The Archive

October 2014

Montolivo fracture has healed
30.10 || webmaster

Riccardo Montolivo’s fractured tibia has now healed, so he can resume training with the Milan squad.

The midfielder broke his leg during an Italy friendly against the Republic of Ireland in May, ruling him out of the World Cup.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Torres: 'I wanted to quit Chelsea'
30.10 || webmaster

Fernando Torres insists Jose Mourinho did not force him out of Chelsea, but it was his decision to join Milan in the summer.

The two-year loan will ensure Torres sees out the rest of his Chelsea contract at the Serie A club.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Inzaghi: 'A balanced league'
30.10 || webmaster

Pippo Inzaghi told Milan to forget their current Serie A status after a 1-1 draw at Cagliari. “It’s a balanced League.”

The Rossoneri are in third place after Udinese and Sampdoria both lost this evening.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: Cagliari 1:1 AC Milan - match report
30.10 || webmaster

Scorers: Ibarbo 24 (C), Bonaventura 35 (M)

Giacomo Bonaventura’s lob cancelled out a Victor Ibarbo opener as Milan drew 1-1 at Cagliari.

The Sardinians were full of confidence after a 4-0 win away to Empoli and for the first time opened up another section of the Stadio Sant’Elia stands following restructuring work that had gone on for over a year. Sebastian Eriksson was the only absentee as Daniele Conti and Luca Ceppitelli returned, while Milan missed Riccardo Montolivo and brought Fernando Torres back into the starting XI after he was dropped for the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan 1:1 Fiorentina - match report
26.10 || webmaster

Scorers: De Jong 26 (M), Ilicic 64 (F)

The Viola had won the last three editions of this Serie A fixture, but missed David Pizarro, Mario Gomez and Giuseppe Rossi. The hosts dropped Fernando Torres and Diego Lopez, while Nigel de Jong returned from suspension.

Ignazio Abate and Sulley Muntari had early efforts charged down, while Norberto Neto flew for a stunning one-handed save on Stephan El Shaarawy. It wouldn’t have counted as the Milan man was offside, but the goalkeeper wasn’t to know that.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan back Verona on racism
22.10 || webmaster

Milan have backed Verona’s claim there was no racist abuse aimed at Sulley Muntari during Sunday’s game.

Hellas Verona saw the Curva Nord closed for one match as punishment for racist chanting at Sulley Muntari, but the club released a statement vehemently denying any such thing.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Verona deny racist chanting
22.10 || webmaster

Hellas Verona released a statement calling accusations of racism against Milan “the low point of our history.”

The Disciplinary Commission decided to close the Curva Sud for one game due to racist chanting aimed at Sulley Muntari, but the club wants to lodge an appeal.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Van Basten doubts over Inzaghi
22.10 || webmaster

Former Milan legend Marco van Basten has expressed his concerns about Pippo Inzaghi’s lack of managerial experience.

The former striker is in the San Siro hotseat this season having replaced former teammate Clarence Seedorf.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: Verona 1:3 AC Milan - goals/highlights
19.10 || webmaster

Serie A: Verona 1:3 AC Milan - match report
19.10 || webmaster

Scorers: Marques og 21 (M), Honda 27, 57 (M), Nico Lopez 87 (V)

Keisuke Honda scored twice and thanked a comical own goal, as Milan ended their Bentegodi curse by beating Verona 3-1.

Both teams were locked together on 11 points going into the Stadio Bentegodi, which was a notoriously tough venue for the Rossoneri, losing here last season and a 5-3 defeat in 1973 costing them the Scudetto. Nigel de Jong was suspended and Riccardo Montolivo injured, but Diego Lopez, Giacomo Bonaventura, Marco van Ginkel and Jeremy Menez were fit for the bench. Hellas missed Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Jacopo Sala and Mounir Obbadi.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Inzaghi: 'Milan better than expected'
19.10 || webmaster

Pippo Inzaghi admits he “didn’t expect to be 3-0 up” away to Verona and hailed Keisuke Honda.

Milan are top scorers in Serie A this season and Honda’s brace took his tally to six, on a par with Carlos Tevez of Juventus.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Gandini: Berlusconi brings enthusiasm
19.10 || webmaster

Umberto Gandini has reflected on the cost of not making the Champions League, and the enthusiasm Silvio Berlusconi brings to Milan.

The President has set a new tradition this season to visit the playing staff at Milanello every Friday for a couple of hours.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan considering Soriano
19.10 || webmaster

Tuttosport suggest Sampdoria’s Roberto Soriano is the latest name to be added to Milan’s list of transfer targets.

The German-born Italy Under-21-capped player has attracted attention in recent months for his development under Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Verona injuries ahead of AC Milan
15.10 || webmaster

The Hellas Verona injury crisis is intensifying ahead of this weekend’s game with Milan, as Jacopo Sala and Gustavo Campanharo pulled up.

Both players interrupted this afternoon’s training session, as Sala had a muscular problem and Campanharo felt pain in his right knee.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Ancelotti guides Khedira to AC Milan?
15.10 || webmaster

The Corriere dello Sport indicate that Carlo Ancelotti is pushing to convince Sami Khedira to lower his wage demands and consider Milan.

The midfielder looks set to leave Real Madrid in January or next summer, having failed so far to agree to extend his contract at the Bernabeu, which expires next summer.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Essien: Inzaghi like Ancelotti
15.10 || webmaster

Michael Essien has praised Milan Coach Filippo Inzaghi, comparing him to former Rossonero and current Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti spent eight years on the San Siro bench, lifting two Champions League titles as well as winning Serie A in 2004.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

‘Honda didn’t change, AC Milan did’
15.10 || webmaster

The brother of Keisuke Honda has put the Japanese midfielder’s recent good form down to an improved Milan under Pippo Inzaghi.

The 28-year-old failed to make much of an impact during his first six months with the Rossoneri, having joined the Milanese giants in January, but he has started the new season well, scoring four goals in six appearances to date.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Albertazzi: Verona tough to beat
15.10 || webmaster

Michelangelo Albertazzi has enthused at life at Milan under Pippo Inzaghi, and also offers the inside track on weekend opponents Verona.

The Rossoneri travel out to the Bentegodi this Sunday for the resumption of League football to face off against the team Albertazzi spent the last two seasons with.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan have Menez doubt
15.10 || webmaster

Milan could be without Jeremy Menez for their weekend trip to face Hellas Verona, but Diego Lopez is back training with the group.

Frenchman Menez is suffering from a groin injury picked up last week and, according to Sky Sport 24, will undergo a fitness test at Milanello today.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Alex: Inzaghi has great desire
15.10 || webmaster

Milan defender Alex has been impressed with Coach Pippo Inzaghi since joining the club, and admits: “I’ve never trained so much.”

The 32-year-old, who joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer this summer from Paris Saint-Germain, has reflected on his motivation for the move and how he has found the early adaptation.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Marco Simone appointed at Laussane
13.10 || webmaster

Former Milan forward Marco Simone has been confirmed today as the new coach of Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport.

The 45-year old has been at the club since November 2013 in the role of technical director, and has signed a contract to manage the Swiss Super League side for the remainder of the season, taking over from Francesco Gabriele.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Menez: AC Milan gave me confidence
13.10 || webmaster

Jeremy Menez has spoken about his move to Milan, revealing the Ibiza meeting with Filippo Inzaghi and Adriano Galliani sealed the deal.

The 27-year-old returned to Italy with the Rossoneri this summer at the expiry of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Berlusconi: AC Milan are recovering
13.10 || webmaster

Milan President Silvio Berlusconi has spoken about his plans for the club’s return to the top, dreaming of the 2016 Champions League Final.

The Rossoneri’s shared San Siro will host that event in 18 months’ time and the club’s owner and long-standing President has suggested his side will be improved and on the rise by then.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan deny Essien has Ebola
12.10 || webmaster

Milan have been forced to “categorically deny” rumours in the African media that Michael Essien contracted Ebola.

The reports have been swirling round several websites this weekend and the club released a statement assuring these claims were “totally without foundation.”

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Nakata hails Roma and Honda
12.10 || webmaster

Hidetoshi Nakata hopes Roma win the Scudetto and has advice for Milan midfielder Keisuke Honda.

The first Japanese player to truly make his mark in Serie A, ex-Perugia and Roma man Nakata spoke to Calciomercato.com.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan consider Cagliari's Murru
12.10 || webmaster

Milan are being linked with a January offer for Cagliari’s Italy Under-21 international Nicola Murru.

Still only 19, the left-back is a versatile figure who can also play in central defence or on the right when needed.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Balotelli sale 'made everyone happy'
12.10 || webmaster

Selling Mario Balotelli to Liverpool for £16m made “everyone happy,” said Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini.

This does echo other comments made by Adriano Galliani and Coach Pippo Inzaghi, who said the team gained in unity following his departure.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

'Coppa is Milan's Champions League'
12.10 || webmaster

“The Coppa Italia is our Champions League” this season, said Pippo Inzaghi, as he outlined his vision for Milan.

This is the first time in over a decade that the Rossoneri have failed to qualify for Europe, as 13 times in the last 15 years they were in the Champions League.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Inzaghi: 'AC Milan my dream job'
12.10 || webmaster

Pippo Inzaghi reveals how he felt to be offered his dream Milan job and admits mistakes made this summer.

SuperPippo sat down with La Gazzetta dello Sport for a lengthy interview and looked back over the day he was asked to take over by President Silvio Berlusconi.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Albertini: 'Milan and Inter don't plan'
12.10 || webmaster

Demetrio Albertini feels Inter and Milan “change too much every year” compared to Juventus and Roma.

The two San Siro based clubs have struggled in recent years, while Juve and Roma continue to dominate Serie A.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan want Simeone Jr.
12.10 || webmaster

Milan are thought to be targeting the son of Atletico Madrid Coach Diego Simeone, Giovanni.

The centre-forward is currently part of the River Plate youth academy and has a buy-out clause in his contract worth €15m.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

De Sciglio and Zaza knocks
12.10 || webmaster

Simone Zaza and Mattia De Sciglio have small injury concerns ahead of Italy’s Euro qualifier in Malta.

The Azzurri beat Azerbaijan 2-1 last night and will fly to Malta for their next match on Monday evening.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Amelia: 'Balotelli makes you angry'
12.10 || webmaster

Ex-Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia reveals how Mario Balotelli “makes teammates angry” in the locker room and in a game.

Balotelli has now moved to Liverpool and Amelia is a free agent, but the goalkeeper was asked what it was like to be SuperMario’s teammate.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Atalanta defend Bonaventura fee
12.10 || webmaster

Source: Football Italia

Atalanta President Antonio Percassi has rejected claims that he sold Giacomo Bonaventura too cheaply to Milan.

The versatile attacking midfielder joined the Diavolo on transfer deadline day for a fee believed to be in the region of €5m to €7m.

“I’ve been accused of selling him on the cheap,” the club chief told Bergamo TV. “That’s almost offensive to me seeing as I have made my fair share of business deals in the past.

“The truth is that player values have fallen because co-ownership deals no longer exist. These deals in the past made it easier to cover up mistakes.

“At the end of the day, we have to make sure our accounts are in order and we were given an opportunity to sell Bonaventura and Andrea Consigli (to Sassuolo).

“I think we behaved well in both circumstances.”

Percassi also rubbished rumours that Juventus had made him an offer for veteran striker German Denis.

“Nothing ever arrived from Juve for Denis, but had that happened then I would have informed them that we would not have even discussed his departure.”

Atalanta have had a less than stellar start of the season to put it mildly, with them sitting on the 17th place in the standings. Milan, on the other hand, are 5th, which is much too low for a team of their stature. The latest Betfair odds put Milan as likely contenders for the Champions League spots while Atalanta could be primed for relegation. It's safe to say though that the standings are less relevant at the start of the season and it remains to be seen how good each team is as the season plays out.

As for Bonaventura, most pundits have been impressed by his performances so far with the Rossoneri and it will be interesting to see how Pippo Inzaghi will set up the midfield once Riccardo Montolivo is also back.