Coach Report

Ancelotti defines the Trofeo Tim as a `friendly but always motivating´ appointment. He will have Kaka, Seedorf and Paloschi available. Alberto stays with us. The injured players? Problems which can occur.

INJURED PLAYERS AND ATTACKERS

´These are problems which can occur during the pre-season training. I´m just sorry that some player interrupts the preparation. The attack is the department which requires most work to make the mechanisms function.´

´Paloschi will stay with us, we never thought of selling him. Until it will be necessary, he will remain with us. He could even remain with us until the end of the year. His stay to us is not tied to Borriello´s injury.´

TROFEO TIM

´Nesta is not training right now, but he is recovering. The others are quite fine. Starting from Kaka. Ricky is ready and will be readz to play, even both games. With regards to the national team plazers, they could at most play one. For the attack I will have Paloschi, Seedorf and Ricky available. Nesta, Maldini, Inzaghi and Borriello will stay at home.

´Tomorrow´s games are just friendlies, but when you face teams like Juve and Inter thez are never really as such. They are important and motivating games.´

GOALKEEPERS

´Dida is working well, he recovered, he is doing a preparation program to avoid any falls, he could be recovered for the friendly game against Manchester.

´With regards to hierarchies, we shall evaluate at the start of the season.´

DINHO AND THE OLYMPICS

´In reality, seeing and considering that last year he did not play much, it can be useful for him playing at the Olympics to improve his form. Surely, when he arrived at Milanello, he was not at hundred percent, so he will find the best condition. Also, him and Pato never played together. The Games can help them find the right connection.´

PRE-SEASON AND THE CALENDAR

´I didn´t really take much care about the draw and the calendar. From some point of views it´s fine, for others it is a bit complicated. However, surely nothing changes the fact that there is the derby in the fifth matchday.

´The pre-season is not verz different from that of last years, the objective is to be ready for the start of the season.´

MILAN AND SHEVCHENKO

´What I will tell Sheva in Moscow? I will wish him good luck for the season. The rumours about Sampdoria´s interest? I don´t think he wants to return to another Italian team.

´Buffon said that Milan is the favourite team for the Scudetto? If everzone gives their best we could really be so. We must be good enough to get the best out of every player.´

WE WILL IMPROVE AND WE WILL FIGHT

ADRIANO GALLIANI

'I'm happy about the three points, this was one of our 12 finals, the first of our 12 finals, we won it, while Fiorentina lost. We are now one point away from the Viola, as we were a week before the results all changed. The battle will be until the end.'

'I was a bit tense because Milan were not playing well, our goal came in a moment when we were struggling, like it happened on Tuesday when Arsenal scored in their worst moment. I think the game changed when we scored the second goal. It reminds me of what happened at San Siro against the English. Football is like that, it should be accepted in good luck and bad luck. Today we had that bit of luck we didn't have on Tuesday.'

'Now we'll see what Juventus do tonight against Genoa, we'll see if there will be two places for three teams or one for two.'

CARLO ANCELOTTI

'This is a good result, it's certainly a positive victory, we needed it and it's good for the environment. Also, Fiorentina have lost and so now we are closer to the fourth place. A new period starts for us now which will allow us to work and to present the team at its best. Today it wasn't easy, after the great disappointment of Tuesday. This was the last game of a cycle which has seen us play non stop from 13 January until today. Now we'll have the chance to train the whole week and prepare well.'

'I didn't like Milan today. We are in a period of convalescence. Today we needed the result and it's very important that it came, even if we struggled. For the rest we will wait. With calmness we will find our best football again. The reaction was there, I think things will improve. We have to look forward and think about the next Champions League.'

'Paloschi's entrance? He's young and good, we can use him when perhaps the others are a bit tired, his freshness and his enthusiasm can help us.'

from acmilan.com

ancelotti : WE NEED MORE QUALITY

These are the first words of Carlo Ancelotti during the press conference on the eve of Milan-Palermo: “I think that only Nesta is unavailable, all the others are available. Pato is available, Dida I don’t think so. I don’t give indications on the formation. The last games? On Wednesday we have proven to have a great defensive solidity and a difficulty in proposing important attacking solutions. Our period is tied to a great solidity in defence, whereas we must improve, starting from tomorrow's game. Tomorrow it will be a game with the same features of the previous games. Palermo has a squad of better quality in the construction of the game, we must have more efficiency upfront and push more even with the full-backs. We need to send clean balls upfront and a lot will depend on the quality of the midfielders in the construction of the game. Titles on Lippi? They don’t weight, we're used to them. The difference between ten and eleven men? It’s the truth, Inter lost a player after half an hour. Inter played their game in ten, we played ours in eleven. It’s not a problem.”

The other topics the Rossoneri’s coach spoke about: “I did not speak to Ronaldo yesterday, I did so in the previous days. The idea that I came up with is that he has not yet taken the right road, he is still uncertain on his future, but he will take the right road. Now he must remain calm, he cannot do anything as he has the foot blocked for at least 30 days. We will see in future if he will put in the right will to recover. I say that he has a great opportunity, in the bad luck. He has always been considered a bit lazy, maybe this is the right time to deny everyone and everything, maybe even himself. The league and the Champions League for us are two difficult situations. We are halfway down the ford and to overtake it we will need to do something more in the quality of the game. In 15 days time the condition will be better, but the quality of the game must improve. Arsenal remains very strong and tough, we are fifty-fifty for the qualification. I expected Arsenal to be like this. For the moment it is going through, Milan did its best. Even though, on the aesthetic level, we could have done more. At times we try to search too much for the through ball, rather than the shot on goal. We have good shooters and we must take advantage of these solutions."

Carlo Ancelotti again: “Amauri is a player who has important characteristics; he could be amongst the players indicated for the Milan future even though I have no preference. The four players in attack? Who knows, maybe there could be a surprise…We need to have four attackers of high level, considering that Ronaldo will return in 2009. I put my hand in the fire that Gilardino will remain with us next year. Palermo has changed a lot in these years. In the first round we played the best game of the season and we came out defeated. Now there’s Guidolin who change the team’s tactics, if we did not win it was a coincidence. Kaka? Last year he was the top scorer of the Champions League, but his role is not that of a scorer. I think he will score more goals. Kalac? He’s improving, if he played on Wednesday he can play also tomorrow.”

from acmilan.com

Words from ancelotti (Milan - Palermo = 2-1)

"It was the most difficult second half of the season so far, we are a bit tired, we have to admit it and we also have a number of injuries. Kaká got a knock to where he was already hurting, but I don't think it's anything serious. Palermo are a difficult team to face, we started poorly in the first half but then the team played well. In the second half we were unable to repeat ourselves because lately we are struggling. The referees? I think we should continue believing them, but certain penalty kicks have to be given."

"In Europe referees are a lot more confident in situations like fouls from behind, our players have to be protected like that as well. But for now let's think about the table, it will be a very tough period because the team is not in great form right now and there is a second leg eighth final against Arsenal to play, we cannot give up."

"At Catania we will certainly rotate some players, I think Kaká won't be available and we will have to evaluate Seedorf's condition."

from acmilan.com

Ancelotti quotes (Parma - Milan)

Adriano Galliani talked about Milan's performance in the 0-0 draw at the Tardini stadium of Parma:

"Tonight we had some difficulties, we improved in the second half when we changed our formation. In any case there is still a long battle ahead, there's time, now let's see what Fiorentina will do. Once again Kalac did very well, he's a certainty, but we already knew he was a great goalkeeper, otherwise we wouldn't have bought him. Now let's hope we get back Pato and Seedorf for the Champions League match in London and go there with a full squad, except of course for Ronaldo."

Also coach Carlo Ancelotti was positive on the team's second half:

"We were too scared in the first half, Parma played at a very high rhythm. Probably in the first half we were also still tired from the game against Livorno. But ours was not a physical problem because we improved in the second half and attacked with more vigor, we controlled the match and did not drop our pace in the final part of the match, showing a good overall condition."

"The objective was always to reach the fourth place, today we can say we've reached it even though Fiorentina have a game in hand of course."

"Kaká played a good match while Nesta was extraordinary. Kalac confirmed the high level of performance he's been giving lately. Now we have the match against Arsenal, we are confident."

Ancelotti declaration during the eve of AC MILAN - LIVORNO

“Doubts and certainties for tomorrow? There will not be Pato or Kaka. Gattuso will return, just like Gila, following his suspension of last Sunday. For the rest, we must evaluate those who played on Sunday. Probably Nesta will not play, because he has not yet recovered from the back problems, and even Maldini, who I must rest for one round. Pirlo and Ambrosini are fine, they have recovered and will be available. Pato is a bit behind Kaka. Ricky will be available against Parma. Ronaldo? It’s a condition not physical problem. There is the possibility of making him work well this week and propose him against Parma. Gattuso is fine, he has recovered very quickly, also thanks to the great application that he had in under taking the treatment. He is particular in this, he’s a great professional. Seedorf is fine, he recovered from the ankle injury. Gourcuff? Tomorrow could be a chance also for him."

“If Inzaghi has difficulty in his recovery, Paloschi will play from the start. Otherwise he will start from the bench and Inzaghi will play. Pippo with Gila? It’s a possibility, at most we shall put a traffic light! (he jokes and laughs). Paloschi is very young, just like Pato, and he still has the possibility to form himself and grow. Pato is already physically formed. Alberto will surely stay with us next year, the intention is of adding him to the squad of the first team. If I was moved after his first goal? Something incredible happen, at times football can reserve these unexpected emotions and surprises for everyone. We hoped in the goal, but to happen for real it was a great surprise. To develop the young ones? Kaka and Pato have become first team players. At Milan to play you must be very good. For Paloschi it’s different, he must grow, acquire personality and knowledge, we need more caution.”

“The young ones give enthusiasm, I see them careful. In the case of Pato and Paloschi, they seem to me very mature and settled, without the danger of easy enthusiasms. Milan is a team which manages to add in the best way any type of age. No one pays the fact of being added to the team. A normal rapport is created between the team mates, also amongst the younger ones and the most expert."

"With the arrival of Camolese, Livorno changed gear as it climbed up the standings and found the right goal scoring vein of Tavano. It’s a healthy formation, just like Siena was. Even the Amaranti played on Sunday. From a rhythm point of view, I think that we shall have less difficulty than in the last game, where we found problems tied to the long inactivity of many players who were coming back following an injury. It’s very important to have recovered them, they will useful for us from now onwards.”

“The team is doing well, because it's evaluating well the moment. Tomorrow we consider it as a great chance. From when we started again, we did more from the points level than what we thought we could do, we almost always won. Tomorrow we have the great chance of returning to the fourth place.”

“Referees? They make mistakes because to ref is not easy. They made mistakes towards everyone. There is no subjection. More errors in favour of Inter? Just chance. The appeal of Catania on Materazzi? It’s something to ask the club, but it has already happened before that a player who is not fine on Wednesday recovers for Sunday.”

“Ronaldo? On Sunday he was not in the best condition to play, if I had other possibilities I wouldn't have sent him on the pitch. Paloschi from the first minute was excessive in my opinion, so not to charge him too much. On Sunday I appreciated Ronie's will to help out, despite the fact that he wasn't in good condition. If Ronaldo finds the right conditions, his contract will be renewed. He has problems tied to the conditions, which he did not manage to find due to the numerous injuries. We have passed a period of emergency and we still are. Now Inzaghi has recovered, Kaka and Pato will do so in a week's time. We can risk of not having Ronaldo in the best form."

“Returning in fourth place could be an advantage, but we know that the fight will continue till the end, as we face great opponents. The training camp of Dubai did us well, it was an important period, especially for those like us who have the possibility to work during the week. If we think that from now until May we will only have two weeks without work, from the 9th until 16th March and the 13th up to 20th April, we have little time to develop a certain work of physical and tactical work. You find it difficult to train, from every point of view."

Galliani and Ancelotti quotes

ADRIANO GALLIANI:

"After Paloschi's goal I immediately left the stadium exactly like I did last week following Pato's goal. Paloschi did great, he's only 18 years old and he's already scored three goals: two in the Coppa Italia against Catania and one today. Now we have the match against Livorno on Wednesday which gives us an opportunity to leapfrog Fiorentina in fourth place, we have to try. Yesterday night I made a pact with the team for the following two league games after Muslimovic's second goal against Fiorentina, we have made the first step and now let's hope we can continue on Wednesday. Siena played very well, we knew it would be a difficult match especially because of our missing players, and because five of our players were coming off a long injury lay-off, like Serginho and Jankulovski. It was a fundamental victory, we were fearing this game all week.
Once again Kalac saved the result at the last minute and I'd say we have to thank him for the four points he has added to our total between today and the match against Fiorentina, where he also made a great save near the end.
Today we got our fifth consecutive victory in 2008, plus a defeat and a victory in the two recovered matches in midweek."

CARLO ANCELOTTI:

"Not everyone is able to do what Paloschi did today, scoring on your debut 18 seconds after coming on is incredible. I'm very happy for him, I think he's predestined, he has a great goalscoring ability. The players experience the same tension on the bench as on the pitch, they come in with the right spirit and are able to change the course of a match. I am very satisfied with what the team did today, there is a great sense of belonging to this club. Today we had players on the pitch who hadn't played for quite a while and they managed to do well. Until today we have been following other teams, now on Wednesday we'll try to make the others follow us.

"Paloschi has been playing with us for seven years, he can still improve a lot, but all the coaches he's had worked well with him. He's a very determined and serious lad, the future is on his side."

"Vergassola's red card? I think it was the right decision to take, the arm was not close to his body, after the recent meeting with the referees the indications regarding these episodes were very clear."

"Today we started a small rotation, we have to thank all the players in the squad, everyone made sacrifices to be ready. The same goes for Kalac. He feels very sure of himself and is getting stronger and stronger, we have to be proud to have two great goalkeepers."




from acmilan.com