SAN SIRO IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON2010/11 Season: Milan-Parma 4-0. Round 252006/07 Season: Milan-Parma 1-0. Round 212004/05 Season: Milan-Parma 3-0. Round 332004/05 Season: Milan-Parma 3-1 Round 262001/02 Season: Milan-Parma 3-1 Round 29EX PLAYERS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDESMilan: Daniele Bonera (at Parma from 2002 to 2006), Cristian Zaccardo (at Parma from 2009 to January 2013).Parma: Djamel Mesbah (at Milan from January 2012 to January 2013), Rodney Strasser (at Milan from 2007 to 2013), Roberto Donadoni (Parma coach, at Milan as a player from 1986 to 1996 and from 1997 to 1999).Both Hernan Crespo (at Parma from 1996-2000 and Milan in the 2004/05 season) and Alberto Gilardino (at Parma from 2002 to 2005 and Milan from 2005-2008) have worn the jerseys of both clubs. Legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi was at Parma from 1986-1987 before coming to Milan and winning everything.KEY MOMENTSMilan-Parma 2-1. 1998/99 season. 8 days after Milan’s draw away against Lazio, Alberto Zaccheroni’s team started a seven match winning streak against Parma that led the team to the league title. Goals from Paolo Maldini and Maurizio Ganz decided the game.MILAN’S LAST FIVE GAMES AT HOME:Milan-Udinese 2-0Milan-Bologna 2-1Milan-Siena 2-1Milan-Pescara 4-1Milan-Juventus 1-0MILAN’S LAST FIVE GAMES AWAY:Fiorentina-Parma 2-0Chievo-Parma 1-1Bologna-Parma 1-2Atalanta-Parma 2-1Lazio-Parma 2-1