AC MILAN :: ROSSANERRI

Huntelaar Knows How To Score, But In Italy It Is Difficult - Patrick Kluivert
The former Rossoneri striker knows how difficult it is to pierce Serie A's defences...

21 Aug 2009 09:12:30

Patrick Kluivert, who played for Milan in 1997-98, has praised their latest Dutch striker, but warned Klaas-Jan Huntelaar that it is much easier to score in Spain's Primera Division than in Italy.

"He knows how to score lots of goals," the 33-year-old told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I hope he does well, I am supporting him and all the other Dutchmen. But Italy is a very difficult place for a striker - in Spain it is easier."

Kluivert played alongside Ronaldinho in his years at Barcelona, and the Dutchman, who was hardly a picture of abstinence himself in his playing days, believes 'Ronnie' should be left to his own devices.

"Even at Barcelona he lived in his own way and we won," Kluivert explained. "He needs to enjoy himself in order to play well. He should be a little bit careful, and if he starts to play well then people should keep their mouths shut. Ronnie is a class apart."

Kluivert, now a coach with PSV after a spell with AZ Alkmaar last season, then hinted that he would like to join up with new coach Leonardo.

"I am working with one of PSV's youth teams, last year I had experience with [Louis] van Gaal at AZ. I have been training attackers - if Leonardo needs a helper I am ready. 'Leo' is smart, he will be a good coach," Kluivert concluded.

alhamdulilah...permulaan yg baik...



Serie A - Pato and Ronaldinho shine as Milan win

Eurosport - Sat, 22 Aug 22:18:00 2009


Milan were deserving 2-1 winners at Siena on the opening weekend of Serie A, Alexandre Pato scoring twice as Ronaldinho pulled strings in midfield.
FOOTBALL 2009-10 Serie A - Milan's Pato celebrates with team-mates Mathieu Flamini and Ronaldinho after scoring against Siena -


Algeria forward Abdelkader Ghezzal equalised Pato's 29th-minute opener on 34 minutes as Siena fought for a result in the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

However Pato, both of whose goals were created by Ronaldinho, struck early in the second period to give Milan the three points.

Milan coach Leonardo, who oversaw a terrible pre-season after taking over from the departed Carlo Ancelotti, had said before the game it was time for former Barcelona star Ronaldinho to step up.

The Rossoneri, smarting from the departure of Kaka to Real Madrid, will be overjoyed to see the former world player of the year conduct their attacking endeavours from deep in such devastating fashion.

His masterpiece came halfway through the second half, with Milan seemingly coasting: a ball was played across just off the ground, and he flicked it up before executing a beautiful bicycle kick - forcing a flying Gianluca Curci to tip over.

In the first period he set up Marek Jankulovski, Pato - from a free-kick, a disallowed header for offside - and his Brazil team-mate again for the first goal.

As Pato sprang the offside trap on the right, Ronnie played a weighted pass through for him: he feinted once then shot, the advancing Curci's touch only enough to send it into the far corner.

Unfancied Siena then clawed their way into the match, former Middlesbrough frontman Massimo Maccarone always a handful outside the 18-yard box.

They equalised when Lukas Jarolim's low shot across the area was palmed straight to Ghezzal by Marco Storari - and he stuck it in the back of the net.

Milan were on the back foot as Siena looked for a second, Maccarone the chief threat in all their attacks.

Half-time arrived though and soon after the restart Milan were back in front, Ronaldinho playing a firm, accurate pass through a crowd of bodies in the area where Mathieu Flamini squared first time across the six-yard box for Pato to finish.

Maccarone's forages down the flanks were not finding anyone in the danger area and so Marco Giampaolo introduced Michele Paolucci, signed after a loan spell at Catania last season.

Brazilian Thiago Silva, making his competitive debut in Milan's defence, was impressive as the Rossoneri coped with the absence of retired legend Paolo Maldini.

Siena carved out a series of corners late on as Storari's aerial prowess was tested, but Pato had the best chance when Ronaldinho spun on a sixpence to guide a brilliant ball through the defence for him - and he could only find the side-netting with a hat-trick and the match ball beckoning.

Thiago Silva Urges Milan To React After Derby Defeat
The Brazilian defender admits the derby thrashing is hard to swallow, but he is insistent that the Rossoneri have what it takes to turn things around.
Sep 2, 2009 8:40:23 AM


Thiago Silva, who is in his maiden season in Italy with Milan, is adamant coach Leonardo will be able to get the side back on track in no time after a bad weekend.

After a positive start to the Serie A campaign, the Derby della Madonnina brought the Rossoneri back down to earth, hammered 4-0 by bitter rivals Inter on Saturday night.

“It’s hard to digest such a defeat in the derby, but the team is strong,” the Brazilian centre-back told the club’s official website.

“We will talk about the game and analyse the mistakes we committed on the pitch after working intensely for a week to prepare for this clash.

“We played well at the beginning up until the moment we conceded a goal: we needed to remain calm to try and turn the situation around, but instead we got nervous.

“Everyone knows that in these situations you have to keep calm. Now we have to work a lot on tactics, but Leonardo is a very good coach.”

Milan will travel to Tuscany after the international break to face newly-promoted side Livorno, who gave a good account of themselves at Napoli last weekend, despite suffering a 3-1 loss.

Milan Forward Filippo Inzaghi Equals Gerd Muller European Record
Super Pippo has equalled the former Bayern Munich player's European goalscoring record...
Sep 16, 2009 2:47:17 AM

Filippo Inzaghi not only has good reason to smile, after Milan's victory over Marseille in their opening Champions League fixture, but the striker also scored a brace and equalled Gerd Muller's record of 70 goals in European cups.

The former Bayern Munich and Germany star was joined by Super Pippo, after putting two goals in the back of the net.

Pressure has been mounting on Inzaghi and his teammates to produce results, and victory over the French side may have eased tensions at the Rossoneri.

Milan's next match in the European competition is against FC Zurich, at the San Siro, where Inzaghi will be looking to go past the German great.

Leonardo praises AC Milan in victory over Bologna

Mon, 21 Sep 02:36:17 2009


ROME (AFP) - AC Milan coach Leonardo praised his players' pride following their laboured 1-0 home win against Bologna but said he wouldn't get carried away with the result.

Milan sit five points behind leaders Sampdoria and Juventus and three behind champions Inter Milan in the Serie A table after their second win in four matches.

Both of those have been narrow successes against minnow opposition with this win added to their 2-1 victory at Siena on the opening day of the season.

Between those two matches, though, came a pair of disappointments: a 4-0 defeat to Inter and 0-0 draw at Livorno so Leonardo believes that these three points have helped put the club on the right track.

"I'm not using triumphant tones for this victory, there's still many things to do," he said. "My triumph was the commitment the team showed against Bologna. The players did a lot, they showed their pride from the beginning to the end.

"Now there is a fighting mentality; talent mixed in with desire and organisation."

Milan have been starved of domestic success since 2004, their last scudetto triumph, despite twice since reaching the Champions League final, finishing runners-up in 2005 and winning it in 2007, both times against Liverpool.

They have at times been accused of being a team who performs in Europe but then fails to raise their game for mundane league encounters.

But that is something Leonardo is hoping to change.

"The Champions League and championship are different competitions with different opponents," he said.