AC Milan general spiel 2.0

[San Paolo]

[juventino_italiano]

[San Paolo]

[RomaShield27]

lol, Julio Baptista has been called up for Brazils friendly against Ireland but Ronaldinho hasn't. Goes to show how much Dunga actually watches Serie A.

[San Paolo]

[San Paolo]

[Messinterista]

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Milan agree €60m sponsorship deal
– Friday 12 February, 2010

Milan have formally announced a €60m shirt sponsorship deal with Fly Emirates, the Dubai airline company. From July this year, Milan will wear the Fly Emirates logo on their shirts, just like Arsenal, Paris St. Germain, Olympiacos and Hamburg. Speaking about the five-year arrangement, Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani reassured fans that the shirt sponsorship deal wasn't a precursor to an eventual takeover of the club.

“It's a sponsorship. The acquisitions of shares were never spoken about, nor were the naming rights of the stadium. Also because Emirates are interested in a new stadium to which they can give their name while San Siro, for the football fans, will always remain San Siro.â€

[RomaShield27]

The great Paddy Agnew speaks, good read:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 49481.html?

[Messinterista]

[p_maldini_3]

AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf: Manchester United Are In Transition And Champions League Outsiders
Dutchman tips Chelsea and Barcelona ahead of English champions...
By Michael Landon
Feb 14, 2010 4:48:00 PM
Clarence Seedorf - Milan-Cagliari - Serie A (Getty Images)
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Clarence Seedorf - Milan-Cagliari - Serie A (Getty Images)
AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes that Manchester United are not one of the clubs that can go on and win the Champions League this year.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Tuesday's mega-clash at San Siro, Seedorf also tipped Chelsea and Barcelona ahead of the English champions for European glory this season.

He said: "I think that Manchester [United] is also an outsider this year because I think that Chelsea and Barcelona are the two teams that are actually the favourites.

"I'm saying this because Manchester went through a transition period, losing their main player [Cristiano] Ronaldo. They are doing well but it is a different team from last year."

Seedorf also gave his opinion on coach Leonardo, who finally seems to be getting the best out of the Rossoneri after a shaky start in charge saw him draw criticism from the Italian media.

He said: "He [Leonardo] has been a player for 15 years. A long career, so we are all used to that; people catching you.

"So I don't think that is a big issue. There is pressure, but I think that Leonardo needs to be complemented for what he has done until now."

Touching on the John Terry captaincy saga and the decision to award the England armband to Rio Ferdinand, Seedorf says that the decision did not surprise him.

However, he added that Wayne Rooney could also have been an option for manager Fabio Capello.

"I'm not suprised, but I would have thought of some other players too [for the captaincy]. I was thinking about [Wayne] Rooney. Especially Rooney actually. And I was thinking about [Rio] Ferdinand.

"Those two players have what they show on the pitch, at least the personality and the technical importance for the team to be a captain."

[San Paolo]

[RomaShield27]

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AC Milan not scared of in-form Wayne Rooney - Flamini

Venue: San Siro Date: Tuesday 16 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT Coverage: BBC Sport website, Final Score, BBC Radio 5 live and live on Sky Sports 2 – By David Ornstein –

AC Milan star Mathieu Flamini says his side will not make special plans for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in Tuesday's Champions League tie. Rooney has been in inspired form this season but former Arsenal midfielder Flamini said Milan can cope with him.

"Fear is not the word. Of course we have to be careful because we know he is a great player who can score at any time," Flamini told BBC Sport. "There are no special plans for Rooney, just to concentrate and be strong."

Rooney has scored 24 goals for club and country this season, turning in a series of superb performances along the way as United battle to hold on to their Premiershit crown and reach a third consecutive Champions League final. However, Flamini, who played against Rooney several times during his time in England's top flight with the Gunners, said Milan coach Leonardo would not make the mistake of underestimating United's other attacking talents.

"We have to focus on him but also on the rest of the team because Manchester United attack with many players," he added. But United manager Sir tender Alex Ferguson could not speak highly enough of Rooney's contribution this season and believes the England striker is in the best form of his already impressive career.

"We build up heroes very quickly," stated Ferguson. "We are peculiar because the players, like David Beckham, who come through the ranks are always viewed as better than those you buy. But Rooney is also regarded as that kind of player. Although he came from Everton, the fans will always look at him as one of the players who has grown up with us. He has been fantastic this season and, without doubt, his form this season has brought him to the high point of his career. World class is a misused term but with Rooney you have to say he is getting to the point where he is now one of the best players in the world."

Milan are currently third in Serie A after an indifferent recent spell of form, although they do come into the game off the back of a 3-2 win over Udinese. Flamini said the huge amount of experience in Milan's squad - with the likes of Beckham, Clarence Seedorf and Alessandro Nesta all well into their 30s - meant that the stature of the game would not be an issue for his side.

"I prefer to say that we have a lot of experience in the team rather than we are too old," commented Flamini. "The Champions League is completely different: Milan have won it so many times and it's a special tournament for us. "When you're young and want to become a football player, you dream of playing in these types of games. "We have a lot of experience and players who know how to deal with this kind of game."

For all the attacking talents set to be on show at the San Siro on Tuesday and the return leg at Old Trafford on 10 March, Flamini expects the tie to be a tight affair.

"We are two very ambitious teams who want to go through," he added. "I think the most important thing is to be very strong defensively and not concede any goals. We know we can score and one goal, I'm sure, will do it. "You have to win the battle in the middle, especially in big games."

[San Paolo]

well good old english media have the milan lineup as follows

---------------------Dida------------------
----Abate-----Nesta---Thiago----Bonera
---Beckham---Pirlo----Ambro---Pato---
-------------Hunter---Dinho--------------

i cant see us playing Pato as a wide midfielder or Bonera at LB for that matter.

[RomaShield27]

Bonera and Pato down the left, lol Nani would have a field day. Beckham is not going to start is he?

[San Paolo]

we have Vidic out so that means Johnny Evans or Wes Brown in i would guess, this can only be good news?, also with Evra pushing foward often this should leave us lots of room out wide for Pato to exploit, likewise for Dinho we need to win the ball in the middle and then get it out wide as fast as we can, none of this sideways and backwards passing allowing Man United to get back into position we need to hit them hard and fast.

[maro]

[San Paolo]

reasons?

[maro]