AC Milan general spiel 2.0

[maro]

[San Paolo]

[p_maldini_3]

[The MAN]

Hahah that was quite funny. Good ol' times

[juventino_italiano]

[juventino_italiano]

[zafferano]

[San Paolo]

[vtec]

[juventino_italiano]

[p_maldini_3]

[vtec]

i doubt that pirlo's presence or absence has anything to do with "lowest pass completion rate in the league" or "least succesful dribble rate in the league". seedorf's on the other hand....

i think kaka just doesn't want to be there

[RomaShield27]

[p_maldini_3]

i could see kaka' going to chelsea, ancelotti needs a suitable trequartista because deco and joe cole just don't make the cut.

[p_maldini_3]

[RomaShield27]

NO DISTRACTIONS FOR LEONARDO
www.sportinglife.com

AC Milan coach Leonardo insists his side have not been distracted by Inter Milan's exploits as they look to keep up the pressure on their arch rivals at the Serie A summit. The Rossoneri's Champions League adventure came to an end with a thumping defeat at Manchester United 10 days ago, and Inter rubbed salt in their wounds by progressing to the quarter-finals with a stunning win at Chelsea in midweek.

Attention now returns to domestic matters with Leonardo's team, who headed into the weekend just one point adrift of Jose Mourinho's Inter at the top of the standings, welcoming Napoli to the San Siro on Sunday afternoon. And the Brazilian will not let his players have their heads turned by events on the other side of the city.

"Inter have important commitments, but we cannot change our way of thinking," he said. "I just think about the game on Sunday. There are 30 points still to play for and that is a lot. This team is with me.

"We must continue to be present and focused - thinking about doing well without taking an interest in others. "I think the team will not lack the incentives. Inter will maintain a high level in both Italy and Europe. Their qualification to the quarter-finals of the Champions League could be a great stimulus for the Scudetto."

Milan pulled to within one point of Inter with a 1-0 win over Chievo last weekend. Substitute Clarence Seedorf scored a stoppage-time winner to hand the Rossoneri three crucial points.

"We have to enjoy this moment," said the Dutchman. "We are aware that ahead of us in the standings is a very strong team and that we have to be clever in order to keep up the pace with them."

David Beckham, Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Ambrosini remain sidelined but Alexandre Pato, Marco Borriello, Luca Antonini and Mancini resumed training today and could be in contention tomorrow.

Napoli's 42-match unbeaten run at home came to an end last weekend when Walter Mazzarri's side fell to a 3-1 defeat to Fiorentina. That result marked the Partenopei's second consecutive defeat and dropped the Naples outfit to eighth spot - three points behind Sampdoria, who hold the last European qualifying spot.

Mazzarri knows his team face a difficult task tomorrow but believes that on their day they can upset anyone.

"These types of games are fascinating," he told his club's website. "But I'm serene because we've prepared well. It's been a good week. We did things in the best way possible. We trained with intensity and we are confident of playing a good match in Milan even though in the past we have not done that well in Milan.

"Milan will be highly motivated as they are competing for the Scudetto. Certainly the environment will have an influence - they will have everything on their side (at the San Siro). "But we have to think about us. If Napoli go on the pitch with adrenaline, determination and at the top of their game, they can do well against anyone."

[p_maldini_3]

[vtec]

[The MAN]

[romawi]

Balotelli: 'Inter won, not Mourinho!'
Monday 22 March, 2010
Mario Balotelli enjoyed the gift of a Milan jersey and pointed out “it was the team that won at Stamford Bridge, not Jose Mourinho.â€