The Archive

November 2019

Pioli: 'Right AC Milan performance'
24.11 || webmaster

Stefano Pioli maintains Milan “could’ve won” their 1-1 draw with Napoli. “I liked the performances recently and we only narrowly missed out on the result.”

Jack Bonventura cancelled out a Hirving Lozano opener at San Siro, which at least ended a run of two consecutive defeats.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Theo Hernandez: 'Positive point'
24.11 || webmaster

Theo Hernandez said Milan should appreciate the 1-1 home draw with Napoli. “This is a very important point and it’s positive that we didn’t lose.”

Hirving Lozano had opened the scoring for the visitors at San Siro, but Jack Bonaventura’s ferocious strike drew level within five minutes.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan 1:1 Napoli - match report
24.11 || webmaster

Scorers: Lozano 23 (N), Bonaventura 28 (M)

Giacomo Bonaventura’s scorcher earned Milan a point, but Napoli had more possession and scoring opportunities at San Siro in a draw that pleases nobody.

These were the two sides whose tallies were worse off compared to last season, as Napoli were on 19 points (28 by this stage in 2018-19) and Milan 13 (21). The Rossoneri were scrabbling in the bottom half of the table after losing three of their previous four games, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Ismael Bennacer suspended. Suso pulled out in the warm-up, so with Samu Castillejo, Fabio Borini, Leo Duarte and Ricardo Rodriguez injured, Ante Rebic stepped in.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan move for Ibrahimovic
20.11 || webmaster

Milan have opened talks with Zlatan Ibrahimovic over a potential return for the veteran striker.

Sky Sport Italia and ANSA both report Milan spoke to Mino Raiola about possibly bringing back Ibrahimovic for the first time on Wednesday.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Suso hits back at Salvini
20.11 || webmaster

Milan winger Suso hit back at Lega Nord leader Matteo Salvini after the politician criticised his “grit and desire to play football.”

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Salvini is a life-long Rossoneri supporter and has often publicly lambasted the players, coach and directors.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Yonghong Li breaks AC Milan silence?
20.11 || webmaster

Former Milan President Yonghong Li has seemingly broken his silence with an extraordinary offer to “help” the club. “I'm so sad at the way things are going now.”

A Twitter account purporting to be from the Chinese businessman appeared today with a series of messages telling his side of the story.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Romagnoli: 'AC Milan to turn tide'
20.11 || webmaster

Alessio Romagnoli assures Milan are focused on “turning the tide” as the struggling Rossoneri resume their season on Saturday against Napoli.

Romagnoli scored during Italy’s 9-1 win over Armenia on Monday, and the defender now wants to bring that feelgood factor to his club side, who are only 14th in Serie A.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Agent: 'Caldara ready for AC Milan'
20.11 || webmaster

Mattia Caldara’s agent has assured Milan fans that the defender is “ready” to kickstart his career at the club.

The 25-year-old has yet to play a Serie A game for the Rossoneri since his arrival from Juventus in the summer of 2018 due to first an Achilles problem and then an ACL injury.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan free up 60m for Zlatan?
14.11 || webmaster

Milan are reportedly ready to sell Fabio Borini, Franck Kessie and Ricardo Rodriguez to raise €60m for January, including a €4m per year Zlatan Ibrahimovic contract.

The Swedish star confirmed he is leaving LA Galaxy and MLS yesterday and is being linked with a move back to Serie A this winter.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Sampdoria and AC Milan ask for Kean
14.11 || webmaster

After Milan reportedly approached Everton to inquire about Moise Kean, he is now being linked with a loan deal to Sampdoria.

Sampdoria are struggling for form this season and must find a solution to their woes in front of goal, and Tuttomercatoweb journalist Giovanni Albanese reported that they are making a move for the former Juventus starlet.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Suso to become Raiola client?
14.11 || webmaster

Milan attacker Suso is reportedly in talks to become the latest player on Mino Raiola’s books.

Suso is currently without an agent after separating from Alessandro Lucci earlier this week.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan want Ancelotti back
14.11 || webmaster

Milan director Paolo Maldini is looking to bring Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti back to the club, claims Tuttosport.

After a turbulent period at the San Paolo, Ancelotti’s future seems up in the air and reports state he needs to turn the tide sooner rather than later to keep his job.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan 'make Kean approach'
14.11 || webmaster

Milan have reportedly been in touch with Mino Raiola about taking Everton and Italy striker Moise Kean in January.

Big things were expected of Kean at Everton after they splashed out €27.5m to sign him from Juventus over the summer.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Maldini signs new AC Milan deal
14.11 || webmaster

Milan and Italy starlet Daniel Maldini has signed a new contract with the club, taking him through to 2024.

Maldini is the son of Milan legend-turned-director Paolo and grandson of fellow Rossoneri icon Cesare.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Three-way battle for Mertens?
14.11 || webmaster

Milan and Juventus could reportedly join Inter in a three-way fight for Napoli attacker Dries Mertens.

Inter were linked with a January swoop for Mertens yesterday, but Tuttosport claims city rivals Milan are now looking at him to bolster their front line.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan duo suspended with Napoli
14.11 || webmaster

Milan are without Hakan Calhanoglu and Ismael Bennacer against Napoli, while Atalanta have Ruslan Malinovskyi suspended with Juventus.

The Disciplinary Commission gave its verdicts after the Week 12 fixtures and handed out a series of one-match bans.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Xhaka looking for house in Milan
14.11 || webmaster

Arsenal outcast Granit Xhaka is reportedly looking for a property in Milan, as his link to the Rossoneri strengthens before the transfer window this January.

Milan have been linked to the Swiss 27-year-old this week and now RSI reports that Xhaka has been studying the property market in Italy’s fashion capital.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: Juventus 1:0 AC Milan - match report
14.11 || webmaster

Scorers: Dybala 77 (J)

Milan had the better chances for most of the game in Turin, but Paulo Dybala gave Juventus victory with a moment of magic after replacing Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Bianconeri had Ronaldo and Matthijs de Ligt pass fitness tests, as only Giorgio Chiellini was a long-term absentee, but needed a win to recapture the top spot after Inter’s win on Saturday. Stefano Pioli’s men missed Mateo Musacchio, Samu Castillejo and Fabio Borini, but Suso returned after a hip issue.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Why AC Milan is Among the Most Iconic Football Teams in History
14.11 || webmaster

If you ask any football fan to mention the best European teams of all time, AC Milan will undoubtedly feature on the list. Regarded by many as one of the teams that have changed the global footballing landscape, AC Milan still stirs up nostalgia in the hearts of football fans, its current woes notwithstanding.

Fans still have fond memories of the world-beaters who proudly wore the white, red, and black jersey from the late 80s to the 2000s. It is the impressive work ethic and relentless personalities of these stars that transformed the Rossoneri into one of the greatest football clubs in modern history. Be it Carlo Ancelotti, Ruud Gullit, or Marco van Basten, AC Milan always had some of the most renowned footballing names in its ranks.

A Legacy of Unearthing Rare Gems

Before the Galactico wave swept through football, AC Milan was known for signing relatively unknown players from lower leagues and transforming them into world-class players. Think of Gullit, Van Basten, and Frank Rijkaard. The Dutch trio was plucked from relative anonymity in the late 80s, with many questioning the team’s decision to place its faith in relatively unknown and inexperienced players.

These fears proved to be unfounded because the three helped the team win its first European Cup in two decades as well as the Italian Cup during their first two seasons in Milan. Their success was the advent of the golden age for the team and helped position Milan as a force to reckon with in European football.

What made the Rossoneri stand out from the rest of the pack was its flair for slick and eye-catching football, something that always kept fans on their feet each matchday. Everyone who wore the famous jersey was a match-winner for both club and country. If Lottoland calculated the odds of winning a World Cup by a national team back in the day, the victorious side would undoubtedly have a Rossoneri player.

Tactical Ingenuity

At a time when teams focused on the physical side of the game, AC Milan became renowned for its tactical ingenuity. Under Arrigo Sacchi in particular, the team was not only eager to win every week but also to play spectacular football. He was a master tactician and astute motivator who built a team of incredibly hungry and talented players.

Sachi imparted a game-changing philosophy in them with an emphasis on collective intelligence and positional awareness. Soon, the Rossoneri became known for both individual skill and creativity, and a collective zeal to win.

Setting the Bar High

As a show of its dominance in Europe, AC Milan participated in six Champions League seasons between 1989 and 1995. During this period of dominance, Milan won the competition thrice, reached the finals five times, and the semi-final six teams. No other side has had such unprecedented success ever since.

Besides the Rossoneri’s Europen dominance, the team also exceeded expectations in domestic competition. After winning the domestic league in 1988, Milan experienced a slight slump in the next couple of years.

During this time, domestic rivals Napoli and Inter Milan featuring the likes of Maradona and Klinsmann excelled in the Serie A. However, their success was short-lived, with the Rossoneri bouncing back to win back-to-back Serie A titles between 1992 and 1994.

What Made the Rossoneri Tick?

Milan’s dominance during its golden age is probably the reason why many fans consider it an all-time great. Nonetheless, what many fail to understand is that dominance isn’t the only aspect of greatness. In recent history, many sides have been dominant. Often, such dominance comes in leagues and competitions featuring one or two strong teams, and relatively weaker ones.

In this regard, the likes of Juventus and PSG teams of recent years spring to mind. AC Milan’s dominance was balanced with quality. The team had a radical, innovative, and practical approach to football. It also participated in competitions featuring teams that were equally strong, if not better.

Serie A applies for five subs
5.11 || webmaster

The FIGC has officially applied for Serie A clubs to be awarded five substitutions in matches.

Serie A sides are currently entitled to use up to three of their 12 subs during League games, but that could be about to change.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Dunga: 'Paqueta can't save AC Milan'
5.11 || webmaster

Former Brazil coach Dunga said Milan can’t expect 22-year-old Lucas Paqueta to “solve their problems on his own.”

Paqueta came to the Rossoneri in January this year and has since played 22 games in Serie A, scoring once since his €35m transfer from Flamengo.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Castillejo 'out for 10 days'
5.11 || webmaster

Milan winger Samu Castillejo may not be back until after the international break due to a fresh hamstring injury.

The Spaniard limped off during Rossoneri's 2-1 home defeat to Lazio yesterday.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Capello: 'AC Milan have no personality'
5.11 || webmaster

Former Milan boss Fabio Capello claims the Rossoneri “don’t have any personality” after another poor performance against Lazio.

Milan lost 2-1 to Lazio last night, condemning them to their worst start for 78 years, and Capello admits he is worried about the club he led to so much success in the 1990s.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan 1:2 Lazio - match report
5.11 || webmaster

Scorers: Immobile 25 (L), Bastos og 28 (M), Correa 83 (L)

Lazio ended their 30-year wait for a Serie A victory at San Siro, as Ciro Immobile and Joaquin Correa beat Milan 2-1 and put the Aquile in joint fourth place.

Stefano Pioli got his first win on the Rossoneri bench in a midweek 1-0 result with SPAL, but lost Suso and Mateo Musacchio to injury. He transformed the midfield, dropping Franck Kessie and Lucas Biglia for Rade Krunic and Ismael Bennacer. The Biancocelesti had a full squad to choose from after their 4-0 thrashing of Torino and a victory would put them joint fourth with Atalanta and Cagliari.

Read the rest on Football Italia.