View Full Version : Champions League Final: AC Milan vs Liverpool (ALL-match comments)
Let's talk about the match of the season. What's done is done, this is what it's all about.
It is a bit too early, isn't it? Our boys haven't recovered from heavy legs for the big game against dopers, and you already started a thread pushing them back to work again??? :fero:
:D :D
I will say that we will see a almighty Milan in Istanbul, we won't let this golden chance slip. But indeed, it is a big too early. We've got to kill the zebras first.
Forza Milan!!!!
You're damn right I am. We got to keep in line with these guys out on Xtratime don't we? ;)
No kidding, I think the next match starts after the final whistle of the previous one. The final is already under way.
Cant wait for the match! But, my confidence has been adjusted slightly downward after todays dismal performance. I just hope we don't underestimate Liverpool. They've been the underdogs throughout. I still think Milan plays to win in big matches. So long as we stay healthy between now and then, we're good to go. But, for now, lets :cheers:!
All season we have been waiting to post in a thread by this name :)
POST MATCH - CL FINAL - MILAN VS ............ and the blank was filled by Liverpool. Not Barca, not Chelsea, not Juve, not Real Madrid, not Bayern - but LIVERPOOL.
So WELCOME Liverpool fans to this discussion. May the best team win the title in Istanbul and you KNOW that we believe that team will be Milan. However, after tonights display against PSV, who knows :)
savicevic
05-05-2005, 05:19
exactly Nadir. the only team that respected the bookmaker's favourites was Milan. so we should be partly happy.
i was thinking, what gear will milan opt for? i think l'pool will go for red, milan white, same gear we used against:
- benfica 63
- steaua 89
- benfica 90
- barcelona 94
- juventus 03
ACMILAN1983
05-05-2005, 05:40
Definately white I think. Milan have the superstition about the white "gear" ;)
You know what guys??? I'm happy that we are playing Liverpool. And it is not the reason some people might think it for. I'm glad Liverpool is in not becasue they beat what some may consider a tougher side Chelsea. I'm glad we are playing them because they are truly a Champion's League giant with much history in this tournament as ours. We are after our 7th and they their 5th. It's not Madrid, but guys this is a big game between two big CL teams.
I'll tell you something too. Though I expect Milan to win this years CL title, we all know that Liverpool is a worthy foe to contend with. There is no other team that I actually would be more proud to contend with then this one. Maybe even to lose to. I know it's heresy what I'm saying, but what I mean is that I'll be able to handle to lose to these guys without getting all fricking retarded and all. This one is going to be a very good match with a lot of drama. More so than if we were to had faced Chelsea.
My Favorite Teams have made it to the Final, I was hoping for this ever since the q/f draws were made. Forza Milan we are gonna take it no doubt. :lick:
1 last victim left: LIVERPOOL ... LETS GO MILAAAAAAAAAAAANNN!!!!!!!!!
if we win this one, give us 5 more seasons and we can overtake real madrid as the team to win the most CLs ever!
savicevic
05-05-2005, 07:12
let us start by taking a look at Liverpool's squad
Liverpool FC Squad - 2004-05 Liverpool FC Staff
Rafael Benitez - Manager
1. Jerzy Dudek
3. Steve Finnan
4. Sami Hyypia
5. Milan Baros
6. John Arne Riise
7. Harry Kewell
8. Steven Gerrard
9. Djibril Cisse
10. Luis Garcia
11. Vladimir Smicer
12. Mauricio Pellegrino (cup-tied)
13. Anthony Le Tallec
14. Xabi Alonso
15. Salif Diao (on loan to Birmingham City)
16. Dietmar Hamann
17. Josemi Josemi
18. Antonio Nunez
19. Fernando Morientes (cup-tied)
20. Scott Carson
21. Djimi Traore
22. Chris Kirkland
23. Jamie Carragher
24. Florent Sinama Pongolle (out for the rest of the season)
25. Igor Biscan
26. Richie Partridge
28. Stephen Warnock
29. Patrice Luzi
31. David Raven
32. John Welsh
33. Neil Mellor (out for the rest of the season)
34. Darren Potter
36. Jon Otsemobor
37. Zak Whitbread
40. Paul Harrison
41. Mark Smyth
42. Robbie Foy
Others (on loan to): Gregory Vignal (Rangers), Alou Diarra (Lens), David Mannix (three years on the sidelines - knee injury), Carl Medjani (L'Orient), Bruno Cheyrou (Marseille), El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton W.)
savicevic
05-05-2005, 07:15
what one can observe at first glance is that fernando morientes (even though he is cup-tied) is a good luck charm. he was with monaco last time, and the under-dogs ended up playing the final.
he has joined l'pool in mid-season this year following a disappointing period at real, and l'pool, against all odds, manage to go to the final.
let's hope he's just good luck to get you through the semi-final, but then it stops there.
We've been underdogs all season long and I couldn't think of a more fitting side to be contesting the final with than Milan. The one team in Italy I have an affinity for, maybe Debs has rubbed off on me a bit over the years:D
Sheva Vs Carra should be an interesting contest. All I can say is that whoever wins it will be a fitting winner, and obviously I'm hoping it's the mighty reds.:D
The last time my team were in the biggest final in club football I was 9 years old, I've waited 20 years for this moment and I am going to savour every moment of it. If we win I'll be over the moon, but I'll also spare a thought for you guys. I'm hoping you'll do the same:D
I think that milan its going to win because we are much more prepared than liverpool i LOVE U MILAN :3band:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4516555.stm
good article here for people who don't know the euro pedigree of both clubs
exactly Nadir. the only team that respected the bookmaker's favourites was Milan. so we should be partly happy.
i was thinking, what gear will milan opt for? i think l'pool will go for red, milan white, same gear we used against:
- benfica 63
- steaua 89
- benfica 90
- barcelona 94
- juventus 03
Milan have a superstition for cup finals - that they must wear white. I remember they explicity asked to wear white against Juve. Liverpool probably want to wear red anyway as it is the colour they are known by.
by the way, i found this on UEFA.com
"The Sun, clearly unconvinced by Milan, commented: "(Liverpool captain) Steven Gerrard had better practise lifting trophies. Milan are not as good as they think.""
a little english arrogance there i see. Let's be honest - the liverpoolers are shaking in their boots at the prospect of facing Milan.
zlatanov
05-05-2005, 08:31
what one can observe at first glance is that fernando morientes (even though he is cup-tied) is a good luck charm. he was with monaco last time, and the under-dogs ended up playing the final.
he has joined l'pool in mid-season this year following a disappointing period at real, and l'pool, against all odds, manage to go to the final.
let's hope he's just good luck to get you through the semi-final, but then it stops there.
Agree - it was in the stars all along, Juve and Chelski simply failed to see it :diablo:
Let's hope Morro brings Liverpool the same luck he brought to Monaco - a 3-zip loss in the final.
This being said, I have always liked Liverpool and honestly struggled to understand what happened to this legendary club over the past 20 years of anonimity - bad management, I guess.
Cudos to them for making it to the final - they had a tough road ahead of them for they had play Juve and Chelsea but it's gonna get even tougher in that last game.
Forza Milaaaaaaaan !!!
Agree - it was in the stars all along, Juve and Chelski simply failed to see it :diablo:
Let's hope Morro brings Liverpool the same luck he brought to Monaco - a 3-zip loss in the final.
This being said, I have always liked Liverpool and honestly struggled to understand what happened to this legendary club over the past 20 years of anonimity - bad management, I guess.
Cudos to them for making it to the final - they had a tough road ahead of them for they had play Juve and Chelsea but it's gonna get even tougher in that last game.
Forza Milaaaaaaaan !!!
what happened was a lengthy ban for english clubs from playing in europe. teams that received most of their income from euro games suddenly found their income stifled. the other teams started focusing on the local titles and hence man u had that great surge in the late 80's early 90's. liverpool still had great talent like barnes, rush, aldridge, nicol and grobelaar and were competing for titles in the late 80's but then the tides changed when they lost their best players and never got around to signing big names because of a lack of $.
This is by far the worst match of the season by Milan.The fact that they conceded a goal just after Ambrosini scored was shocking.It's obvious that Milan's flanks will be bombarded by Liverpool.We were totally exposed at the back.The only reason i can think of is fatigue.It's not easy for us to compete on both fronts and give a hundred per cent all the time.However the player that disappointed most was Seedorf.He has been looking out of sorts lately.I hope Ancelotti fields Ambro instead of Seedorf.Ambro has proven his worth.He is good in the air and he helps to secure the defence.I hope Crespo or Rui Costa play especially the latter.Costa has the big-match temperament.It is especially important for Milan to get the early goal and settle the nerves.
Latest news from,Sun,British tabloid.They have advised Gerard to start practising how to lift trophies as they feel that we are not as good as we look.I hope Milan can shut the English fans once and for all by beating yet another English team.
FORZA MILAN!
FORZA MILAN!
FORZA MILAN!
FORZA MILAN!
FORZA MILAN!
Peachtot
05-05-2005, 09:29
Personally, I think liverpool is a tough team for Milan looked by the way milan play. Milan always in trouble against a team who play with high pressure, up tempo and high determination like Liverpool did all the time.
I think Pirlo or seedorf should be more careful when playing the ball in their feet caused Liverpool midfielders will chase the ball quickly, steal then give through pass to 'speedy' barros...
Physically Liverpool over than MIlan.....BEWARE !!
by the way, i found this on UEFA.com
"The Sun, clearly unconvinced by Milan, commented: "(Liverpool captain) Steven Gerrard had better practise lifting trophies. Milan are not as good as they think.""
They might have pointed out that Maldini has had plenty of experience lifting trophies, so he doesn't need to practise. :D
exactly Nadir. the only team that respected the bookmaker's favourites was Milan. so we should be partly happy.
i was thinking, what gear will milan opt for? i think l'pool will go for red, milan white, same gear we used against:
- benfica 63
- steaua 89
- benfica 90
- barcelona 94
- juventus 03
Liverpool will be in their all red kit, which means Milan will be in their "lucky" all white kit.
We have won 5 finals in the white kit, those 5 as mentioned by you above. We beat Ajax in 1969 in our traditional rossonero colors.
zlatanov
05-05-2005, 10:28
what happened was a lengthy ban for english clubs from playing in europe. teams that received most of their income from euro games suddenly found their income stifled. the other teams started focusing on the local titles and hence man u had that great surge in the late 80's early 90's. liverpool still had great talent like barnes, rush, aldridge, nicol and grobelaar and were competing for titles in the late 80's but then the tides changed when they lost their best players and never got around to signing big names because of a lack of $.
In other words - bad management. All the other English teams had to live under the exact same conditions and ManU and Arsenal, although not being incredibly successful in Europe, managed to maintain their stature in the EPL by taking turns at winning the title. Liverpool on the other hand not only disappeared from the European scene but haven't been able to win the domestic title for more than 15 years now and, except for that season under Houllier, they never even came close to doing so.
zlatanov
05-05-2005, 10:36
Personally, I think liverpool is a tough team for Milan looked by the way milan play. Milan always in trouble against a team who play with high pressure, up tempo and high determination like Liverpool did all the time.
I think Pirlo or seedorf should be more careful when playing the ball in their feet caused Liverpool midfielders will chase the ball quickly, steal then give through pass to 'speedy' barros...
Physically Liverpool over than MIlan.....BEWARE !!
Let's not judge Milan based on 1-2 bad games alone. Against the Milan team from yesterday it would be extremely difficult to find a so-so decent team that won't have the upper hand on us - even Brescia and Fiorentina showed that.
Unfortunately for the arrogant English journalists-wanna-bes, the final is three weeks away and by than many things can and will happen and I am sure we will be able to get over this bad period we are going through right now.
Milan have a superstition for cup finals - that they must wear white. I remember they explicity asked to wear white against Juve. Liverpool probably want to wear red anyway as it is the colour they are known by.
by the way, i found this on UEFA.com
"The Sun, clearly unconvinced by Milan, commented: "(Liverpool captain) Steven Gerrard had better practise lifting trophies. Milan are not as good as they think.""
a little english arrogance there i see. Let's be honest - the liverpoolers are shaking in their boots at the prospect of facing Milan.
Nadir, your not the only one shocked with the reactions of the Liverpool supporters and media, they watched that game last night and they saw a flicker of a life line. I have been reading the British papers, reading and listening to Liverppol supporters; from the way their talking you might think they have already won the CUP. Some are saying that Liverpool forwards will run rings around the "static" Milan defence. It wasn't even worth arguing with with these guys. Milan has not had a single threat in this years Champions league, and by virtue of one off night, everybody thinks Liverpool will win.Suddenly the team they didn't want in the championship match, is the one they are so badly disrespecting. Milan has nothing to prove, all we have to do is get back into gear, and all will be alright, and we will on Sunday. From watching Liverpool all season, I believe they will play us the way lowly Serie A teams play us, with fear.
WE WILL CRUSH LIVERPOOL. Jim_UK what other smack are they saying out there? WE WILL CRUSH LIVERPOOL!
Anyone know how they are likely to line up? Im guessing:
----------------Dudek-----------------
Finnan----Carragher--Hyppia----Trarorae
--Biscan-----Alonso----Gerrard---Risse--
--------------Garcia--------------------
----------------Cisse-------------------
After Hamman's good performance against Chelsea Benitez may play him in the centre with Gerrard on the right instead of Biscan or Garcia may play on the right allowing Baros to partner Cisse.
Looking at their side i think cafu can really hurt Trarorae. Stam should stand up strong against Cisse. The worry for me is Garcia in the hole where we have Pirlo who isnt good defensively. Also Kaka and Pirlo may be closed down well by Liverpool's midield. If they can do that they may beat us, but thats a big IF, more so in Pirlo's case who unlike Kaka has learnt to overcome this close marking(thanks to Seria A's smaller clubs). It also looks as if Kaka is starting to come out of the learning curve which he had to go through as a young player in such an important positon.
Stezagud
05-05-2005, 12:12
Im not sure what British press you've all read but everything i've read has Liverpool as underdogs :confused:
Anyone know how they are likely to line up? Im guessing:
----------------Dudek-----------------
Finnan----Carragher--Hyppia----Trarorae
--Biscan-----Alonso----Gerrard---Risse--
--------------Garcia--------------------
----------------Cisse-------------------
im not sure Cisse will start, there arent many games left for him to get back to full fitness. He might be used like he was against Chelsea, coming on late to add pace to any counter attacks. The rest of the side looks about right to me though im no great expert on them :D
One thing that isnt immediately obvious from that line up is how well it shifts into 5-4-1. Riise has spent plenty of his career at left back and knows the position well, equally Traore is comfortable at centre back which allows them to shift to a back 5 with Biscan, Alonso and Gerrard all capable of playing as defensive midfielders. When they do this they are very difficult to break through, almost invincible against crosses and very organised.
i think the key player for us might be kaka... that is, depending on whether he continues his good string of matches, biscan is a slow player and he plays in the center we have to use this, gerrard i think isnt playing well recently, their main threat is definatly luis garcia, that guy must be man marked by some1 like gattuso, riise is also dangerous, we should play our style of football if theyre defence can hold on then we should shift to using shots from outside the box, this is where kaka comes in.. lets hope he finds last seasons form again
ac_milan_foreva
05-05-2005, 14:49
dont wrry guys. WE will be in good condition for this one. its just that we arent machines. we have played 4 games in 2 weeks of course we are tired. now we have 1 game every week till the final. WE MUST BEAT JUVE and then win the game after so we can rest players ahead of the CL final. then after the final we will start everyone for the last game with udinese since we have nothing to rest for. so if we win the other 2 games in serie a we can rest for liverpool and we didnt rest against fiorentina. dont wrry people we will get back in shape. why does everyone think we wont be at our best? if milan is on its best in the final no team in the world can stop us. if not well its gona be a long night. if we played like we did with inter, manchester and most of serie a we can add another CL trophy.
Nadir, your not the only one shocked with the reactions of the Liverpool supporters and media, they watched that game last night and they saw a flicker of a life line. I have been reading the British papers, reading and listening to Liverppol supporters; from the way their talking you might think they have already won the CUP. Some are saying that Liverpool forwards will run rings around the "static" Milan defence. It wasn't even worth arguing with with these guys. Milan has not had a single threat in this years Champions league, and by virtue of one off night, everybody thinks Liverpool will win.Suddenly the team they didn't want in the championship match, is the one they are so badly disrespecting. Milan has nothing to prove, all we have to do is get back into gear, and all will be alright, and we will on Sunday. From watching Liverpool all season, I believe they will play us the way lowly Serie A teams play us, with fear.
WE WILL CRUSH LIVERPOOL. Jim_UK what other smack are they saying out there? WE WILL CRUSH LIVERPOOL!
This is just perfect. I would love for the English media to build Liverpool's confidence - to the point of being overly confident. Let liverpool think they are meeting some mid-table English Premiership team or some over-rated English Premiership team like Chelsea. Let them keep comparing Milan to those teams and plan accordingly. Let them think that Shevchenko is equivalent to Drogba. Let them keep thinking that Nesta and Stam are a pair of "static" defenders with no idea how to win cup finals. Let them keep thinking that Maldini and Cafu are aging has-beens who have no clue how to compose themselves to win cup finals.
Let them believe. Let them dream. Let them hope.
we know what the end result will be.
A BIG FAT RED AND BLACK :devf:
BTW, if Liverpool play like a lowly SErie A team, they will be able to get to the second half 0-0 and maybe get half way past the 2nd half without goals being scored. But Milan will eventually crack the Liverpool defensive nut. Liverpool will definitely not hope to take this to penalties as they know Milan have a penalty stopper expert in Dida.
:3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band:
you sound like malcom X :D
Stezagud
05-05-2005, 15:17
This is just perfect. I would love for the English media to build Liverpool's confidence - to the point of being overly confident. Let liverpool think they are meeting some mid-table English Premiership team or some over-rated English Premiership team like Chelsea.
problem is, the press are sticking to Liverpool being the underdogs. Liverpool know exactly what there up against even though they have already put Chelsea and Juve out. The PSV game has given them hope but thats hardly the fault of English journalists when even everyone here agrees that PSV for large parts were the better side :rolleyes:
by the way, Liverpool are barely above mid-table themselves and have lost almost as many as they've won domestically :eek: so they wouldnt be over confident anyway if they thought they were playing a midtable EPL side :D
BTW, if Liverpool play like a lowly SErie A team, they will be able to get to the second half 0-0 and maybe get half way past the 2nd half without goals being scored. But Milan will eventually crack the Liverpool defensive nut. Liverpool will definitely not hope to take this to penalties as they know Milan have a penalty stopper expert in Dida.
The style is similar but the difference is that not many lowly Serie A sides have a midfield including Gerrard, Alonso and Garcia. Those players are capable of putting together a quality move, it may only happen once in the match but the way things have gone for them recently if they got 1 chance they would probably score it......
Guys we are acting like we drew up Barcelona with Ronaldinho, and Samuel Eto'o. We drew frigging liverpool!!! we should be able to brush them aside. i think liverpool is far far overrated and liverpool is underrating milan because of the PSV game.
It will be a very difficult game for both us and them.
We give away a lot of chances lately, but never too much. And we are deadlier than any other side when it comes to converting our own chances. Liverpool is a side that doesn't give away much chances, but doesn't create a whole lot of them eather.
Our central midfield is both creative and strong, but on our wings we are vulnerable .Their central midfield is good in defense but poor in offense. Their wings are dangerous.
They have a goalkeeping problem, we have a goalkeeping advantage.
They can adapt to different tactics and plans, while we need a consistent approach to every game and depend on chemistry.
But we have one thing in common: a great legacy of achievement and tradition.
Which is why there will be mutual respect but also a fierce and prestigious fight.
I'm looking forward to it already.
Guys we are acting like we drew up Barcelona with Ronaldinho, and Samuel Eto'o. We drew frigging liverpool!!! we should be able to brush them aside. i think liverpool is far far overrated and liverpool is underrating milan because of the PSV game.
I don't think any finalist should be treated like that. For their sake as a matter of respect, but especially for our own sake as a matter of realism. We should have learned by now that arrogance and disdain are our toughest opponents.
In fact, Liverpool is a better side than Barca. Why? They got past Chelsea and made it to the finals, and Barca failed to do both. We are the experts in playing for the end result, so we should treat others the same way as we treat ourselves. Right now, we are both in the same place and we'll just have to prove that we are better.
And I believe we will prove that we are the best in Europe, as long as we take the other side seriously.
For all you say about us, in 270 minutes of Football against Juve (away) and Chelsea (home and away) we did not conceed a goal.
We will not underestimate your team, even if our press may do so. Everyone that is connected to the club one way or another knows what we have achieved so far is fantastic. However in the cold light of day we've won nothing yet.
The style is similar but the difference is that not many lowly Serie A sides have a midfield including Gerrard, Alonso and Garcia. Those players are capable of putting together a quality move, it may only happen once in the match but the way things have gone for them recently if they got 1 chance they would probably score it......
Excellent analysis!
This could turn into another Portugal-Greece :nervous:
Liverpool'll be well-prepared, they haven't been in a ECC/UCL final for 20 years, their players'll consider this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I'm as sceptic as ever as we approach this final. Let's just hope our quality'll prevail:devil:
BaggioForever
05-05-2005, 22:23
This is just perfect. I would <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=love&v=56">love</a> for the English media to build Liverpool's confidence - to the point of being overly confident. Let liverpool think they are meeting some mid-table English Premiership team or some over-rated English Premiership team like Chelsea. Let them keep comparing Milan to those teams and plan accordingly. Let them think that Shevchenko is equivalent to Drogba. Let them keep thinking that Nesta and Stam are a pair of "static" defenders with no idea how to win cup finals. Let them keep thinking that Maldini and Cafu are aging has-beens who have no clue how to compose themselves to win cup finals.
Let them believe. Let them dream. Let them hope.
we know what the end result will be.
A BIG FAT RED AND BLACK :devf:
BTW, if Liverpool play like a lowly SErie A team, they will be able to get to the second half 0-0 and maybe get half way past the 2nd half without goals being scored. But Milan will eventually crack the Liverpool defensive nut. Liverpool will definitely not hope to take this to penalties as they know Milan have a penalty stopper expert in Dida.
:3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band:
Exactly my sentiments. Let the english media say whatever they want. Boast their ego, make Milan the underdogs. I <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=love&v=56">love</a> it when Milan is the underdog.
When Milan faced Man U, Man U was in their winning streak while Milan drew/lost their domestic game at the weekend, hence deeming Milan to be the underdog. 2 - 0 to Milan.
Against Inter, Milan also did not managed to win their domestic game while Inter is still in their unbeaten record. Again the media feels Inter could finally break their jinx against Milan but look whos in the finals~ :excited:
Whoever faces Milan, as long as it is an English team, i can't wait for Milan to teach them some humility lesson. I hope that the Liverpool fans whom will be patronising this forum will behave better than those Man U fans (Stez n Rae aside) whom came here to wreak havoc.
Milan - Under Dogs
Liverpool - Hot Favourites
:D
I honestly hope we wear the Red And Black :)
savicevic
06-05-2005, 07:05
so liverpool are in the final with a clean sheet record going on! classic!
- 1995: seba rossi was in the middle of a clean sheet in ajax-milan 1-0. kluivert ruined it for him.
- 1996: van der sar had his record terminated (record still standing) by ravanelli when juve beat ajax after penalties
- 2005: non c'e' due senza tre!!
:3band: Hope we will beat Juve on Sunday, we have to replace our defense because it was a long time Dida took 3 goals, there was something form Deportivo in the game on Wendsday, Pirlo is THE most important players in our Middelfield and he wasn't that goed, Gracie Massimo !
Pero la finale e per noi ! doveve vincere per le 39 morte del heysel !
:3band: :3band: :3band:
savicevic
06-05-2005, 08:18
... we have to replace our defense because it was a long time Dida took 3 goals ...
this is the type of exaggeration we need to avoid, guys. we are still the best defence in italy and one of the best in europe. should one game influece your judgement of the season as a whole?
Everyone now is boosting Liverpool cuz they eliminated Chelsea and Juve and they are underestimating us cuz of the PSV games.
I'm not worried, just remember that we're playing well in the last 3 years, Liverpool shone only in the last months and only in the CL. We're a lot better than them. I just hope that we'll be physically ok, because that's my only fear and not the opponents. In recent years we've beaten Real, Juve, Inter, Bayern, Man United, Barcelona and Ajax so we can beat Liverpool as well.
Warro Bantan
06-05-2005, 15:11
Excellent analysis!
This could turn into another Portugal-Greece :nervous:
Liverpool'll be well-prepared, they haven't been in a ECC/UCL final for 20 years, their players'll consider this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I'm as sceptic as ever as we approach this final. Let's just hope our quality'll prevail:devil:
While I reserve the right to place another post closer to the day of days...I wanted to give my initial impressions of the outcome of this fixture at this juncture.
I agree with Laudrup here (yes, really I do) in that Liverpool will be completely focused on this game to a man, and will mayhap be in slightly better physical condition than Milan.
Nevertheless, I some how cant see Liverpool beating Milan. We are a better team than they are, and though I rate Benetez highly, I think Carlo may get the nod tactically.
What I think will determine the outcome of the game (from this far in the future) will be how well we adapt to the high pressing game from the English team. If our midfield is chock full of ball winning defensive midfielders, then I look for a repeat of the PSV encounter...but if Kaka could somehow be joined by the Portugese maestro, then we will evade those rushed tackles, and split the Reds defense with incisive passes and dribbles.
Man for Man, the Reds dont match up with us very well, and both teams have been beaten by "lesser" opponents domestically this term...which at this stage...means little or nothing except that we both succumb to lapses in concentration, which I doubt will happen in the final, at least to Milan.
In besting a Chelsea that was sans Duff and Robben to me is no feat, as Chelsea are pretty average without those wingers. Milan hopefully will have all our "graft" players available, and with these providing service to Sheva, no team in the world can stop us.
Let Liverpool fret, worry, bite their nails, and cringe at the thought of facing Milan. I feel a certain sense of destiny this term. A sense of confidence that I have not had in recent seasons. We will win the UCL final in Istanbul.
:firedev:FORZA MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILAN!!:firedev:
We aren't fretting, and we aren't over confident. We'll play our game and maybe just maybe we'll come out of it with number 5.
I'd expect Didi, Alonso and Gerrard all to start in midfield. With them, Carra, Sami and Garcia in the team we'll have a good shot at you.
We also feel a slight destiny this term too..... Last time Charles got married? Last time we had a new pope?:D
devoted_dm
06-05-2005, 18:43
Milan have a superstition for cup finals - that they must wear white. I remember they explicity asked to wear white against Juve. Liverpool probably want to wear red anyway as it is the colour they are known by.
Ahh.. I love that we play in white in the CL finals, it is such a nice tradition. We go from being the red and black devils to angels dressed in white - and of course or football will be divine too :)
I don't think Liverpool will underestimate Milan. However, it seems like the English press could do a good job of putting pressure on Liverpool by raising the expectations before the match. That is certainly an advantage for us.
I do, however, fear that Milan will underestimate Liverpool. On the other hand, the scare we suffered against PSV may have been just what we needed to make sure that we take Liverpool seriously, even if in theory their squad doesn't compare to ours.
Milan have a superstition for cup finals - that they must wear white. I remember they explicity asked to wear white against Juve. Liverpool probably want to wear red anyway as it is the colour they are known by.
The very same superstition which costed Milan the Toyota Cup in 2003 :angf:
Under Sacchi's all conquering Milan side, Milan won both the European Cups in all white, and the Toyota Cups in the traditional Red & Black.
Ancelotti, having played in those 4 games, should have known better than to opt for an all white kit against Boca :v46:
Liverpool will be in their all red kit, which means Milan will be in their "lucky" all white kit.
We have won 5 finals in the white kit, those 5 as mentioned by you above. We beat Ajax in 1969 in our traditional rossonero colors.
I start to doubt about the magic of the white shirt...
Just recently at the Philips stadium we were beaten embarassingly by PSV when using the white shirt.
Or...will the magic white shirt will only effective in the Grand Finals like what will happen in Istanbul?? :u56:
Either White or Red & Black...I do believe that Paolo will again lift the trophy!!! And...again...next year too..!!! :djn: :djn:
Oldman
ginoformaggino
07-05-2005, 05:40
I start to doubt about the magic of the white shirt...
Just recently at the Philips stadium we were beaten embarassingly by PSV when using the white shirt.
the shirt was white , yes... :rollani: but with black :v46: socks and this nearly :cpuke: tragic and absolutely intolerable event :delol: due to carelessness has disturbed and :swars: weakened all the magic.
So, this excludes all possibility of doubt: :hihihi: an inexhaustible 'all white' for every final :D :ilol:
Or...will the magic white shirt will only effective in the Grand Finals like what will happen in Istanbul?? :u56:
yes, white, completely! :diablo:
MILAN
I agree that the white shirt is such a talisman for us! We lose rearly when we are playing in White! White will be the right choice!
id like to see us in red and black.. those are our traditional colours, im not really superstitious, we can beat liverpool wearing pink for all i care! but milan is not the rossonero for nothing
RED AND BLACK
Arildonardo
07-05-2005, 13:40
Have there been any previous meetings between the two clubs? Anyone got any history on that?
zlatanov
07-05-2005, 13:54
Have there been any previous meetings between the two clubs? Anyone got any history on that?
As far as I know this is the first time we meet Liverpool in Europe, the UEFA Cup included.
Arildonardo,i was interested in the same thing and this is what i was able to find out about our statistics with English teams in general.
English vs Italian Clubs in European Cups
1962/63 Champions Cup 14/11/62 Milan-Ipswich Town 3-0
28/11/62 Ipswich Town-Milan 2-1
Fairs Cup 16/02/66 Chelsea-Milan 2-1
02/03/66 Milan-Chelsea 1-1 aet
UEFA Cup 05/04/72 Tottenham Hotspur-Milan 2-1
19/04/72 Milan-Tottenham Hotspur 1-1
Cup Winners Cup 16/05/73 Milan-Leeds United 1-0 played in Saloniki (Greece)
1975/76 UEFA Cup 17/09/75 Everton-Milan 0-0
01/10/75 Milan-Everton 1-0
1978/79 UEFA Cup 23/11/78 Milan-Manchester City 2-2
06/12/78 Manchester City-Milan 3-0
1994/95 Supercup 01/02/95 Arsenal-Milan 0-0
08/02/95 Milan-Arsenal 2-0
Champions League 15/09/99 Chelsea-Milan 0-0
26/09/99 Milan-Chelsea 1-1
Champions League 19/09/00 Leeds United-Milan 1-0
08/11/00 Milan-Leeds United 1-1
source is http://www.rsssf.com/intclub.html
Stezagud
07-05-2005, 16:36
06/12/78 Manchester City-Milan 3-0
:eek: damn City, i bet all those goals were offside :D
not a very good record vs english clubs
GOOD NEWS
Milan-Palermo moved for Europe?
Saturday 7 May, 2005
Milan’s qualification for the Champions’ League Final could force another change to the Serie A calendar in order to give them better time to prepare.
The European decider against Liverpool is set for Wednesday May 25 – just three days after the penultimate round of the Italian domestic season.
Usually, Milan’s game against Palermo would be brought forward so that they would have an extra rest day, but as it is so late into the campaign and the Scudetto race is still wide open, that could be tricky.
The Serie A rules state that the final four rounds of the season must be played simultaneously to avoid potential match-fixing scenarios.
It is possible that the entire Week 37 set of fixtures could be brought forward to Saturday May 21, but that in turn would cause problems with the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
Coppa tie Udinese-Roma is set for Thursday May 19 and would leave both sides – fighting for Champions’ League and safety spots respectively – at a disadvantage to their opponents for these objectives.
If the Scudetto race is still wide open by that stage, then just Milan-Palermo and Livorno-Juventus could be moved to the Saturday.
I know that Milan will be the Champion of CL!!!!!!!!!!
Playa_Pimp
08-05-2005, 16:33
We shouldnt even be bragging about this CL we got lucky. PSV outplayed us both games
We shouldnt even be bragging about this CL we got lucky. PSV outplayed us both games
Yeah riiiight.
We got into the final because PSV decided to bend over for us after outplaying us right?
We defeated the Ukrainian Champions on the opening matchday and broke their undefeated streak in Donetsk on Matchday 1. It was also the first time they conceded a goal in their season.
We defeated Celtic on Matchday 2.
We neutralized the most explosive offence in the world at home on Matchday 3 and sent Barcelona home without any points at a time when they were on fire.
We played a poor game on Matchday 4 against Barca and yet it took a moment of individual brilliance from Ronaldinho in the 90th minute to seal victory for them.
We blazed Shakhtar on Matchday 5.
We became the third team after Bayern and Barcelona to get something in Celtic Park in the UCL game on Matchday 6.
Double over Utd. and prevented them from scoring in a knock-out TIE for the first time since 1997.
Did the double over Inter under extreme pressure and made sure to maintain that undefeated streak. Became the first side to defeat them both in the league and UCL respectively.
Played one poor half vs. PSV at home and played a poor game overall in Eindhoven except 25 mins in two chunks and yet made the final.
And we didn't deserve the final? Give it a rest already. I feel for the Hos youse pimpin.
Yeah riiiight.
We got into the final because PSV decided to bend over for us after outplaying us right?
We defeated the Ukrainian Champions on the opening matchday and broke their undefeated streak in Donetsk on Matchday 1. It was also the first time they conceded a goal in their season.
We defeated Celtic on Matchday 2.
We neutralized the most explosive offence in the world at home on Matchday 3 and sent Barcelona home without any points at a time when they were on fire.
We played a poor game on Matchday 4 against Barca and yet it took a moment of individual brilliance from Ronaldinho in the 90th minute to seal victory for them.
We blazed Shakhtar on Matchday 5.
We became the third team after Bayern and Barcelona to get something in Celtic Park in the UCL game on Matchday 6.
Double over Utd. and prevented them from scoring in a knock-out TIE for the first time since 1997.
Did the double over Inter under extreme pressure and made sure to maintain that undefeated streak. Became the first side to defeat them both in the league and UCL respectively.
Played one poor half vs. PSV at home and played a poor game overall in Eindhoven except 25 mins in two chunks and yet made the final.
And we didn't deserve the final? Give it a rest already. I feel for the Hos youse pimpin.
Haroon, I surely admire the fact that you bother to spend your time replying, with such serenity and splendidity.
:)
J
ACMILAN1983
08-05-2005, 21:08
Haroon, I just admire the fact that you bothered replying to such a stupid post ;)
Not to mention the fact that we almost broke the clean sheet record in our campaign.
Haroon, you would make a good defense lawyer. ;)
Haroon, I surely admire the fact that you bother to spend your time replying, with such serenity and splendidity.
Haroon, I just admire the fact that you bothered replying to such a stupid post ;)
Not to mention the fact that we almost broke the clean sheet record in our campaign.
Haroon, you would make a good defense lawyer. ;)
The reply is short by Haroonian standards :stuckup:
Warro Bantan
09-05-2005, 11:17
From http://football.guardian.co.uk/Fiver/0,4022,1480035,00.html
NEWS IN BRIEF
A boon for fans of Liverpool and hocus-pocus: England's fifth-finest will wear red in the Big Cup final on May 25. Milan had been drawn as the home team but have agreed to wear white instead of their traditional red and black kit. Liverpool's four previous European Cup victories have come when they wore red against rivals in white.
Just what I needed to hear....maybe its time to shelve our own hocus pocus view, and wear our home kit....
Warro Bantan
09-05-2005, 11:32
From: http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,14546,-4993149,00.html
Defiant Ancelotti turns eyes to Liverpool
By Simon Evans
MILAN, May 9 (Reuters) - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed suggestions that his team have run out of steam at the most vital stage of the season following Sunday's 1-0 defeat at home to Juventus.
The loss leaves Champions League finalists Milan three points behind leaders Juventus with three games in Serie A remaining.
The disappointment against Juve came four days after Milan were beaten 3-1 by Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League semi-final, second-leg.
Although Milan still made it through to the final against Liverpool, thanks to a 2-0 win in the first-leg, the manner of their loss to the Dutch side had caused alarm.
In both games Milan have been unusually uncertain in defence and lacking sharpness in attack but Ancelotti said while there was clearly a psychological stress involved at this stage of the campaign, physically his team was still in shape.
"We have played 10 games inside a month -- all of them vital matches and all of them with huge pressure on us," said the Milan coach.
"Mentally it is possible to play 10 vital matches in 30 days but it obviously puts a strain on you," added Ancelotti.
"But in terms of our fitness I think we still have something left to give. Even on Sunday we played with conviction in the second half, going after our opponents," he said.
"We are still fighting for the Italian title, even if it is harder now, and we are in the Champions League final. So we know we couldn't have done more.
"There are three games to go and Juve could still slip-up as they did recently against Inter," he said.
Milan are away to Lecce and then at home to Palermo before going to Istanbul for the final on May 25 and their season will end with a tough away game to Udinese.
"Now we have two weeks to bounce back. The upcoming games will be important in terms of keeping in good condition but mentally there will be less stress.
"I am confident -- we have a full squad to choose from and I believe we will head to Istanbul in the best shape possible," he added.
The Milan coach said he expected Liverpool to stick to their defensive approach in the final.
"They are the surprise package of the competition. They have played their last four games, against Juve and Chelsea, as they wished -- with their defensive organisation dominating.
"Apart from the first 20 minutes of the first leg against Juve, they have played within their own half with rare forward incursions from two or three players. You could easily imagine they will play like that in the final as well," he added.
"We will need to be on form to deal with the tactics. I believe my team has the quality to do that and to win."
If Carlo thinks that Liverpool will play like that in the UCL final for real, then he has had too many game himself, and is obviously mentally fatigued. :rollani:
Many of you will have scathing remarks for me for saying this, but I feel the need to make this statement:
If we lose this final, Carlo will be a major reason why.
Not only has he ended up with a tired "first 11", who are physically drained, but mentally so as well, and without some rotation prior to the final, we run the risk of sleepwalking for the first 45, allowing a silly goal, then working like madmen to break a Liverpool defense that teams have found difficlt to do this season in Europe.
Then there is the possibility that Liverpool wont implement their defensive game in the final until after they score, coming at us with all guns blazing...and do to us what they did to Juve in the first semi final leg...
My hope is that this is a tactical statement by Carlo, who is seeking to disarm Liverpool by playing up their defensive qualities, while preparing his team behind closed doors for a whirlwind opening attack from the Reds. Yet my instincts tell me this is the arrogant Carlo, speaking his mind, and hopefully our players will compensate. Hopefully.
From: http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,14546,-4993149,00.html
If Carlo thinks that Liverpool will play like that in the UCL final for real, then he has had too many game himself, and is obviously mentally fatigued. :rollani:
Many of you will have scathing remarks for me for saying this, but I feel the need to make this statement:
If we lose this final, Carlo will be a major reason why.
Not only has he ended up with a tired "first 11", who are physically drained, but mentally so as well, and without some rotation prior to the final, we run the risk of sleepwalking for the first 45, allowing a silly goal, then working like madmen to break a Liverpool defense that teams have found difficlt to do this season in Europe.
Then there is the possibility that Liverpool wont implement their defensive game in the final until after they score, coming at us with all guns blazing...and do to us what they did to Juve in the first semi final leg...
My hope is that this is a tactical statement by Carlo, who is seeking to disarm Liverpool by playing up their defensive qualities, while preparing his team behind closed doors for a whirlwind opening attack from the Reds. Yet my instincts tell me this is the arrogant Carlo, speaking his mind, and hopefully our players will compensate. Hopefully.
But I really doubt if fatigue is the true reason, when not only the coach but also (!!!) the fitness coach says that the players are fit.
Nevertheless, mental stress/fatiugue is not taken into account here. But I seriously don't see a tired team at all in the second half against Juve.
It's rather the uncertainty of 'what to do' that makes the team look tired.
Warro Bantan
09-05-2005, 13:17
But I really doubt if fatigue is the true reason, when not only the coach but also (!!!) the fitness coach says that the players are fit.
Nevertheless, mental stress/fatiugue is not taken into account here. But I seriously don't see a tired team at all in the second half against Juve.
It's rather the uncertainty of 'what to do' that makes the team look tired.
Your last statement underscores my point exactly Jeff...."uncertainty" and "not knowing what to do", when playing the simplest of games, is a sure sign of mental fatigue....and if my reading serves me correctly, we made a mistake vs Juve that was caused more from mental fatigue, than physical.
As Cryuff has stated: Football is 99% mental and 1% physical.
zlatanov
09-05-2005, 13:43
Palermo has obviously agreed to play the Serie A game with Milan on Friday evening thus allowing Milan more time to prepare for the CL Final scheduled for the Wednesday after.
The letter of appreciation from Milan to palermo can be found on www.calciomercato.com
I am still not sure if this has any definintive results for if Milan end up playing on Friday, this will mean that Juve have to play at the same time with us. I believe that the FIGC has still to make a decision on this matter.
EDIT: On the officail site it says that the FIGC has already put the game on Friday, so I guess we should also say a big THANK YOU, PALERMO :clap: :1five:
If Carlo thinks that Liverpool will play like that in the UCL final for real, then he has had too many game himself, and is obviously mentally fatigued. :rollani:
:confused:
I believe that's exactly how Liverpool will play.
If we lose this final, Carlo will be a major reason why.
Naturally. Just as he's a major reason why we've come this far.
I don't think we'll lose this final, though. Had we drawn or beaten Juve, maybe, but now that the pressure is off our shoulders in the domestic league, the team'll focus on the big final. Tactically, physically and mentally we'll be ready for sure.
Playa_Pimp
09-05-2005, 15:01
You're happy that Ac beat the Ukraine champs? Shaktar? Celtic? A depleted man utd? Wow you really have lost it. The fact that AC lost to Juve in the weekend was no fluke homeboy but the fact that ambrossini got yet another late winner for Ac to just barely squeeze through again is. Just give it up and acknowledge the fact that we got outplayed people
Warro Bantan
09-05-2005, 15:01
Laudrup....are you saying that you think Liverpool will come out in the UCL final with a defensive first mindset?
While I am no Liverpool expert, I still think that it would be foolish for Liverpool to throw away a tactic that worked so well for them vs Juve, and retreat into a defensive shell in a game in which there must be a winner...there is no return leg, only a penalty lottery, which they cannot be sure of winning...not with Dudek anyway....
Yes, Warro, I believe Liverpool'll focus their attention on closing down the opposition side, attacking with few men while hoping for the odd goal (could very well come from a set piece). That is imo their chance of succeeding, they'll avoid to play an open game and thereby leave space for Milan's lightning quick counter attacks. As Carlo rightly said:
"Apart from the first 20 minutes of the first leg against Juve, they have played within their own half with rare forward incursions from two or three players. You could easily imagine they will play like that in the final as well"
You're happy that Ac beat the Ukraine champs? Shaktar? Celtic? A depleted man utd? Wow you really have lost it. The fact that AC lost to Juve in the weekend was no fluke homeboy but the fact that ambrossini got yet another late winner for Ac to just barely squeeze through again is. Just give it up and acknowledge the fact that we got outplayed people
ic... outplayed by a team who possessed the ball less than us by 8 minutes.
What an outplay.
Seriously, what you say is just contradicting yourself. Don't act smart please. Your arrogance is really awful.
And one last thing PImp. Don't ever call 'OUr Milan' when you are obviously not a Milan supporter.
Don't act like you are a hero by saying we got outplayed and act like you are very honest.
But you must be a smarta$$ since you know when to register here to say "OUR Milan got outclassed". Your behavior is as awful as your name.
Benitez is one of the greatest tacticians around, so no-one really can know what they'll do. He surprised Capello of all people in two games with two complete opposite game-strategies.
But I expect them to start the match with aggressive play, as they did when they blasted Juve away in the first half at anfield, with Luis Garcia moving from the right wing to the center and quick passing to the left to Riise, and then back wide in front of the box with Baros holding up two defenders and Luis Garcia and Gerrard coming up from behind him and sometimes Riise or Kewell from the wings.
It's very dangerous when a team does that well. There is no way for central defenders to anticipate such movements. You can defend against an opponent all the time, but you can't defend against the ball all the time. Chelsea found that out in both games, Carvalho and Terry just didn't know how to position themselves and defend against these quick through balls and diagonal balls from the wings, followed by infiltration from midfield and the left and right wing.
What is most important, is stability in central midfield, and providing defensive cover for Cafu and Kaladze everytime Liverpool has posession in midfield, and not losing the ball in central midfield. We can't play through-balls in midfield, it's better to play the long ball to the front and diagonal forward-passes to the left and right wing. Kaka will have more space to cover than usual, and Sheva will have to move a lot, but that's what they're both great at, so no problem there. Lots of movement up front and on the wings, cover movements in the center. That's the way to play. Which means most our chances would come from crosses and diagonal balls, but Crespo is better than any other striker in those situations. So it all fits this way.
Play Serginho on the left and Cafu has to move up a lot on the right. Have Gattuso cover him everytime Liverpool has posession, and keep two midfielders behind the ball at all times, I say Gattuso and Pirlo. Let Kaka and Sheva fall back or move wide to the wings when we have posession and when we have a chance, we must try to cross immediately.
If we do that well, then they can't threaten us from the wings to the center, which means we can break down their game and dominate, and we can hit them where they're weak without taking too many chances.
You're happy that Ac beat the Ukraine champs? Shaktar? Celtic? A depleted man utd?
You're right. :( Milan are overrated. And after an injury-ridden Man Utd, we beat pathetic Inter. Anybody could have won those two games; Inter never even managed to score a goal against us this season. Now I'm depressed.
Rayno_acm
10-05-2005, 02:30
So, now is certain, we'll play in white, they in red ;)
I remember the final in 1990,
AC MILAN - Benfica 1-0
(white) (red)
:D :D :D
FORZA ROSSONERIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
savicevic
10-05-2005, 03:12
... I believe Liverpool'll focus their attention on closing down the opposition side, attacking with few men while hoping for the odd goal (could very well come from a set piece). That is imo their chance of succeeding, they'll avoid to play an open game and thereby leave space for Milan's lightning quick counter attacks.
i agree with you, Laudrup. After viewing the list of the games they've played, one can notice that many of the 11 defeats they've suffered this year in the EPL have come against minor clubs, showing their clear difficulty in games where they have to impose their own attacking game. when they are underdogs, on the other hand, they play their best tactical football because they play as if they had nothing to lose and rely on their solid defence to defend a solitary goal or two.
last sunday they had to attack arsenal because they needed the 3 points to continue fighitng for the 4th place champions League berth. they had to open up and attack. they lost 3-1. they were in their full team, the team which is most likely to face milan on the 25th.
so my conclusion is: the team who scores first in Istanbul wins the cup. if we score first, it is likely we will score another one on the counter-attack because they will open up.
If liverpool score first, they will build a barricade in front of Dudek's goal and it will be almost impossible to score 2 goals. and if they've seen the juve game last sunday, they will get a hint of how to defeat us.
in nature, i am a super-optimist. this time around, i am quite down-heartened. almost same pessimistic feelings i had against barca in 1994.
Blackjack
10-05-2005, 05:16
Liverpool fan invading here now.
Really glad it is you guys we meet in the final and not because I treat you like an underdog or anything. I have nothing but the greatest respect for your team especially after you destroyed Man U. Paolo Maldini your captain has been one of my all time favorite players for the last 10 years.
AC Milan is an extremely formidable team and probably the most dangerous of the whole tournament. Before the tournament, I rated Juve and AC to take the trophy. This is a huge bonus for us Liverpool fans and though we hope to take it from you, we realize we are the great underdogs. Screw the British media. The only reason why they are upping us is because we are the only English team. You should see how they bad-mouth Liverpool any other game.
In goal you have Dida who is most definitely one of the top 5 keepers in the world. Nesta and Stam are strong, experienced top defenders who are extremely calm and collected on the ball much like our Hyppia. Cafu as your right back is so strong and skilful plus I really do not believe his age given the amount of ground he covers on that right flank. Then again, he has Gattuso covering for him at right midfield. Gattuso is like our Carragher ready to die for the team. People tend to forget that he can bring the ball past people and can put in a decent cross too.
Your captain Maldini needs no review and is one of the greatest leftbacks to have ever lived not to mention being able to cover at Center Back too. Pirlo with his amazing free kicks and reminiscent of our Xabi Alonso. Kaka is one of the most skilful players in the world and comparable to Ronaldinho whilst Crespo, Seedorf, Tomasson and obviously Sheva are household names anywhere in the world. Looking at your reserves like Ambro, Serginho etc. and you have one of the most fearful teams in the world.
Now on to Liverpool. We have Flappy Dudek who can play a blinder or bollocks. Hyppia who is complete class at CB together with Carragher our hero of the season. Finnan is the efficient, no nonsense right back who can put in some good crosses whilst Traore is a strong tackler with his spider legs but his positioning leaves a lot to be desired. Trust me, he is most definitely no CB.
Hamann is the destroyer and relies on his teutonic efficiency whilst Gerrard and Alonso I am sure need no introduction to you fellas. Riise with his amazing left foot and tireless pacing not to mention being hard in the tackle due to his left back training. He however does not have the skill to play left wing still I feel. Garcia has really come through for us this season but still erratic occassionally.
Baros has deproved as the season has gone along but hope he can recapture his Euro 2004 form against you guys. Cisse has great pace but think he still has not settled back in yet after his horrible injury.
Overall, I think you guys may nick it but never underestimate the power of the Liverpool fans. You guys just lost to Juve whom we held out over 2 legs. Plus PSV are no pushovers especially Van Bommel and the Koreans.
Good luck to all and see you at the finals.
BTW, whatever happened to Abbiati? Thought he was a pretty good dependable keeper but just kept out by Dida? How about giving him to us? We will give you Kewell whom I cannot stand. :grinser:
ACMILAN1983
10-05-2005, 05:46
Welcome Blackjack :)
Milan will wear all white in the Final. it has been confirmed.
Milan have opted to wear their white kit for the Champions’ League Final against Liverpool despite being drawn as the ‘home’ side.
The Italian outfit were set to wear their famous Rossoneri colours but have decided not to after a request by Liverpool.
The Premiership side will adorn their favoured red shirts on May 25, having used them during their 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984 European Cup wins – all against teams in white.
But Milan believe they will be wearing their lucky shirts after they won the trophy in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003 – against Juventus – using their white colours.
welcome aboard.
The only reason why they are upping us is because we are the only English team. You should see how they bad-mouth Liverpool any other game.
lol yah this is absolutely true.
In goal you have Dida who is most definitely one of the top 5 keepers in the world. Nesta and Stam are strong, experienced top defenders who are extremely calm and collected on the ball much like our Hyppia. Cafu as your right back is so strong and skilful plus I really do not believe his age given the amount of ground he covers on that right flank. Then again, he has Gattuso covering for him at right midfield. Gattuso is like our Carragher ready to die for the team. People tend to forget that he can bring the ball past people and can put in a decent cross too.
Your captain Maldini needs no review and is one of the greatest leftbacks to have ever lived not to mention being able to cover at Center Back too. Pirlo with his amazing free kicks and reminiscent of our Xabi Alonso. Kaka is one of the most skilful players in the world and comparable to Ronaldinho whilst Crespo, Seedorf, Tomasson and obviously Sheva are household names anywhere in the world. Looking at your reserves like Ambro, Serginho etc. and you have one of the most fearful teams in the world.
Overall, I think you guys may nick it but never underestimate the power of the Liverpool fans. You guys just lost to Juve whom we held out over 2 legs. Plus PSV are no pushovers especially Van Bommel and the Koreans.
Good luck to all and see you at the finals.
BTW, whatever happened to Abbiati? Thought he was a pretty good dependable keeper but just kept out by Dida? How about giving him to us? We will give you Kewell whom I cannot stand. :grinser:
thanks for all the compliments and of course we hope for a good clean game, unlike the game with sore-losers inter :)
Don't read too much into the loss to juve. Milan are the big game team when they are fit. abbiati is being kept out by dida and he is fast losing form for lack of matches.
i honestly think liverpool were lucky against juve even though I am glad you beat them. 9 times out of 10, juventus would brush aside a side like liverpool. however they met a determined classy, defensive liverpool that were able to counter juve. also, the dope supply didn't come in to juve that week. :)
taking nothing away from 'pool - congrats on reaching the final. NO TEAM REACHES THE FINAL IF THEY DIDN'T DESERVE IT. So, both teams absolutely deserve to be there and I am glad that Milan is playing Liverpool, a storied club with class, history and passionate fans. it is only right that ultimate night in European soccer is made up of two sets of fans with the highest regard for their teams, football and their players, with a pedigree in Europe. May the best team win.....
....and no lies here, we hope it is Milan. FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!
welcome blackjack
good intelligent post
Warro Bantan
10-05-2005, 10:28
welcome blackjack
good intelligent post
Quite so laddie! Quite so! But tell me blackjack, what do you think Benetez´tactics will be in the final? Do you think he will do a replay of the first leg vs Juve as dcvg suggests:
But I expect them to start the match with aggressive play, as they did when they blasted Juve away in the first half at anfield, with Luis Garcia moving from the right wing to the center and quick passing to the left to Riise, and then back wide in front of the box with Baros holding up two defenders and Luis Garcia and Gerrard coming up from behind him and sometimes Riise or Kewell from the wings.
Or come out ultradefensively a la Laudrup and Ancelotti:
Yes, Warro, I believe Liverpool'll focus their attention on closing down the opposition side, attacking with few men while hoping for the odd goal (could very well come from a set piece). That is imo their chance of succeeding, they'll avoid to play an open game and thereby leave space for Milan's lightning quick counter attacks. As Carlo rightly said:
"Apart from the first 20 minutes of the first leg against Juve, they have played within their own half with rare forward incursions from two or three players. You could easily imagine they will play like that in the final as well"
I think the former...but I would love to hear the Liverpoolian side of this...
Welcome, Blackjack! But I think you're trying to lull us into over-confidence. ;)
As for Abbiati, I'd be in favor of loaning him out so he gets a chance to play. People tend to forget that it was a controversial move at the time to put Dida in goal instead of him. We're looking for a rightback and a box-to-box midfielder. Anybody you care to give away? (Kewell is not an option.)
Congratulations on reaching the final. I'm looking forward to a good, tough game in Istanbul.
Which Milan will win. :D
Welcome, Blackjack! But I think you're trying to lull us into over-confidence. ;)
As for Abbiati, I'd be in favor of loaning him out so he gets a chance to play. People tend to forget that it was a controversial move at the time to put Dida in goal instead of him. We're looking for a rightback and a box-to-box midfielder. Anybody you care to give away? (Kewell is not an option.)
Congratulations on reaching the final. I'm looking forward to a good, tough game in Istanbul.
Which Milan will win. :D
I don`t get it right Abiati will be our GK in final?????????????????????? :depress: :depress: :depress: :depress: :depress: :wow: plz no!!!!!!!!!! Only not this!
Milan will win 1-0 I hope only if Milan`s game will be ok not just like Juve or PSV! :embarass:
Liverpool and Milan will both come out all guns blazing. End to end stuff and one of the most open final in years. ;)
Warro Bantan
10-05-2005, 14:07
Liverpool and Milan will both come out all guns blazing. End to end stuff and one of the most open final in years. ;)
Well there could only be one winner in a case like that....
:3band: :3band: :3band: AC MILAN!!! :3band: :3band: :3band:
I don`t get it right Abiati will be our GK in final?????????????????????? :depress: :depress: :depress: :depress: :depress: :wow: plz no!!!!!!!!!! Only not this!
Milan will win 1-0 I hope only if Milan`s game will be ok not just like Juve or PSV! :embarass:
No, Dida will be playing in the final. Blackjack and I were just beginning negotiations for Abbiati's loan to Liverpool next year. ;) But now you've discouraged him. :D
I maintain that Abbiati is a very good keeper, but he's rusting away on our bench. He needs to play.
I maintain that Abbiati is a very good keeper
:eek: I would hate to see a bad keeper then.
ac_milan_foreva
11-05-2005, 16:36
i won $5 today :) i made a bet with someone from my school. he was saying ah man liverpool will whoop ur ass (he is a juve fan) like 10 times. i got pissed so i was like lets bet on it then and we did.
A quality post by GattusoKing, from www.devilsmania.com. I copied and pasted the paper without obtaining written permission from the author. :guw:
A brief guide to all-things Liverpool was requested. Here's my take
Jerzy Dudek - Rather ironically, the CL Final may conceivably be his last hoorah in Liverpool’s colours if rumours of Jose Reina’s impending signature are to be believed. Even if that deal fails to materialise, there’s a strong possibility that Chris Kirkland will be given preference next season, fitness permitting. Extraordinary cup-run or not, Liverpool can no longer attempt to paper over the considerable crack that’s been the goalkeeping position ever since the departure of Bruce Grobbelaar of 1994. Some may consider that harsh on Dudek, but if one assesses his Anfield career, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a consistent spell of good form. He may string five good performances together, but then he’ll gift a goal away, his confidence deserts him and then the frequency of mistake is increased considerably, before, ultimately, he’s dropped.
Generally speaking, a solid shot-stopper, but susceptible on crosses and from a confidence perspective.
Steve Finnan – Converted RW who’s played his way through the lower-leagues before finding his feet, somewhat belatedly, at Liverpool. The omens for Finnan weren’t looking promising in the summer when Benitez signed compatriot Josemi to fill the problematic RB berth, but his dire performances quickly saw Finnan restored to the position which he’s now made his own. Akin to Cafu, he’s not what one would call a textbook defender, but as the modern day game demands, he’s a potent threat on the counter-attack and he’ll take advantage of any situation allowing him to overlap.
Energetic, pacy, craves his licence to overlap, but exploitable.
Djimi Traore – Highly unorthodox and with a concentration span that is better measured in split-seconds, but when everything comes together, he’s surprisingly effective. As LBs go, he’s as physically imposing as any and when he surges forward, literally anything can and usually does happen. The aforementioned lack of concentration - the only facet preventing him being a potentially excellent defender – however, is a major achilles heel, as any Liverpool fan will testify to. Be it switching-off or simply failing to clear his lines, it’s been a consistent problem. A loan spell at Lens has improved his awareness and ability to cover the CBs, but one still watches him with due trepidation.
Powerful, loves defending, but incredibly erratic and error-prone.
Sami Hyypia – What a difference a successful cup-run can make to a career. Prior to the New Year, the sun had been slowly setting on his Liverpool career after a disappointing previous two seasons, but his mammoth displays in the CL may just have given him a stay of execution. A traditional CB if ever there was – tall, imposing, physically strong, a leader among men, a good man-marker and masterful in the air. And as we saw from the Juve tie, he’s also more than capable in the opposing area. Expose him to pace, however, and he’s found seriously wanting.
Old-fashioned CB, uncompromising man-marker, excellent aerially, but slow as slow can be.
Jamie Carragher – Mr Liverpool. In spite of his childhood devotion to Merseyside rivals Everton, Carragher is the living essence of the club itself and as professional a professional you wouldn’t wish to find. A squad player for nigh-on six-years, he only began to truly establish himself last season as a full-back and this season, he’s successfully made the switch to CB. Such a good job he’s done there that he is, for many people, the EPL player-of-the-season. Whilst I wouldn’t go that far, I’d certainly award him with the accolade of most-improved-player-of-the-year, after his remarkable transformation into a potentially international-class CB after a mere season of playing said position. Potential weak points? I could ponder the question for an hour, a week, a month and still struggle to find anything noteworthy. The only two concerns are his relative lack of experience as a CB, and his physical build. Other than that, I’m stumped.
Lionhearted, born-defender type whose lack of experience may conceivably tell against him.
Steven Gerrard – As the old adage goes – when Gerrard plays, Liverpool play. For far too long, he’s had to carry the weight of the club’s expectation single-handedly on his shoulders while those around him wilted. A world-class long-range passer of the ball, a tireless engine, a stunningly keen eye for goal from distance, confident when running with the ball, a dangerous late-arrival in the opposition penalty area, and an inspirational captain – he is Liverpool’s all-action hero. The midfield tussle between both he and Xabi Alonso pitted against Gattuso and Clarence is going to be an epic, mouth-watering battle. Whoever wins the midfield wins the game. Fatefully, Gerrard has always had that unfortunate knack of sustaining injuries prior to major matches, so his fitness will be a decisive factor in events. That, and his occasional over-enthusiasm are, for me, the only elements which can be construed as a weakness.
A truly world-class CM, a constant inspiration and a considerable threat…………..if fit.
Xabi Alonso – The other half of what comprises the best midfield pairing in the EPL, and akin to Gerrard, he taxes the superlative. Cultured, vivacious, efficient – he instantly won the adoration of the Kop and has become an integral part of the team. Were it not for the series of horrendous injuries he’s suffered in his debut season, I think it’s a fairly safe assumption to say that Liverpool wouldn’t currently be languishing in 5th place in the EPL. If the point needed labouring, geez is the midfield battle going to be titanic.
One of the aspiring midfield greats of the decade to come. Will he be able to steer clear of injuries, however?
John Arne Riise – Another revitalised player under Benitez’s reign. One more season of Houllier’s incumbency would surely have seen him seek pastures new, but experiencing a healthy second-wind and approaching the impressive form of 2001/2 - Liverpool’s halcyon year of cup success. Like your stereotypical Scandinavian, he’s as strong as an ox, committed to the tackle and has a left-foot like Thor’s hammer. He’s never quite developed the offensive element of his game as he should have, rendering him rather limited on occasions, but he’ll offer solidity on the left-side and a willingness to run himself into a stupor.
Strong, potent left-foot, industrious on the left-side, yet restricted by his lack of offensive ability.
Dietmar Hamann – An unsung hero and similarly to Xabi Alonso, his absence from the side is telling. Surprisingly talented when one puts him under the microscope, with a neat, intelligent passing game both short and long, and an intelligent eye for a through-ball. Afford him space outside the area and you’ll repent at leisure as he also boasts a stunning shot, which Leverkusen, among many, can vouch for. Were I Gattuso, I’d make a conscious effort to get under Hamann’s skin from the outset (subtly, of course) as he has been known to lose his self-discipline from time to time.
Typically teutonic, dangerous long-distance shot, but with potential for indiscipline.
Igor Biscan – One of those players whom, by rights, should probably be toiling away on a construction site somewhere, but fate saw fit to show him a slightly more fortuitous hand. Mention his name to a Liverpool fan prior to Christmas and you’d be collecting your teeth off the pavement, but, to his credit, he has been quite effective in the CL run-in. When blessed with as little talent as Biscan is, the magic formula is to keep it simple and that’s precisely what he does for Benitez: win the ball, swiftly give it to someone else with more talent than you (any of the ten will do), press the opposition when possession’s been conceded and then win the ball back again, and on, and on………….
Bless him, no one tries harder, but he’s severely restricted talent-wise and more than a little aloof.
Antonio Nunez – Makeweight in the deal taking Owen to Liverpool. The fee, I believe, was somewhere in the region of £500,000, which is roughly £499,999 too much. If being a right-winger entailed nothing more than running 70 yards with the ball at pace before overrunning it out of play, Nunez would be an icon. In reality, he’s very fortunate that his manager is a fellow Spaniard, otherwise, he’d still be back in Real’s X-team cleaning the groundsman’s boots.
I’ve seen better players in umpteen playgrounds. In fact, I’ve been one myself. Pacy, but woeful control, woeful passing and crossing ability, and a shot to put the fear of death into any corner flag.
Harry Kewell – This is my cue to groan audibly. If only he had the mind to match his precocious talent, we’d be looking at one of the stars of the modern game. He still has ample time to fulfil the potential he showed at Leeds, but he gives the impression of not caring whether he does or not, as though everything’s one giant imposition. Having given up on Liverpool, rumour has it that Liverpool will finally give up on him this summer, leaving him free to look elsewhere for another club. Said potential new club will be buying, on his day, a world-class player who exudes both skill and confidence, a genius for cutting-in from the left-wing and clinical eye for goal from any distance, any angle. However, probability dictates that he’ll threaten nothing more than breaking sweat, if that.
From the Recoba mould. Potentially devastating, but those days are few are far between.
Luis Garcia – Our tie against PSV showed the consequencies of failing to adequately deal with the threat of deep-running, attacking-midfielders/forwards. Hopefully, amid the autopsy of said shambles, a solution was found as we’ll need one to combat the threat posed by Luis Garcia. With five-goals in the competition and the manner in which they were scored, I consider him to be Liverpool’s most potent weapon.
Brimming with confidence, maker of intelligent runs from the entire width of the pitch, creator of space and a great eye for goal. Can be slightly over-audacious and it remains to be seen how he’ll fair against more detailed marking.
Milan Baros – A real Jekyll & Hyde player: sublime at international level and ridiculous on the domestic front. Physically tuned with good technique, he’s missing the third and most integral component of the striker’s Holy Trinity – clinical finishing. One of those players whom you wouldn’t entrust your only chance of the game to, as probability dictates that he’ll contrive to miss it, even if it’s far easier to score. Anyone who saw the recent games against both Everton and Juventus will appreciate my point. Messrs Nesta and Stam cannot afford to be complacent against him though as he’s a cultured target man, more than capable of working the channels and creating opportunities for his colleagues.
Everything but the end product.
Djibril Cisse – That he’ll be fit to take his place on the bench is a success story in itself having suffered a horrendous leg-break in November. Powerful, technically superb, enigmatic, with no second invitation needed to test the goalkeeper, the initial transition from Ligue 1 to the EPL was a testing one with the squad rotation policy and lack of goals seeing him spend more games on the bench than he would probably have anticipated. Nevertheless, he managed to convey glimpses of his potential worth that have whetted the appetite of Liverpool fans and left them eagerly anticipating a swift return to full-fitness.
Hugely unpredictable – the most dangerous breed of all. Still finding fitness, but will almost certainly make an appearance from the bench.
Fitness permitting, Liverpool will line-up as follows;
--------------------------Dudek-----------------------
Finnan-------Carragher-----Hyypia-----------Traore
------------Hamann--------Xabi Alonso----------------
Luis Garcia-----------Gerrard--------------------Riise
-------------------------Baros------------------------
:eek: I would hate to see a bad keeper then.
Nonsense.
I'll always remember that sublime save Abbiati made 1-on-1 against Kallon in the dying seconds of the Semi Final against Inter in 2003, it was the save that put us in the final. Just an example.
Give the man the credit he deserves.
Black Jack
11-05-2005, 22:02
No, Dida will be playing in the final. Blackjack and I were just beginning negotiations for Abbiati's loan to Liverpool next year. ;) But now you've discouraged him. :D
I maintain that Abbiati is a very good keeper, but he's rusting away on our bench. He needs to play.
Hi guys, it's me again. Had to re-register again cos for some reason I could not log on and when I asked them to re-send me my password, it never came. Oh well........back to business.
As for how Benitez plays in the final, I just really hope it is 2 strikers that play which leave us with Cisse and Baros. A lot will be dependant on how Cisse performs against Villa tomorrow though I feel. I also think he will get Gerrard and Garcia inter-playing each other with Gerrard sometimes moving onto the right flank whilst Garcia cuts in. I strongly believe for us to win, Alonso's passing will be the key so if you can get Gattuso or Costacurta to shut him down then your chances of beating us has increased.
Riise on the left I think could be well shackled out by Cafu but he knows how to suddenly pop in out of no where as can be seen in the Arsenal game but he did not have the sense to square the ball to Garcia which could have changed the whole tempo and mood of the game.
I think Hyppia and Carragher can hold up against Sheva and Kaka but I never underestimate them. Traore has to remember that Gattuso has about as much team spirit as Carragher so better watch him well.
Overall, I think Benitez will try to control you guys like how PSV did in the 2nd Leg. Who knows if we can but that will be his aim. High tempo for the whole game which we will be more used to cos of playing in the EPL (though I highly disagree given our league form).
Alright, Abbiati for Diao and Kewell. Diao is supposedly the next Viera whilst Kewell will sort your left wing problems. hehehehehehehehehehehe.........
Honestly, is he still really good? Have not seen him play for ages. I was talking about this with some fellow fans the other time but they rather go for one season hits like Reina and Kameni.
Just found out that Liverpool is an amazing "young" team. The oldest player was born in 1973.
Goalkeepers
1 Jerzy Dudek 23.03.1973 POL
20 Scott Carson 03.09.1985 ENG
22 Chris Kirkland 02.05.1981 ENG
40 Paul Harrison 18.12.1984 ENG
Defenders
3 Steve Finnan 20.04.1976 IRL
4 Sami Hyypiä 07.10.1973 FIN
6 John Arne Riise 24.09.1980 NOR
17 Josemi 15.11.1979 ESP
21 Djimi Traoré 01.03.1980 FRA
23 Jamie Carragher 28.01.1978 ENG
28 Stephen Warnock 12.12.1981 ENG
31 David Raven 10.03.1985 ENG
37 Zak Whitbread 04.03.1984 ENG
Midfielders
7 Harry Kewell 22.09.1978 AUS
8 Steven Gerrard 30.05.1980 ENG
10 Luis García 24.06.1978 ESP
11 Vladimír Šmicer 24.05.1973 CZE
13 Anthony Le Tallec 03.10.1984 FRA
14 Xabi Alonso 25.11.1981 ESP
16 Dietmar Hamann 27.08.1973 GER
18 Antonio Núñez 15.01.1979 ESP
25 Igor Bišcan 04.05.1978 CRO
26 Richie Partridge 12.09.1980 IRL
32 John Welsh 10.01.1984 ENG
34 Darren Potter 21.12.1984 IRL
Forwards
5 Milan Baroš 28.10.1981 CZE
9 Djibril Cissé 12.08.1981 FRA
24 Florent Sinama-Pongolle 20.10.1984 FRA
33 Neil Mellor 04.11.1982 ENG
www.uefa.com
Can't believe my eyes..
our youngest player was probably born in 1973 :haha:
our youngest player was probably born in 1973 :haha:
Our average age (except defence) is about 28. The best age since there's experience. Examples....
Crespo 29
Shevchenko, Tomasson, Seedorf 28
Ambrosini 27, Gattuso, Kaladze 26, Pirlo 25, Kaka 23
arpanmilan
12-05-2005, 07:29
Quote (el_stinger @ May 11 2005,22:21)
Quote (woof woof ! @ May 11 2005,22:15)
Quote (chiggz_likes_owen @ May 11 2005,17:21)
He ain't worried, its all mind games.
He should be Fu'cking worried . Shackle Shevchenko and we'll beat these B'stards .
No one can the guy is enormous. Shackle the feeder to Shevchenko and you got yourself a winner.
The guy is a class finisher GIVEN SPACE ,but from what I've seen deny him the space and he's just another strker . Step up Jaime Carragher
this is the shi* which i read in liverpool forums in the topic on ancelloti. this LIVERFOOLERS think they can shake milan players who r made up of true muscle.liverfoolers should be concerned abt milan enormously huge players like JAAP STAM and the devilsh GATTUSO who can easily shake up their crippled players like baros,cisse,kewell,risse etc..... liverfool players will need an old man's stick to walk after the match if the milan players start shaking them.
Nonsense.
I'll always remember that sublime save Abbiati made 1-on-1 against Kallon in the dying seconds of the Semi Final against Inter in 2003, it was the save that put us in the final. Just an example.
Give the man the credit he deserves.
Abbiati did very well for us during those 5 months he played for us in 99, the save from Cristian Bucchi in the dying minutes against Perugia was worth lo scudetto.
He's very quick on the line, great instincts, but he always lets in the easiest of goals from set pieces and long shots and he's very weak in terms of guarding his goal from crosses inside his goal area.
Let's just be thankful that Dida very rarely is injured.
A quality post by GattusoKing, from www.devilsmania.com. I copied and pasted the paper without obtaining written permission from the author. :guw:
Ask Simon about it. It's better. ;)
Liverpool are getting £35 million in earnings from this season's UCL campaign. It includes anything related to the UCL. We get the same amount. :p017:
Money matters aside ... I want the 7th European Cup. :dcool:
Warro Bantan
12-05-2005, 10:05
Hi guys, it's me again. Had to re-register again cos for some reason I could not log on and when I asked them to re-send me my password, it never came. Oh well........back to business.
As for how Benitez plays in the final,...........Overall, I think Benitez will try to control you guys like how PSV did in the 2nd Leg. Who knows if we can but that will be his aim. High tempo for the whole game which we will be more used to cos of playing in the EPL (though I highly disagree given our league form).
Black Jack, sorry for the difficulties in getting back in...dont know why that happened, but I do apologise for the problem...we have been having some probs lately...
Now these are my feelings exactly, Rafa will try to use the Premiereship style of play, crowding, fast paced, attacking...which will trouble our players, who all prefer time on the ball, though the wild rushing about could also be the Reds downfall, as they will tire more rapidly than us, and make cruical mistakes come the 2nd 45 minutes.
I do think, that though the team that scores first has the better chance of winning, I dont think that in and of itself is enough to guarantee the win. Both teams posess enuf character and talent to force an equaliser..and a go ahead goal...
But the difference IMO between the two teams is the class that Milan have, player for player, and this is where the distinction will prove itself cruical for us....and for our victory.
About Luis Garcia: I love this guy. He's one of my favorite non-Milanista all around. Smart, tactically disciplined (unusual for a Spaniard), quick, technically superb, hard-working, deadly in front of the goal, useful in different play-styles, great runner, unpredictable and he can score in many different ways (headers, long strikes, scrimages, you name it).
As much as I enjoy watching him, he's the one I'm a bit worried about. I hope Carlo will have the sense to go for wingers instead of center players. We need Serginho in that position and Kaladze behind him to have the initiative ourselves and for having enough defensive cover to hold Liverpool back. Seedorf on the left midfield would be a real problem.
Black Jack
12-05-2005, 20:09
Abbiati did very well for us during those 5 months he played for us in 99, the save from Cristian Bucchi in the dying minutes against Perugia was worth lo scudetto.
He's very quick on the line, great instincts, but he always lets in the easiest of goals from set pieces and long shots and he's very weak in terms of guarding his goal from crosses inside his goal area.
Let's just be thankful that Dida very rarely is injured.
Oh no.......sounds a lot like Dudek. I remember from what I saw of him, he seemed very steady in his box and was not prone to blunders. A confident keeper.
Dun worry about the re-logging in. I think we agree that Benitez will try to make the game faster paced and whilst everyone thinks Liverpool is not quality enough for that, just look at what we did to Juve in the 1st half at Anfield.
I think Carlo Ancelotti will play more a of a patient game and try to play possession football with Pirlo aiming to get Sheva with one of those long passes. I expect Cafu and Maldini playing hard on the flanks too.
Player for Player, Milan outclasses us but so did many other teams and this has also been their downfall.
Oh no.......sounds a lot like Dudek. I remember from what I saw of him, he seemed very steady in his box and was not prone to blunders. A confident keeper.
Dun worry about the re-logging in. I think we agree that Benitez will try to make the game faster paced and whilst everyone thinks Liverpool is not quality enough for that, just look at what we did to Juve in the 1st half at Anfield.
I think Carlo Ancelotti will play more a of a patient game and try to play possession football with Pirlo aiming to get Sheva with one of those long passes. I expect Cafu and Maldini playing hard on the flanks too.
Player for Player, Milan outclasses us but so did many other teams and this has also been their downfall.
Ya, but Iguess there is also a difference betwen CL final and all the rests of the CL matches. Typically you have 2 CL matches when you play against another team. In final, it's obviously different. Whoever can step up will win.
While Liverpool has been solid this season (in CL), it's also thanks to the stupidity of their opponents (i.e. chelsea and Juventus). You can tell that both teams (Chelsea and Juventus) thought that they can settle the business in the second league. (oh my, isn't that why Juventus play like s*it and thought it's ok to lose 2-1 in the first league, with the last 15 minutes Juventus is not at all trying? That's what i call stupidity and it suits Juventus players and manager)
Bu in Final, it's entirely different story. It's a one-shot game. While you can be very conservative (e.g.Milan vs Juve 2 years ago), it can also be full of goals. Of course, given the way Milan and Liverpool play, I think it'll probably end up in 1-0 or 1-1. (And thanks god there is no away goal otherwise this would be unfair to both teams like the way PSV got punished).
In the end, all I can remember Milan failed a big, must-win match was just a week ago when they lost to Juventus (Thanks Zambrotta), other than that Milan has been pretty much up to it. Characteristically (or uncharacteristically in those who don't know Milan's football), Milan doesn't know what to do whenever they are leading by >=2 goals, unless playing against an Italian opponent. Last year vs. Depo. and this year vs. PSV. Milan, to be frank, suc* whenever they were leading by quite a margin (at least 2 goals), especially when they play against a 'weaker' team or non-Italian team (i.e. vs. Inter, there is never a problem of motivation).
Having said all this, and given taht CL final is a one-shot game, I don't expect to see Milan crumble in front of Liverpool. Hope you understand and appreicate my argument :)
Jeff
Black Jack
13-05-2005, 04:22
Ya, but Iguess there is also a difference betwen CL final and all the rests of the CL matches. Typically you have 2 CL matches when you play against another team. In final, it's obviously different. Whoever can step up will win.
While Liverpool has been solid this season (in CL), it's also thanks to the stupidity of their opponents (i.e. chelsea and Juventus). You can tell that both teams (Chelsea and Juventus) thought that they can settle the business in the second league. (oh my, isn't that why Juventus play like s*it and thought it's ok to lose 2-1 in the first league, with the last 15 minutes Juventus is not at all trying? That's what i call stupidity and it suits Juventus players and manager)
Bu in Final, it's entirely different story. It's a one-shot game. While you can be very conservative (e.g.Milan vs Juve 2 years ago), it can also be full of goals. Of course, given the way Milan and Liverpool play, I think it'll probably end up in 1-0 or 1-1. (And thanks god there is no away goal otherwise this would be unfair to both teams like the way PSV got punished).
In the end, all I can remember Milan failed a big, must-win match was just a week ago when they lost to Juventus (Thanks Zambrotta), other than that Milan has been pretty much up to it. Characteristically (or uncharacteristically in those who don't know Milan's football), Milan doesn't know what to do whenever they are leading by >=2 goals, unless playing against an Italian opponent. Last year vs. Depo. and this year vs. PSV. Milan, to be frank, suc* whenever they were leading by quite a margin (at least 2 goals), especially when they play against a 'weaker' team or non-Italian team (i.e. vs. Inter, there is never a problem of motivation).
Having said all this, and given taht CL final is a one-shot game, I don't expect to see Milan crumble in front of Liverpool. Hope you understand and appreicate my argument :)
Jeff
Completely agree with you. The one chance I think that Liverpool has is if they step up and all players play the best game of their lives especially Gerrard and Alonso. Plus Milan must not play their best game either.
If both teams step up to the plate and perform their best, then I think it is highly likely that Milan will get it but hopefully Milan play ok whilst Liverpool outperforms expectations again.
I guess one thing that Juve and Chelski weren't expecting was our extremely resilient defence in the 2nd legs. Milan will probably note this now.
Let's just hope for a great exciting match with lots of goals but Liverpool just nicking it. hehehehehehehehehehehehe.......
Warro Bantan
13-05-2005, 08:40
Let's just hope for a great exciting match with lots of goals but Liverpool just nicking it. hehehehehehehehehehehehe.......
I agree and endorse your hope for an exciting match, but insofar as Liverpool just nicking it, I fear your hopes will be dashed against a Red and Black rock called Milan.(Or in this specific case, a White rock with red and black piping:D )
Sheva will have the match of his life, as will Kaka....they will both shine, Stam and Nesta will deny Garcia, Gerrard and whomever of Baros and Cisse play.
End of story. Sorry Black Jack, you seem a nice person, but unfortunately you support the losing team in this match. :v46:
:rotfl: Cheers!!
:rone:
While Liverpool has been solid this season (in CL), it's also thanks to the stupidity of their opponents (i.e. chelsea and Juventus). You can tell that both teams (Chelsea and Juventus) thought that they can settle the business in the second league. (oh my, isn't that why Juventus play like s*it and thought it's ok to lose 2-1 in the first league, with the last 15 minutes Juventus is not at all trying? That's what i call stupidity and it suits Juventus players and manager)
I really like to see Juventus lose because of their arrogancy or sense of superiority. Two years ago in Old Traffold, when Roque Junior disabled himself, Juventus decided to sit back instead of attacking crazily, because they were so confident of the penalty shootouts :D They thought they had Buffon, and our penalty takers Rui Costa, Pirlo were already off. :bri: Should I remind what happened next? :p017: :p017: :proud: :proud:
Then it was Liverpool, Juventus looked so damn happy when they got one goal back to 1-2. :grinser: What a priceless away goal! :u56:
We must not underestimate the determination of Liverpool. :respect: :respect:
If we want to be a champion, we should have the heart of a champion. :devil:
I agree and endorse your hope for an exciting match, but insofar as Liverpool just nicking it, I fear your hopes will be dashed against a Red and Black rock called Milan.(Or in this specific case, a White rock with red and black piping :D )
Really like this one, very creative. :clap: :whie:
End of story. Sorry Black Jack, you seem a nice person, but unfortunately you support the losing team in this match. :v46:
:rotfl: Cheers!!
This is no way to treat a friend. :angf: :rr30:
:guw: :kiss: :cheers: :love:
And never say never in football. Damn Dopers and Depors . :moan: :sigh: :1d31: :cpuke: :broken: (cute match though, aren't they? ;) )
This year we have been so lucky to host friendly guests like fans from Celtics, PSV, and now Liverpool. :rock3: Still remember the terrible invasion by the herd called "Galatasaray Locusts". :skull: :wallbang:
Warro Bantan
13-05-2005, 13:59
Sorry Xudong and Black Jack (if you are even offended, which I think not), but I really didnt think that I was being offensive...just explaining to our guest that he is supporting the team that will lose in the UCL final in Turkey...unless you think otherwise Xudong?
:rone:
:rone:
:rone:
I Don`t say many words! I always liked to wrote quick and short! And this is my comment on this game
Milan Will win?I know one thing correctly that it will be a good and beautiful game! Milan can win if plays in his best Liver can too! ;)
I hope that 7th trophy will be ours!
Forza Rossoneri and Milan! :noevil2: :bright:
unless you think otherwise Xudong?
:rone:
:rone:
:rone:
How dare you??? :dumpf: :1ang: :yuck: :finger: :angf: :frustrat: :w209:
:D
:3band: :devs: :devs:
Gio-mania
14-05-2005, 10:13
we can take them..
just thinking:
2 yrs ago we went throught to the final on away goals..........understand what i mean??
btw, i agree on the fact that liverpool went through partially because of the rivals arrogance and stupidity,
it will be a good game though
we can take them..
just thinking:
2 yrs ago we went throught to the final on away goals..........understand what i mean??
btw, i agree on the fact that liverpool went through partially because of the rivals arrogance and stupidity,
it will be a good game though
Totally agree with you! :sagrin:
Playa_Pimp
15-05-2005, 13:45
Quote:
Originally Posted by Playa_Pimp
You're happy that Ac beat the Ukraine champs? Shaktar? Celtic? A depleted man utd? Wow you really have lost it. The fact that AC lost to Juve in the weekend was no fluke homeboy but the fact that ambrossini got yet another late winner for Ac to just barely squeeze through again is. Just give it up and acknowledge the fact that we got outplayed people
ic... outplayed by a team who possessed the ball less than us by 8 minutes.
What an outplay.
Seriously, what you say is just contradicting yourself. Don't act smart please. Your arrogance is really awful.
Nice one Jeff. Does it make u feel better by calling me names? Or is it the fact that you can't take it that milan this year got lucky to go as far as they did?
Possession is nothing if you dont do anything with the ball, granted milan was playin a defensive, keep-away style because they were ahead but still, that lack of killer insitinct is was gets them in trouble (ex: juve game) so please stop tryin to sound like you know something, hit back one of them beers and just relax cause truthfully you are not needed
Christopher
15-05-2005, 14:27
I don't like how this team is playing currently, it seems they are lacking something . . . form? heart? I dunno they just look completely flat the last three games, and if they keep this up they won't beat Liverpool.
I don't like how this team is playing currently, it seems they are lacking something . . . form? heart? I dunno they just look completely flat the last three games, and if they keep this up they won't beat Liverpool.
forget about what we're seeing recently. Cafu for example rested for a week and vs Lecce he was better than he was vs juve and PSV.
Recently we're lacking a bit of motivation and attention, for example vs Lecce there was a lot of loose marking... vs Liverpool it will be a totally different story.
forget about what we're seeing recently. Cafu for example rested for a week and vs Lecce he was better than he was vs juve and PSV.
Recently we're lacking a bit of motivation and attention, for example vs Lecce there was a lot of loose marking... vs Liverpool it will be a totally different story.
Exactly, I am 100% confident in our team. They will bring back our 7th Trophy. :proud: :pp20: :clap:
With enough rest we'll win it, but it will be hard-fought. I think we will win on penalties.
kenny_shev
15-05-2005, 17:57
What really worries me is the shaky performance of our defense of late. We conceded probably more goals in the last few matches than we did in half of our seasons :(. I just pray we get the CL trophy. It would definitely be desvastating to us if we finished the season trophyless having played so well all season long.
What really worries me is the shaky performance of our defense of late. We conceded probably more goals in the last few matches than we did in half of our seasons :(.
That was when Stam was injured. :( He can make great individual stops, but he's not fitting in. He can't run the defense and he can't cover for Cafu. Sorry, but I don't want to see him in Istanbul. Cafu - Nesta - Maldini - Kaladze, and Costacurta should be our sub in central defense, although I'm hoping we won't need one.
The preview is ready but the DAMN limit is set again! :dumpf: The limit is at 20,000 characters while the preview is over 25,000 characters! So can the administrator please increase the limit temporarily to 30,000 or so. If you don't increase the limit then no preview! :D :devs:
Grenoli_Trio
16-05-2005, 04:48
I am pretty sure any Milanisti are very very excited just before the Champions League Final. Firstly i have to confess that i am not glad Milan's football against PSV(second leg) and Barcelona in group. Beside these matches Milan's football reminded me the MONSTER in spite of Ancelotti. So who is that monster?
It rises from the grave in 1950s for the first time. In 1949, Il Grande Torino crushed to Superga and Italian football was not fun: Valentino Mazzola or Eizo Loik, none was found. We, as Rossoneri turned our faces to the North and three great stars were found soon. Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm were such an excellent trio which is called Grenoli Trio. They were so good even for Serie A and Rossoneri won many scudetti.
After Grenoli Trio, the compass was showing the north again but this time not abroad but another city in Italy. Golden boys Altafini and Rivera were the reason of a myth written in San Siro again.
Milan had to wait for 30 years to create another unbeaten armada. This time, another trio coming from Holland was under the control of Minister of Defence, Baresi's coalition.
I have really liked Milan's football these year. IT could be better if we did much better against Barca and PSV but anyways, I saw the monster again this year and really did enjoy it.
Milan won Champions League Cup in 2003 but we had never reached this level. The Monster arise again in our legendary San Siro, Meazza.
We did so well this year and now we are against another legendary team in history, Liverpool. We are the best team of last 40 years in history and Liverpool is the second one. What a great combination! And a great chance for us to finish this year with OPUS MAGNUM.
i cant say i understood what u meant about the monster arising again!
That was when Stam was injured. :( He can make great individual stops, but he's not fitting in. He can't run the defense and he can't cover for Cafu. Sorry, but I don't want to see him in Istanbul. Cafu - Nesta - Maldini - Kaladze, and Costacurta should be our sub in central defense, although I'm hoping we won't need one.
i hope carlo doesnt think the same way
Grenoli_Trio
16-05-2005, 07:42
It means ''Legend is back''
Warro Bantan
16-05-2005, 08:51
The preview is ready but the DAMN limit is set again! :dumpf: The limit is at 20,000 characters while the preview is over 25,000 characters! So can the administrator please increase the limit temporarily to 30,000 or so. If you don't increase the limit then no preview! :D :devs:
Cmon Mods...increase the limit already! :nunu:
:D
Is the limit going to be increased? :swars:
Gio-mania
16-05-2005, 13:52
we have to strike them with low balls and fast attacking, not to mention dudek suxXx...
Lpool cant attack n defend at the same time............
Ambro is in high risk of missing the final. A bad blow for us since he's very good in the air and can contrast their long defenders and midfielders.
triniman
16-05-2005, 17:26
can you please have a thread in which you do not attack the coach....it's getting to be very monotinious......you can say what u mean without hinting to the same thing over and over in different threads....we know where u stand...thank you!
That was when Stam was injured. :( He can make great individual stops, but he's not fitting in. He can't run the defense and he can't cover for Cafu. Sorry, but I don't want to see him in Istanbul. Cafu - Nesta - Maldini - Kaladze, and Costacurta should be our sub in central defense, although I'm hoping we won't need one.
That is an interesting point, Ruffian.
Btw. I seem to recall to have increased the limit of characters once at request from Haroon. Maybe Reza has simply had it with those time-consuming previews. Would be a shame though ;)
Grenoli_Trio
16-05-2005, 17:59
Ok, i erased that part. We should speak good things sometimes:)
ACMILAN1983
16-05-2005, 19:46
Hopefully, the limit will be increased. I must say I'm very intrigued to read Haroon's preview :)
One word: "Riconquistiamola" :mex:
I would love Pippo scoring :firedev:
The preview is ready but the DAMN limit is set again! :dumpf: The limit is at 20,000 characters while the preview is over 25,000 characters! So can the administrator please increase the limit temporarily to 30,000 or so. If you don't increase the limit then no preview! :D :devs:
Basically it's down to: "If we score we win" :sagrin: ;) :sagrin:
Read this amazing piece by Liverpool fan RUSHIAN on the Curva Sud singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the 1989 European Champions Cup semi-final with Real Madrid CF.
http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php/topic,66422.0.html
This is where our clubs' traditions lie and this is our solidarity as fans of great football clubs! I'd bet a good amount that YNWA will be sung again by the whole stadium come May 25, 2005. :shades:
Basically it's down to: "If we score we win" :sagrin: ;) :sagrin:
:stuckup: No comment. :dcool:
Warro Bantan
17-05-2005, 10:08
Originally Posted by Ruffian
That was when Stam was injured. He can make great individual stops, but he's not fitting in. He can't run the defense and he can't cover for Cafu. Sorry, but I don't want to see him in Istanbul. Cafu - Nesta - Maldini - Kaladze, and Costacurta should be our sub in central defense, although I'm hoping we won't need one.
That is an interesting point, Ruffian.
It has been my unfortunate experience to have reviewed the recent goals we have conceded, both vs Juve and Lecce, and IMO, Stam´s positioning left a lot to be desired, and lets just add the PSV game to that as well.
He is a good defender when tackling, robbing attackers who have the ball at their feet, yet when crosses are sent over, he seems to be conveniently 2 to 3 yards away from the attacker he should have been so close to, that they would have appeard to be sharing shirts.
This was a feature of Billy´s play recently as well, and though Paolo is not as good in terms of winning headers, his positional sense is better. So, for my 2 cents, Billy should move swiftly into coaching, or try out the left or right back positions, but certainly not central defense....unless he goes to Bolton or some team like that...let me hasten to add that I totally respect Costacurta, but his days as an effective defender at the top level are obviously over.
Maybe where Milan need major investment next terms is in defence, which may have been our strong point at various stages this season, but was our liability at the season´s start (set plays) and now as it draws to a close.
Baros and Cisse (though the latter maybe less so) are not fools in the air, and can score with a well placed header, and as Del Piero showed vs Parma, an unmarked leprechaun can score a header in the box.
This is my greatest concern, not our scoring, but our defending. In the game vs Lecce, Cafu was beaten for pace on one of the goals....this may not be so much of a concern for us vs Liverpool, but again, IMO suggests an age induced decline in our much regalled back four.
Nesta is an excellent, world class defender as is Paolo, but they cant do it alone.
Maybe what will happen (though honestly I doubt it) we will just have to outscore Liverpool....
I'm yet another Liverpool fan wanting to say a warm hello to my friends in the red half of Milano. Like so many Liverpool fans, I have felt a special bond with the Rossoneri since that special night back in 89 when van Basten, Baresi, Gullit and co. played the beautiful game at it's best, convincingly beating Madrid 5-0. The memories of that night when you all sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" and unfurled the "Sheffield: You'll Never Walk Alone" banner will be remembered by us forever.
It's a pleasure to be playing you in the Champion's League Final, although it will be a shame that one of us has to lose. I obviously believe that Liverpool will win although a lot will depend on which Liverpool team will turn up on the night. While our CL performances have been scintillating, due to injuries we have been unable to rotate our squad for the following league game, which has cost us dearly. Contrary to what the newspapers may say (please don't ever quote "The Sun" newspaper to a Liverpool fan) we are not confident, just genuine football fans who will give our team unconditional support at what will be a great spectacle. On paper your squad is formidable, but thankfully for us, football is played on grass and not paper.....
For Liverpool to win we must play a pressing game, like PSV did. Give Pirlo and Kaka time on the ball, and you will get scoring opportunities so we will play with 5 midfielders with Gerrard making a nuisance of himself, Alonso spraying the ball round for fun, Hamann protecting the back 4 and Garcia and Riise getting forward when possible to support Cisse. Carragher & Hyypia are excellent defenders, but like Maldini, Stam and Nesta, they do not have great pace. While Shevchenko is probably the best striker in the world, pace is not one of his finest attributes. It's debatable whether he should be playing after the head butt on Materazzi ;-) . Personally, I will feel privileged to see him for the second time after a visit last season to the San Siro where I stood with pride in the Curva Sud.
I hope to meet you all in Istanbul, perhaps even to exchange a scarf or shirt. From what I have read we have great respect for each other so hopefully we can continue our discussions over a beer or two.
On behalf of Liverpool fans everywhere may I wish you a safe trip to Turkey!
<<< You'll Never Walk Alone >>>
Ringo
Now ready for Haroon's preview :D
Cissé not expecting Milan start
Djibril Cissé says he is not expecting to start the Champions’ League Final against Milan next week, despite scoring twice for Liverpool on Sunday.
The fit-again France international replaced an out-of-touch Milan Baros in the starting XI against Aston Villa and seized his chance by netting both goals in the 2-1 win.
But he insisted he is not yet fully fit after returning from a double leg fracture last month.
"I’m not thinking about starting against Milan," said the former Auxerre striker. "That’s a decision for the Coach to make.
"I feel good but I am only playing at 70 or 80 percent of my top form," he added.
Coach Rafael Benitez said he would consider playing the 23-year-old from the start.
"Djibril’s performance against Villa has given me more options. I could start with him, or Baros, or play with two strikers," said the Spaniard.
channel4.com
:rollani:
:fero: :fero: FORZA MILAN :fero: :fero:
Warro Bantan
17-05-2005, 14:24
Welcome Ringo!!!
That is a cool name, in Jamaica, we had a very famous rapper named Johnny Ringo..who was quite good actually.
Welcome to milanmania, that was an excellent post.
Why aren't the images showing properly? I saw the preview of the post and the links are shown but not the images. Damn!! :broken: Come on Reza ... make an exception here. Enable the images just for this post and then remove the privilege. It will be worth it every cent. I promise you. :dcool:
Welcome Ringo!!!
That is a cool name, in Jamaica, we had a very famous rapper named Johnny Ringo..who was quite good actually.
Welcome to milanmania, that was an excellent post.
probably " ringo " is becouse of ringo star from the beatles, from liverpool. Anyway ringo welcome and I hope we can all sing together " You'll never walk alone " in the beggining of the game, and then later on rossoneri will go on with " we are the champions, my friends..." :p017:
Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I was named after the drummer in the Beatles, another part of Liverpool's proud heritage.
Despite Cisse only being 70% fit, most Liverpool fans would rather start with him, as opposed to Baros. Even at 70% he is very fast and will cause your ageing defence a few problems. His first touch though is not good (he would have trouble to control a bag of cement) but even so, he offers more than Baros, who is not a team player. He rarely passes or looks up to find a team mate, which has cost us dearly, as has the fact that he has only scored 2 goals since November.
Can I ask how many of you are actually travelling to the game? It's cost the Liverpool fans an absolute fortune. My one night's hotel and flight cost me Euros 850 + match ticket of Euros 120. To make matters worse, and to show you how little chance I thought that we had of making the final, I booked to go to Spain with my wife and we go on Friday morning. Now that we are in the final I am flying home on Tuesday night leaving my wife in Spain so that I can catch the plane with the lads to Istanbul on Wednesday morning. She will return on her own on Thursday night. I explained to her that I can go on holiday with her anytime, but I have waited 20 long years to see Liverpool in a Champions League/ European Cup Final.
Warro Bantan
17-05-2005, 16:36
Ahh Ringo, a man of my own heart! Not that my wife would be that understanding though!!!!! :D
Enable the images just for this post and then remove the privilege. It will be worth it every cent. I promise you. :dcool:
I'll do that as long as you are giving my team a good write up:D
ACMILAN1983
17-05-2005, 21:28
Welcome Ringo :)
arpanmilan
17-05-2005, 22:27
Why aren't the images showing properly? I saw the preview of the post and the links are shown but not the images. Damn!! :broken: Come on Reza ... make an exception here. Enable the images just for this post and then remove the privilege. It will be worth it every cent. I promise you. :dcool:
haroon if the preview of the match which u posted on xtratime.org is the same one ur going 2 post then its simply gr8. nice work mate.
I'll do that as long as you are giving my team a good write up:D
You wasted a good 20 seconds writing that reply. :D You could've used those 20 seconds to enable images. :sagrin: Get on with it asap. :dcool:
A UCL final is played in a week's time. So many transfer threads are being discussed while this thread is not that active. :dstup:
Good point Haroon, let's come together around this thread and post all relevant info here (rather than open new threads with related news)
Any news on a likely starting 11?
killiegradge
18-05-2005, 16:14
Would anyone who is going to the match care to purchase me a programme for the game?Unless it will be available elsewhere that anyone knows of?Let me know of costs etc and I will post some EURO's to pay for it.
Warro Bantan
18-05-2005, 16:27
No news...is good news? I think Carlo will keep any announcements in this regard close to his chest till right before match time...cant see any benefit in revealing the starting line up, or even the travelling squad before the penultimate day....otherwise:
From:http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may18g.html
Milan suffer Ambrosini loss
Wednesday 18 May, 2005
Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini has been ruled out of the Champions’ League Final against Liverpool.
The Rossoneri confirmed the news today after the Italian picked up an injury in the 2-2 draw with Lecce at the weekend.
Ambrosini has pulled a thigh muscle in his left leg, an injury that has basically ended his season.
"The extent of the injury means that his full recovery in time for the Istanbul Final is very difficult," the club wrote on their website.
Although the Azzurri player hasn’t been a first team regular this season, he is a major reason why Milan have reached the European Cup Final.
Ambrosini netted the crucial away goal in the semi-final 3-1 loss at PSV, which allowed the side to progress on the away goal rule.
Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is now likely to field Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo in midfield against the Premiership side on May 25. :sigh: :moan:
Been wondering for some time if he was going to be available, now I guess we know for sure... :moan:
Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I was named after the drummer in the Beatles, another part of Liverpool's proud heritage.
Despite Cisse only being 70% fit, most Liverpool fans would rather start with him, as opposed to Baros. Even at 70% he is very fast and will cause your ageing defence a few problems. His first touch though is not good (he would have trouble to control a bag of cement) but even so, he offers more than Baros, who is not a team player. He rarely passes or looks up to find a team mate, which has cost us dearly, as has the fact that he has only scored 2 goals since November.
Can I ask how many of you are actually travelling to the game? It's cost the Liverpool fans an absolute fortune. My one night's hotel and flight cost me Euros 850 + match ticket of Euros 120. To make matters worse, and to show you how little chance I thought that we had of making the final, I booked to go to Spain with my wife and we go on Friday morning. Now that we are in the final I am flying home on Tuesday night leaving my wife in Spain so that I can catch the plane with the lads to Istanbul on Wednesday morning. She will return on her own on Thursday night. I explained to her that I can go on holiday with her anytime, but I have waited 20 long years to see Liverpool in a Champions League/ European Cup Final.
I'll be in Istanbul, it's our 2nd "uncomfortable" and expensive Final over 3 seasons. Manchester was even more expensive than Istanbul. Milan fans will be spending anything from 600 to 800 Euros for a day return trip. I know that some will not go, cause pissed off with Uefa. I will be spending less cause I'll be travelling with the diehard Curva Sud guys, that do not make profit out of THE TEAM :star: Everybody else will pay that much. A number of fans are waiting for agencies to lower prices. Fair to say that it's our 7th Final over 18 years, so a lot of people basically think: fvck UEFA, fvck Travel Agencies, fvck touts.
Don't know wether we'll meet in Istanbul, I would just like to add, that I was their in 1989 during Milan vs Real.
Tomorrow morning 12:45 England time, Rafa Benitez will give his press conference to the English press regarding the UEFA CL final. Over here they are more focused on that FA Cup final for now as it is played on the 21st. Let's see what Benitez has to say tomorrow.
It should be shown on Sky Sports News Live but I am not sure about that. :dconf:
ALL OUT TO BACK MILAN
5/18/2005 4:15:00 PM
Forza Milan and Forza Rossoneri! Everyone must be in Istanbul. The qualification to the Champions League is not routine, but a wonderful opportunity. A gift Milan have managed to give themselves differently to many other challangers to the European title who unfortunately could not experience the great emotion of the final. The Kemal Ataturk stadium in Istanbul somehow recalls in its structure and space the venue of Daniele Massaro and Dejan Savicevic, that which saw Cruyff’s Barcelona, who had just been crowned Spanish champions, be defeated by the fresh Serie A winners who had clinched their third consecutive title. Sweet memories, perfume of history, the last great double in Italy. That’s why the seats reserved for the Italians at the Istanbul stadium must be coloured of red and black. Tickets and package tours are still available to live the final with the team. Milan deserve this for the care and attention they have shown in preparing the game: supportive and zealous toward Istanbul, their people and their autorities, concentrated on the pitch and sensitive off it. On Tuesday Adriano Galliani reminded the tact of the club not to make a drama out of the defeat at La Coruna last season. Just after the game, when the team left the Riazor to reach the hotel, the club were able to convey the right tranquillity to the players so that they could win the domestic title. That’s why Sandro Nesta told to the Milan Channel on Wednesday: 'Yesterday Galliani didn’t give us a lift, we have it on our own, now and on that night. He just gave us tranquillity, what we most need now. I’m convinced that day by day we will return to our best form in time for the final against Liverpool. I think they are not only strong in defence, but also in attack. On the other hand, we are more experienced than at Manchester because our group were taking the first steps at that time, while now we are more mature, more compact and even more aware of our potential. Me? I feel good, the rest in the week of Lecce-Milan did well to me, as the fitness work done in these days.’
==============
This is from the Milan official site. What I can read into this is that Milan has still not sold its total allocation and these travel agencies are continuing to rip-off on their package deals! :mad: There is still time so let's hope that the allocation is there.
Just forgot to mention this bit ... We can't give Liverpool the advantage of outnumbering our fans in the stadium. Outnumbering by about 3000 is ok but being outnumbered by 10,000 is a tad too much which will make it an away game for us.
Hence every Milanista present in the stadium has to sing and shout with his lungs out ... that includes you too Presidente. :guw:
I still hope that 20,000 Milanisti make it from Italy and about 2000 are foreigners to give it a rough estimate of about 22-23 K rossoneri. That will do.
I hate these rip-off agencies! :dumpf:
Forza Ragazzi!
Forza Milan!
:3band: :devs:
I'll be in Istanbul, it's our 2nd "uncomfortable" and expensive Final over 3 seasons. Manchester was even more expensive than Istanbul. Milan fans will be spending anything from 600 to 800 Euros for a day return trip. I know that some will not go, cause pissed off with Uefa. I will be spending less cause I'll be travelling with the diehard Curva Sud guys, that do not make profit out of THE TEAM :star: Everybody else will pay that much. A number of fans are waiting for agencies to lower prices. Fair to say that it's our 7th Final over 18 years, so a lot of people basically think: fvck UEFA, fvck Travel Agencies, fvck touts.
Don't know wether we'll meet in Istanbul, I would just like to add, that I was their in 1989 during Milan vs Real.
Great to meet you Diavolo. Thanks for contributing to one of the most emotional nights in Liverpool's history.
On a separate note.According to travel firms they are expecting over 50,000 Liverpool fans in Istanbul next Wednesday. While only 20,000 have officially got tickets the rest are hoping to pick them up from the 14,500 which were kept bu UEFA for it's "family" (thieveing b@stards!) the 7,500 which were given to the Turkish FA (why so many?) or the 7,000 that were sold on UEFA.com, and bought by every tout in Europe. Every flight from England/ Scotland is full on the 24th and 25th of May, with a lot of fans having to look at alternative arrangements such as flights to Bulgaria/ Albania/ Romania and then driving from there. A lot of people have also booked package holidays to Bodrum/ Gumbet and Marmaris where they will then make the 13 hour car journey north to Istanbul. If you believe the figures quoted, we have a good chance of winning the singing competition, if nothing else.
Back to the subject of tickets. I think we all agree that it is an absolute disgrace how a stadium that has a capacity of 80,000 which is reduced to 70,000 for this game should only give 20,000 to each set of fans. Our average attendance is 45,000 which is our capacity. Milan's average attendance is a lot higher again. We must accept that UEFA are only there to make money for it's organisation and football touts. How they can keep 14,500 for itself is daylight robbery.
Just forgot to mention this bit ... We can't give Liverpool the advantage of outnumbering our fans in the stadium. Outnumbering by about 3000 is ok but being outnumbered by 10,000 is a tad too much which will make it an away game for us.
Hence every Milanista present in the stadium has to sing and shout with his lungs out ... that includes you too Presidente. :guw:
I still hope that 20,000 Milanisti make it from Italy and about 2000 are foreigners to give it a rough estimate of about 22-23 K rossoneri. That will do.
I hate these rip-off agencies! :dumpf:
Forza Ragazzi!
Forza Milan!
:3band: :devs:
In the end the team will have the backing. I think that prices are just way to high. I know a number of fans that will not give travel agencies 700/800 Euros for a dat return trip. Maybe of all teams, we are the only ones that can start this kind of protest, since we've played 7 finals in 18 years. IMHO, Isanbul is a bad choice, not so much for the city that is beautiful, but cause getting their is so expensive. If the final was in Paris, Belgrad, Bucharest or anywhere in continental Europe, it would have been much cheeper. As said , even Manchester was a total nightmare. It was expensive, you could get their only by plane, the airport was not up to it aswell since a number of fans spent 24 hours in the airport after the match. Us Milan fans also had a terrible experience in Athens in 1994, when 2.000 Milan fans, never made it to the stadium due to Airport congestion. In the end, I feel that we will be 20.000, but a number of fans are just waiting for travel agencies to "beg" them to buy the trip.
P.S. The bright side is: that we never lost a final in "uncomfortable" locations.
Anyway, it will be my 6th live final.
Forza Milan
:star:
Great to meet you Diavolo. Thanks for contributing to one of the most emotional nights in Liverpool's history.
On a separate note.According to travel firms they are expecting over 50,000 Liverpool fans in Istanbul next Wednesday. While only 20,000 have officially got tickets the rest are hoping to pick them up from the 14,500 which were kept bu UEFA for it's "family" (thieveing b@stards!) the 7,500 which were given to the Turkish FA (why so many?) or the 7,000 that were sold on UEFA.com, and bought by every tout in Europe. Every flight from England/ Scotland is full on the 24th and 25th of May, with a lot of fans having to look at alternative arrangements such as flights to Bulgaria/ Albania/ Romania and then driving from there. A lot of people have also booked package holidays to Bodrum/ Gumbet and Marmaris where they will then make the 13 hour car journey north to Istanbul. If you believe the figures quoted, we have a good chance of winning the singing competition, if nothing else.
Back to the subject of tickets. I think we all agree that it is an absolute disgrace how a stadium that has a capacity of 80,000 which is reduced to 70,000 for this game should only give 20,000 to each set of fans. Our average attendance is 45,000 which is our capacity. Milan's average attendance is a lot higher again. We must accept that UEFA are only there to make money for it's organisation and football touts. How they can keep 14,500 for itself is daylight robbery.
People here, will not travel to Itsanbul without a ticket. Today flights towards Isatanbul, from Milan, Turin, Bologna, Genova, Zurich, Munich, Venice, Rome, Lyon, Nice and so on, cost no less than 700 Euros. We've been places in these last few years, in Barcelona in 1989 we were 90.000. It's just that people are fed up of being conned. BTW, if you know anybody without a ticket, tell him/her to think twice before going to Istanbul, I remember fans in Manchester (Milan vs Juve final), conned by touts that gave them forged tickets at sky high prices.
We will surprise you. We are loud and sing throughout the match non stop.
We know that you lot are among the best supporters in England, far better than Man Utd or Chelsea for example that are very quiet, but due to the high prices, a number of younger fans, and theirfore more energetic, will not be inside the stadium in Istanbul. ;)
Black Jack
18-05-2005, 22:25
Hello fellow friends,
I am back again. Been great reading this thread and I can sense a great match and atmosphere to unfold at Istanbul on the 25th. To digress a bit, what about that Daniel Carvalho guy from CSKA who got them the UEFA Cup. Wonder how good he really is?
Thank you for the wonderful YNWA in 1989 especially against Real Madrid the scum of Spain.
I was all set to go to Istanbul having purchase my ticket via uefa.com just after the 1st semi-final. I was so lucky to get it and they were great seats. I live in Singapore so would have cost me a bomb to go up there. I was willing to spend it all too as only direct flights left there were on Business Class or First Class. Overall, my trip would have cost me about 1700 pounds.
In the midst of preparing for it all, my boss informs me that I am unable to take leave for that week nearly reducing me to tears on the spot. In my line of work, it is extremely difficult to take leave and I was even going to work over the weekend just to make it to Istanbul for 2 days.
Sadly, I sold my ticket but on the brightside, even from this faraway South-East Asian Island country, it is encouraging to note that there are many Liverpool fans travelling up to Istanbul bearing around the same cost as I was going to. I am not too sure about AC Milan though.
Well that was my rant and still debating as to whether or not to quit my job and perhaps meet you guys up there. :w186:
Scaryscouse
19-05-2005, 06:26
Hello Milan Fans!!! As you may have guessed I'm a Liverpool fan. Don't worry i'm not here to cause trouble :510: I'm far too relaxed. Just wondering what your thoughts are about the upcoming final and hopefully a bit of healthy debate and Banter. Is Ambrosini definetly injured?
Yup, Ambro is likely not in our lineup for final... :(
Bad news! Ambro Injured! But what about Kaka?????
Warro Bantan
19-05-2005, 09:13
No news on Kaka, and believe me I have been scouring all the sites on the web...you wont believe what Google turns up when you put Kaka in their search engine!!
Seriously though, I doubt he is seriously injured....I saw the highlight of the tackle, and Kaka´s reaction after, and he didnt appear seriously hurt, and there have been no reports suggesting that he is even bothered by pain, swelling etc....
IMO he will be rested vs Palermo tomorrow....
ACMILAN1983
19-05-2005, 09:42
welcome Scaryscouse :)
yeah, Ambro seems like he'll be out, maybe on the bench if we're lucky.
However, Kaka is not injured as far as I know. Channel 4 mentioned something, but I'm fairly certain it was a mistake.
zlatanov
19-05-2005, 11:47
There is a thread on Kaka's supposed injury and it became clear that channel 4 - not sure why people use it as a source - most probably meant Konan insted of Kaka. The thing is that Konan got a 3 match ban for that horrific tacle on the Brazilian and this means that he, Konan, will miss not only the rest of this year's Serie A but also the first round from next season.
History is repeating itself: Milan be the CL Champion again this year?
I was talking, 2 weeks ago, with my friends, and I predicted that the earlier Milan lose/win the scudetto, the higher the chance Milan will win the game next weds. because we are less concerned with the league, whatever the reason is.
Now that the first part has become truth, I wonder if Milan is really capable of winning CL this year?
So I went back 2 years ago when Milan won the 6th trophy, Milan lost to Juventus by 11 points.
That is, if we lost both of our league games in the end, while Juventus manages to win both, then we have repeated history.
Only that Inter is not behind us, not in front of us.
*********************************************************
It seems that history is repeating itself again. Not that we are not capable of double, but perhaps not this year. In any case, it seems that everything is happening in the same way again.
Will the final end in yet another penalty?
J
Images still not fixed ... Razor. ;) Time's running out and from tomorrow onwards I am extremely busy. :eek:
savicevic
20-05-2005, 04:58
We also feel a slight destiny this term too..... Last time Charles got married? Last time we had a new pope?:D
yes, it was 1978, new pope, juve won league, inter won the coppa italia, wales the 5 nations rugby t'ment and l'pool the champions cup. we'll see if history repeats itself.
history never repeats the same way ;) :fero:
savicevic
20-05-2005, 05:54
Any news on a likely starting 11?
In yesterday's press conference, Ancelotti said that he has already decided on the starting 11. since there are no injury worries (i know ambro will miss the game, but he is generally a substitute - he has started very few games), i guess the only doubt relates to who will partner sheva up front.
ignoring who would you like to play and who would you play considering liverpool's tactics, as well as taking into consideration the fact that who is playing tonight vs palermo is unlikely to start on wed, we can safely say that the starting 11 vs liverpool will be:
dida; cafu, stam, nesta, maldini; pirlo, gattuso, seedorf, kaka; shevchenko, inzaghi.
i think this is our best formation for this year, considering that inzaghi has only started 4 games.
i think we should consider ourselves lucky that kaka will be playing. last sunday, konan could have easily broke his leg. a matter of a few centimetres.
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Told you guys:stuckup:
Haroon's overview is: "If we score one more than Liverpool we win" ;)
This is it. juve won the scudetto. we have to win CL! i think inzaghi will partner sheva because crespo played full match vs palermo. Milan need to defend set pieces well and also maximise it in opponent's half when given. The interesting fact is this is the first time milan meet liverpool! It is a pity that ambrosini misses the final! he is an important player! Istanbul, here we come!!!!! FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sorta concerned about Inzaghi being up front considering his lack of games this year. But he is one of my fave Milan players so I will be ecstatic if he scores in the final. I would be even more ecstatic if JDT scores in the final cus this guy really deserves a big goal for all his efforts for this team, and it would boost his confidence and cement his position in this Milan squad next year.
everyone ...together now... FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
zlatanov
21-05-2005, 15:38
I believe that Crespo's full game was a simply a test of his shape at this very moment and he passed it very very successfully. I do believe that it will beCrespo partnering for Sheva on Wednesday and not Pippo for the latter simply doesn't have the match fitness to feature from the very beginning of the most important game for the season. He is definitely at the physical level of being able to make a difference when put in but definitely not for 90 min and frankly, I don't see Carlo starting with a player who doesn't have a full game in his legs.
I see us with Sheva-Crespo on Wednesday and Pippo, Rui, Serginho being our most important subs for that game.
Forza Milaaaaaan !!!
sehnsucht79
21-05-2005, 23:06
Cafu's uefa.com inquisition
Friday, 20 May 2005
It takes bravery to become one of the best right-sided defenders in the world, but it takes valour close to foolhardiness to be prepared to face the onslaught of an inquisition by uefa.com users. However, AC Milan's Brazilian hero Cafu is made of sterner stuff than most.
Fan-ish inquisition
A while ago, we asked users to send in some questions to the 34-year-old to be answered in the week before Milan take on Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League final at Istanbul's Atatürk stadium. You replied in your thousands, and here, Cafu fends off the best of your advances.
uefa.com user LevkskiMan: Are you surprised that Milan have made it to their second Champions League final in three years?
Cafu: Not really. We have a great squad who do not fear working hard to achieve their objectives. And that's what happened this time. It's a reward for our effort, especially after playing some strong opposition this year. The Milan derby is always hard, Manchester United [FC] have tradition in Europe and PSV [Eindhoven] gave us a run for our money.
uefa.com user Shaun Daley: In Djibril Cissé, Milan Baroš and Luis García, Liverpool have some really fast players. Do you ever feel you have been outpaced by an opponent?
Cafu: Several guys have been faster than me, but I would like to say that speed is a very relative concept in football and depends on where you are on the pitch - it's not just a mere racing thing. I wouldn't like to name those faster guys, though (smiles).
uefa.com user Gladbach99: Do you feel you have received the praise you deserved as a player?
Cafu: Undoubtedly. I think people respect me a lot as player and a person. In Italy, Brazil and a lot of places, every time I go on the streets people come by to talk and say nice things to me. That's flattering and is as important as winning titles for a professional player. We need to be an example for people, especially the young ones.
uefa.com user Dimitra Pappa: Which Liverpool players do you think will give Milan a hard time in Istanbul?
Cafu: I don't like to single anybody out because one thing I've learned as a football player is that the group needs to be more important than the individual. Sometimes you believe a player will save the day and he ends up not doing the job, because we are all human beings. We have to watch out for all Liverpool players.
uefa.com user Sting_Lisboa: Are you secretly pleased to have avoided Chelsea FC in the final?
Cafu: I am happy to be in the final of a competition I have never won and that happiness does not depend on whom we are facing in the final. I don't have to remind anybody that Milan have to respect every opponent, not fear them. Besides, Chelsea lost to Liverpool, who deserve to be in the final. That's football.
uefa.com user XxX Tryggvi XxX: What would it mean to you to win the Champions League trophy?
Cafu: It's a trophy I have always wanted to win and basically the only one missing in my career. It's curious that 13 years ago I played for São Paulo [FC] against Milan in the [FIFA] World Club Championship final, in Tokyo. We won 3-2 but it made me wonder how would it be to challenge for European honours.
uefa.com user Marquis ChaCha: Which of your team-mates would you least like to play against?
Cafu: (laughs) All of them. My colleagues are all pretty good players.
Good luck against Liverpool guys. Please don't make the same mistake as us and come out flat and unprepared. Show the English how to play football.
Rapierist
22-05-2005, 02:48
Liverpool will look to do what they know best. Hang on for dear life and try to nick one. Return to the glory days for them. Oh yes indeed. Their football has been putting everyone to sleep like it did 20 years ago.
We simply must beat them. And if we play like we know how, Liverpool doesn't stand a chance.
Liverpool reaching the final reminds me of when Valencia made the final a few years ago. They were a lot of neutral's favourites and then in the final, their lack of experience in the big game really showed and then they got hammered.
I hope Liverpool go out the same way.
Your ignorance and lack of knowledge on this subject is amazing Rapierist.
Rapierist
22-05-2005, 09:22
Your ignorance and lack of knowledge on this subject is amazing Rapierist.
Ha. Ha. No mate. The superb passing between Grobbelaar, Hansen and Lawrenson is legendary. :yawn: And finally when everyone fell asleep, there'd be a long ball out to Rush or Dalglish.
And besides, you're forgetting that I am also a United supporter :D
Return to the glory days for them. Oh yes indeed. Their football has been putting everyone to sleep like it did 20 years ago.
Ignorance indeed. That Liverpool of 20-25 years ago is widely recognized as one of the entertaining teams of modern football.
zlatanov
22-05-2005, 16:44
Ignorance indeed. That Liverpool of 20-25 years ago is widely recognized as one of the entertaining teams of modern football.
let's be carful with the use of the word "widely" Yes, Pool of Rush and Keagan was extremely successful - in fact the most successful British team of all time - but their success was based on a Juve-like solidity in midfield and defence. Maybe they were entertaining for their own fans but definitely not for others, espcially neutral fans of football. The golden team of Liverpool was a solid team that reminds of Capello's Juve, actually it is the othe way around, and had solidty and success and not entertainment as its goal.
ac_milan_foreva
22-05-2005, 17:01
Liverpool will look to do what they know best. Hang on for dear life and try to nick one. Return to the glory days for them. Oh yes indeed. Their football has been putting everyone to sleep like it did 20 years ago.
We simply must beat them. And if we play like we know how, Liverpool doesn't stand a chance.
i feel the same way man :)
Hello,
I have 2 tickets for sale in Milan side. I have located in Istanbul.
Contact me:
[email protected]
Forza Milan!!!
Hey guys I think Liver will(Though I`m for Milan and will be till last minute) win, what do tou think?
zlatanov
23-05-2005, 05:35
Hey guys I think Liver will(Though I`m for Milan and will be till last minute) win, what do tou think?
What do you think that we think? I thought it was obvious, well, for most people that is.
Was that an attempt to start a new topic or what?
savicevic
23-05-2005, 09:09
seedorf in doubt. rui costa, dhorasoo or serginho would rpelace him.
www.sportal.it:
Dopo il forfait di Massimo Ambrosini, vittima di un stiramento durante Lecce-Milan, in casa rossonera ora c'è preoccupazione per le condizioni di Clarence Seedorf.
L'olandese infatti non si è allenato domenica a causa di una caviglia dolorante. Scattato quindi il preallarme per gli eventuali sostituti per la finale di Champions League mercoledi sera ad Istanbul. Rui Costa, Serginho e Dhorasoo scalpitano. Toccherebbe ad uno di loro sostituire il compagno se non recupererà in tempo.
Rapierist
23-05-2005, 09:20
Most probably it will be Rui if Seedorf is out. Liverpool make tackles all over the pitch, so it would be wise to go with someone who can keep hold of the ball and pass it about.
If Rui plays, we will effectively use a 4-2-2-2 system. Two out and out playmakers.
I think its a blessing in disguise that Seedorf is in doubt.
zlatanov
23-05-2005, 11:56
With Ambro being out for sure and a possible absence of Seedorf, I won't be surprised at all if we play the X-tree formation with Rui in Clarence's role and Serginho with Kaka behind Sheva. The loss of Ambro and Seedorf takes a large toll on the defensive capabilities of our midfield for both of them are pretty solid in that area, when in form that is.
If Seedorf were still in the dreadful form of his last 2-3 games for us, I would agree that hi absence could be a blessing in disguise, but I was really hoping that he would get a rest and get back in shape before the final, especially with Ambro already being out of it. Not sure if Rui or Dhorasoo could cope with defending vs Liverpool's midfield. As for Serginho, I would rather have him come in during the second half for I don't think he can be his real self for a full 90 minutes.
i think we really need seedorf ... no matter how bad he plays he seems to be one of the worlds best when it comes to big games and the final is definatly BIG!
zlatanov
23-05-2005, 17:58
I am so relieved now - CL "specialist" Arsene Venger has tipped Liverpool to beat MIlan in the CL final this Wednesday. Given how "extensive" his knowledge of CL success is, even the slightest doubts for Milan's success I had are now GONE.
Forza Milaaaaaaaaaaaaan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Achilles
23-05-2005, 18:09
[B]I hope Serginho will play for Seedorf..
If Seedorf's fit hes worth the risk. If he plays well he is a major part of our system. Serghinio this season has been really good though. I remember the days when people said he couldnt defend and since then hes played at left back. His speed does help him get out of tricky situations, a little like Silvestre. Dharosso could be useful to with his nippiness and quick passing. we will just have to have faith :w221:
Seedorf has to be in every Milan match, and specialy in finals.
From BBC
Head-to-head
# AC Milan and Liverpool have never previously met in European competition.
# AC Milan have played 22 matches against English clubs, winning eight, drawing seven and losing seven.
# One of these was an European final - Milan beating Leeds United 1-0 in the 1973 Cup Winners' Cup final.
# Liverpool have played 14 matches against Italian clubs, winning five, drawing three and losing six.
# Two of these matches were Champions Cup finals. The first was in 1984 when Liverpool drew 1-1 against AS Roma in Roma's own stadium and won the trophy 4-2 on penalties.
# The second was a year later against Juventus with the Turin based team winning 1-0 through a Michel Platini penalty.
European history- AC Milan
# AC Milan have won six Champions Cup/Champions League trophies (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003).
# Milan have also won two Cup Winners' Cups (1968, 1973), four Uefa Super Cups (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003) and three Intercontinental Cups (1969, 1989, 1990).
# AC Milan are going for their third Champions League title which would equal Real Madrid's record of three.
# AC Milan won the trophy in 1994 and 2003. Other than Real and Milan, no other team has won it more than once.
# AC Milan have also lost two Champions League finals, both by 1-0 margins, to Olympique Marseille in 1993 and Ajax in 1995.
# AC Milan have been eliminated from European competition by an English club on three occasions with the last happening in the 1978/1979 season.
# In 1965/1966, Chelsea knocked AC Milan out of the Fairs Cup at the last 16 stage.
# Tottenham Hotspur beat Milan on aggregate in the 1971/1972 Uefa Cup semi-final.
# Manchester City were the victors against AC Milan in the quarter-final of the 1978/1979 Uefa Cup.
European history- Liverpool
# Liverpool have won four Champions Cups (in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984). The Reds also won three Uefa Cups (1973, 1976, 2001) and two European Super Cups (1977, 2001)
# However, reaching this season's Champions League final is Liverpool's best ever performance in the Champions League.
# This season marks Liverpool's third CL participation. They previously reached the 2001/2002 quarter-finals and were knocked out at the first group stage a season later.
# Liverpool's last appearance in the final of a European competition was in the 2000/2001 Uefa Cup season when they beat Alaves 5-4 in sudden death extra time after the match had ended in a 4-4 draw after 90 minutes.
# The last time Liverpool reached a Champions Cup/Champions League final was 20 years ago when they lost 1-0 to Juventus in a final marred by crowd violence in which 39 people were killed.
# Liverpool's very first European campaign was ended by an Italian club with Internazionale beating them in the semi-final of the 1964/1965 Champions Cup.
# Since then, Italian clubs have ended Liverpool's participation on just two more occasions.
# Juventus beat Liverpool in the 1984/1985 Champions Cup final and Genoa knocked Liverpool out in their next European participation - the 1991/1992 Uefa Cup - at the quarter-final stage.
Current European form - AC Milan
# AC Milan have won six of their last eight Champions League matches, drawing one and losing one.
# AC Milan have lost twice in this season's Champions League - 2-1 in Barcelona and 3-1 at PSV in the semi-final second leg.
# The semi-final against PSV is the only time that AC Milan have looked in trouble in this season's competition.
# With the match almost over, the second leg score was 2-0 in PSV's favour which would have meant extra-time. However, Massimo Ambrosini headed an injury time goal and Phillip Cocu's immediate response for PSV was not enough to stop AC Milan progressing on away goals.
# AC Milan's only failure to score in this season's Champions League came in their final group phase match when they drew 0-0 away to Celtic.
# AC Milan have not drawn a Champions League match since - a total of six CL games without a draw.
Current European form - Liverpool
# Liverpool have won four and drawn three of their last seven matches in the Champions League.
# Liverpool have lost three matches in Europe this season, all by a score of 1-0.
# In the third qualifying round in August, Liverpool lost at home to Grazer AK but their 2-0 away win was enough to put them through.
# Liverpool lost two of their six Group A matches, away to Olympiacos in September and away to AS Monaco in November.
# Liverpool were almost knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage. In their final match against Olympiacos, they needed to win 1-0 or by a margin of two goals. Liverpool conceded the first goal which meant that they needed to win 3-1 given that AS Monaco were winning comfortably in La Coruna. The equaliser came after 47 minutes but with 10 minutes to go, the score was still 1-1. Neil Mellor then made it 2-1 and captain Steven Gerrard scored the third goal with just four minutes remaining.
# Liverpool have not conceded more than a single goal in any European match this season.
# Liverpool have only scored one goal in their last three Champions League matches and it is very questionable whether Luis Garcia's winner against Chelsea should have been given.
# They have also kept three clean sheets in those matches.
Player and disciplinary info - AC Milan
# No players are suspended for the final.
# Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko has scored 34 Champions League goals in his career whilst teammate Filippo Inzaghi has 30 to his name.
# 16 of Shevchenko's 34 CL goals were opening goals.
# With his opening goal against PSV in the first leg of the semi-final, Shevchenko equalled the record for most opening goals which is held by Raul.
# Andrei Shevchenko has netted six times in the 2004/2005 CL season. Van Nistelrooy (eight), Adriano (seven), Makaay (seven) and Wiltord (six) are the only players to have netted at least as many goals.
# Goalkeeper Dida kept the second longest streak without conceding a goal ever in the Champions League earlier this season.
# His total of 622 minutes without conceding a goal was 36 minutes short of Edwin van der Sar's competition record when it was ended by PSV's Park.
# Captain Paolo Maldini is the second oldest captain ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# Maldini will be 36 years 10 months and 29 days on final day. Only Barcelona captain Antonio Ramallets was older when he played in the 1961 final.
# If Milan win the final, Maldini will be the oldest captain to lift the trophy beating Peter Schmeichel who was 35 years, six months and eight days old when Manchester United won in 1999.
# Maldini will play in his seventh Champions Cup/Champions League final having already appeared in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2003.
# This equals the total of Alfredo di Stefano and is one short of the record of eight held by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.
# Maldini's teammate Alessandro Costacurta can become only the fourth man in history to play in six Champions Cup/Champions League finals if he takes the field. He previously played in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 and 2003.
# If Costacurta plays, he will be the oldest outfield player ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final. He will beat Lothar Matthaus' record by nearly a year and rise from his current fifth position.
# Goalkeeper Dino Zoff is the only player to have played a Champions Cup/Champions League final at a more advanced age than Costacurta. Zoff was 41 years, two months and 27 days when he played for Juventus in 1983.
# Clarence Seedorf is the only player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs. He won with Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and AC Milan in 2003.
# Seedorf is one of only seven players to have won European trophies with three different clubs.
# Paolo Maldini is Milan's most experienced Champions League player with 86 appearances, all for AC Milan.
# Five other Milan players - Clarence Seedorf (70), Andrei Shevchenko (66), Alessandro Costacurta (61), Alessandro Nesta (52) and Filippo Inzaghi (50) have broken the half century barrier.
# Dida, Maldini, Seedorf and Kaka have played in all 12 of Milan's Champions League matches this season.
# None of Milan's players have been on the pitch for every minute of their Champions League campaign.
Player and disciplinary info - Liverpool
# No players are suspended for the final.
# Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be the third youngest captain to play in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# On final day, Gerrard will be 24 years, 11 months and 25 days old. Only Benfica's Antonio Pancheco (1990) and Olympique Marseille's Didier Deschamps (1993) were younger.
# If Liverpool win the trophy, Gerrard will be the second youngest captain ever to lift the trophy. He is three and a half months older than Deschamps was in 1993.
# Gerrard is the fifth player to captain Liverpool in a Champions Cup/Champions League final and the youngest by more than two years. Phil Thompson was the previous youngest in 1981.
# Luis Garcia is Liverpool's top scorer in this season's Champions League with five goals. He is joint sixth in the top scorers list for the competition.
# With Morientes (70 CL career matches, 26 goals) and Mauricio Pellegrino (45 CL career matches) not eligible, Jerzy Dudek is the most experienced player in the Liverpool squad with 43 CL appearances and Luis Garcia is the most dangerous striker with five CL career goals.
# Four of Liverpool's players have played all 12 Champions League fixtures - Steve Finnan, John Arne Riise, Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia are the quartet.
# Hyypia is the only player on either side to have played every minute of his club's CL fixtures this season.
# Liverpool's Vladimir Smicer will celebrate his 32nd birthday on the day before the Champions League final.
Other miscellaneous facts
# AC Milan trainer Carlo Ancelotti is one of only four people to have won the Champions Cup/Champions League as both player and trainer. He won the 1989 and 1990 competitions as a player and won as a trainer in 2003.
# The other people to have achieved this are Miguel Munoz, Giovanni Trapattoni and Johan Cruijff. Only Munoz won more than once as both a player and trainer.
# Ancelotti can become the 15th trainer to win the Champions Cup/Champions League more than once.
# The last person to achieve this was Vicente del Bosque, who won it 2000 and 2002 as trainer of Real Madrid.
# Currently, Liverpool do not have a place in next season's Champions League if they win the trophy. The FA have decided to give the fourth place to Everton.
# Liverpool finished the Premiership season three points behind Everton in fifth position.
# Liverpool trainer Rafael Benitez is aiming to become the 14th trainer to win a European trophy in successive seasons. Former Liverpool trainer Bob Paisley is the record holder winning the Uefa Cup in 1976 and the Champions Cup in 1977 and 1978.
# As last season's triumph for Benitez was with Valencia, he will be the first to achieve this with different clubs.
# Two trainers have won the Uefa Cup and followed it up with the Champions Cup/Champions League the following season.
# Bob Paisley in 1976 and 1977 was the first and last season, then FC Porto trainer José Mourinho became the second person to do it.
# Liverpool will probably start the final with just two domestic players, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. This will be the lowest ever total of domestic players starting an Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# Liverpool will play the final in red against a team in white. On each of the four occasions that they won the Champions Cup, they played in red against a team playing in white.
# AC Milan will play in white. They have won two of their three Champions League finals playing in white. They won in 1994 and 2003 but they also played in white in 1995 when they lost 1-0 to Ajax.
# AC Milan will finish second in this season's Serie A. Their 3-3 draw at home to Palermo on Friday, 20 May handed the championship to Juventus.
# Liverpool finished fifth in this season's Premiership. They also reached the Carling Cup final, losing 3-2 to Chelsea.
European Cup/Champions League Final General stats
# The 2005 Champions League final will produce the 50th winner of the Champions Cup/Champions League.
# There have been 49 previous finals with 50 matches played because of a replay in 1973/1974.
# 38 of the 50 matches have been settled in normal time.
# Four have been won in extra-time whilst the remaining eight have had no decision after extra-time.
# Of those eight, seven were settled on a penalty shoot-out and one was settled in a replay.
# 15 finals have been decided by a score of 1-0, the most common scoreline.
# The biggest wins have been by four goals - Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in 1960, Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the 1974 replay, AC Milan beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in 1989 and FC Barcelona by the same score in 1994.
# In total, 129 goals have been scored at an average of 2.58 per match.
# Of these, 51 came in the first half, 70 in the second half and eight in extra-time.
# The 15 minute interval in the match with most goals comes between the 61st and 75th minutes where 33 goals have been scored.
# The team scoring the first goal have won the final 31 times without the need for a penalty shoot-out. The team conceding the first goal has won 11 times without the need for a penalty shoot-out.
# Real Madrid have scored most goals in finals with a total of 30. This year's finalists AC Milan have scored the second highest total of 17. Liverpool's total is just six goals in five finals.
# 18 different Spanish players and the same number of (West) German players have scored in the 49 previous finals.
# There have been four hat-tricks in the finals, the last one coming in 1969 when AC Milan's Pierino Prati scored three goals in the 4-1 win against Ajax.
# The quickest goal in a Champions Cup/Champions League final was in the first minute of the 1959 final when Enrique Mateos scored the opener for Real Madrid in their 2-0 win over Stade de Reims.
# AC Milan goalkeeper Dida kept a clean sheet in the 2003 final. One more hour without a goal conceded will give him 180 minutes in Champions League finals without a goal against.
# Only five goalkeepers have achieved three hours in the final without a goal against, the record being 276 minutes by Bayern Munich's Sepp Maier across three finals in the 1970s.
# The last to achieve this was AC Milan goalkeeper Giovanni Galli who kept clean sheets in the 1989 and 1990 finals.
Most successful clubs and countries in the 49 previous finals
# Real Madrid hold the record of finals won with nine.
# 21 different clubs in total have won the 49 previous Champions Cup/Champions League finals.
# 36 different clubs have played in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# Last year's finalists AS Monaco were the last team to make their first ever final appearance.
# Spanish and Italian clubs have won 10 Champions Cup/Champions League finals each. English clubs are the next most successful with nine victories.
# In total, clubs from 10 different countries have won the competition.
# France were the last to add themselves to the list with Olympique Marseille's win in 1993.
# Clubs from 13 countries have contested the final. Belgium, Greece and Sweden are the only countries whose finalists have failed to take the trophy home.
From BBC
Head-to-head
# AC Milan and Liverpool have never previously met in European competition.
# AC Milan have played 22 matches against English clubs, winning eight, drawing seven and losing seven.
# One of these was an European final - Milan beating Leeds United 1-0 in the 1973 Cup Winners' Cup final.
# Liverpool have played 14 matches against Italian clubs, winning five, drawing three and losing six.
# Two of these matches were Champions Cup finals. The first was in 1984 when Liverpool drew 1-1 against AS Roma in Roma's own stadium and won the trophy 4-2 on penalties.
# The second was a year later against Juventus with the Turin based team winning 1-0 through a Michel Platini penalty.
European history- AC Milan
# AC Milan have won six Champions Cup/Champions League trophies (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003).
# Milan have also won two Cup Winners' Cups (1968, 1973), four Uefa Super Cups (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003) and three Intercontinental Cups (1969, 1989, 1990).
# AC Milan are going for their third Champions League title which would equal Real Madrid's record of three.
# AC Milan won the trophy in 1994 and 2003. Other than Real and Milan, no other team has won it more than once.
# AC Milan have also lost two Champions League finals, both by 1-0 margins, to Olympique Marseille in 1993 and Ajax in 1995.
# AC Milan have been eliminated from European competition by an English club on three occasions with the last happening in the 1978/1979 season.
# In 1965/1966, Chelsea knocked AC Milan out of the Fairs Cup at the last 16 stage.
# Tottenham Hotspur beat Milan on aggregate in the 1971/1972 Uefa Cup semi-final.
# Manchester City were the victors against AC Milan in the quarter-final of the 1978/1979 Uefa Cup.
European history- Liverpool
# Liverpool have won four Champions Cups (in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984). The Reds also won three Uefa Cups (1973, 1976, 2001) and two European Super Cups (1977, 2001)
# However, reaching this season's Champions League final is Liverpool's best ever performance in the Champions League.
# This season marks Liverpool's third CL participation. They previously reached the 2001/2002 quarter-finals and were knocked out at the first group stage a season later.
# Liverpool's last appearance in the final of a European competition was in the 2000/2001 Uefa Cup season when they beat Alaves 5-4 in sudden death extra time after the match had ended in a 4-4 draw after 90 minutes.
# The last time Liverpool reached a Champions Cup/Champions League final was 20 years ago when they lost 1-0 to Juventus in a final marred by crowd violence in which 39 people were killed.
# Liverpool's very first European campaign was ended by an Italian club with Internazionale beating them in the semi-final of the 1964/1965 Champions Cup.
# Since then, Italian clubs have ended Liverpool's participation on just two more occasions.
# Juventus beat Liverpool in the 1984/1985 Champions Cup final and Genoa knocked Liverpool out in their next European participation - the 1991/1992 Uefa Cup - at the quarter-final stage.
Current European form - AC Milan
# AC Milan have won six of their last eight Champions League matches, drawing one and losing one.
# AC Milan have lost twice in this season's Champions League - 2-1 in Barcelona and 3-1 at PSV in the semi-final second leg.
# The semi-final against PSV is the only time that AC Milan have looked in trouble in this season's competition.
# With the match almost over, the second leg score was 2-0 in PSV's favour which would have meant extra-time. However, Massimo Ambrosini headed an injury time goal and Phillip Cocu's immediate response for PSV was not enough to stop AC Milan progressing on away goals.
# AC Milan's only failure to score in this season's Champions League came in their final group phase match when they drew 0-0 away to Celtic.
# AC Milan have not drawn a Champions League match since - a total of six CL games without a draw.
Current European form - Liverpool
# Liverpool have won four and drawn three of their last seven matches in the Champions League.
# Liverpool have lost three matches in Europe this season, all by a score of 1-0.
# In the third qualifying round in August, Liverpool lost at home to Grazer AK but their 2-0 away win was enough to put them through.
# Liverpool lost two of their six Group A matches, away to Olympiacos in September and away to AS Monaco in November.
# Liverpool were almost knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage. In their final match against Olympiacos, they needed to win 1-0 or by a margin of two goals. Liverpool conceded the first goal which meant that they needed to win 3-1 given that AS Monaco were winning comfortably in La Coruna. The equaliser came after 47 minutes but with 10 minutes to go, the score was still 1-1. Neil Mellor then made it 2-1 and captain Steven Gerrard scored the third goal with just four minutes remaining.
# Liverpool have not conceded more than a single goal in any European match this season.
# Liverpool have only scored one goal in their last three Champions League matches and it is very questionable whether Luis Garcia's winner against Chelsea should have been given.
# They have also kept three clean sheets in those matches.
Player and disciplinary info - AC Milan
# No players are suspended for the final.
# Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko has scored 34 Champions League goals in his career whilst teammate Filippo Inzaghi has 30 to his name.
# 16 of Shevchenko's 34 CL goals were opening goals.
# With his opening goal against PSV in the first leg of the semi-final, Shevchenko equalled the record for most opening goals which is held by Raul.
# Andrei Shevchenko has netted six times in the 2004/2005 CL season. Van Nistelrooy (eight), Adriano (seven), Makaay (seven) and Wiltord (six) are the only players to have netted at least as many goals.
# Goalkeeper Dida kept the second longest streak without conceding a goal ever in the Champions League earlier this season.
# His total of 622 minutes without conceding a goal was 36 minutes short of Edwin van der Sar's competition record when it was ended by PSV's Park.
# Captain Paolo Maldini is the second oldest captain ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# Maldini will be 36 years 10 months and 29 days on final day. Only Barcelona captain Antonio Ramallets was older when he played in the 1961 final.
# If Milan win the final, Maldini will be the oldest captain to lift the trophy beating Peter Schmeichel who was 35 years, six months and eight days old when Manchester United won in 1999.
# Maldini will play in his seventh Champions Cup/Champions League final having already appeared in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2003.
# This equals the total of Alfredo di Stefano and is one short of the record of eight held by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.
# Maldini's teammate Alessandro Costacurta can become only the fourth man in history to play in six Champions Cup/Champions League finals if he takes the field. He previously played in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 and 2003.
# If Costacurta plays, he will be the oldest outfield player ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final. He will beat Lothar Matthaus' record by nearly a year and rise from his current fifth position.
# Goalkeeper Dino Zoff is the only player to have played a Champions Cup/Champions League final at a more advanced age than Costacurta. Zoff was 41 years, two months and 27 days when he played for Juventus in 1983.
# Clarence Seedorf is the only player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs. He won with Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and AC Milan in 2003.
# Seedorf is one of only seven players to have won European trophies with three different clubs.
# Paolo Maldini is Milan's most experienced Champions League player with 86 appearances, all for AC Milan.
# Five other Milan players - Clarence Seedorf (70), Andrei Shevchenko (66), Alessandro Costacurta (61), Alessandro Nesta (52) and Filippo Inzaghi (50) have broken the half century barrier.
# Dida, Maldini, Seedorf and Kaka have played in all 12 of Milan's Champions League matches this season.
# None of Milan's players have been on the pitch for every minute of their Champions League campaign.
Player and disciplinary info - Liverpool
# No players are suspended for the final.
# Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be the third youngest captain to play in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# On final day, Gerrard will be 24 years, 11 months and 25 days old. Only Benfica's Antonio Pancheco (1990) and Olympique Marseille's Didier Deschamps (1993) were younger.
# If Liverpool win the trophy, Gerrard will be the second youngest captain ever to lift the trophy. He is three and a half months older than Deschamps was in 1993.
# Gerrard is the fifth player to captain Liverpool in a Champions Cup/Champions League final and the youngest by more than two years. Phil Thompson was the previous youngest in 1981.
# Luis Garcia is Liverpool's top scorer in this season's Champions League with five goals. He is joint sixth in the top scorers list for the competition.
# With Morientes (70 CL career matches, 26 goals) and Mauricio Pellegrino (45 CL career matches) not eligible, Jerzy Dudek is the most experienced player in the Liverpool squad with 43 CL appearances and Luis Garcia is the most dangerous striker with five CL career goals.
# Four of Liverpool's players have played all 12 Champions League fixtures - Steve Finnan, John Arne Riise, Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia are the quartet.
# Hyypia is the only player on either side to have played every minute of his club's CL fixtures this season.
# Liverpool's Vladimir Smicer will celebrate his 32nd birthday on the day before the Champions League final.
Other miscellaneous facts
# AC Milan trainer Carlo Ancelotti is one of only four people to have won the Champions Cup/Champions League as both player and trainer. He won the 1989 and 1990 competitions as a player and won as a trainer in 2003.
# The other people to have achieved this are Miguel Munoz, Giovanni Trapattoni and Johan Cruijff. Only Munoz won more than once as both a player and trainer.
# Ancelotti can become the 15th trainer to win the Champions Cup/Champions League more than once.
# The last person to achieve this was Vicente del Bosque, who won it 2000 and 2002 as trainer of Real Madrid.
# Currently, Liverpool do not have a place in next season's Champions League if they win the trophy. The FA have decided to give the fourth place to Everton.
# Liverpool finished the Premiership season three points behind Everton in fifth position.
# Liverpool trainer Rafael Benitez is aiming to become the 14th trainer to win a European trophy in successive seasons. Former Liverpool trainer Bob Paisley is the record holder winning the Uefa Cup in 1976 and the Champions Cup in 1977 and 1978.
# As last season's triumph for Benitez was with Valencia, he will be the first to achieve this with different clubs.
# Two trainers have won the Uefa Cup and followed it up with the Champions Cup/Champions League the following season.
# Bob Paisley in 1976 and 1977 was the first and last season, then FC Porto trainer José Mourinho became the second person to do it.
# Liverpool will probably start the final with just two domestic players, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. This will be the lowest ever total of domestic players starting an Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# Liverpool will play the final in red against a team in white. On each of the four occasions that they won the Champions Cup, they played in red against a team playing in white.
# AC Milan will play in white. They have won two of their three Champions League finals playing in white. They won in 1994 and 2003 but they also played in white in 1995 when they lost 1-0 to Ajax.
# AC Milan will finish second in this season's Serie A. Their 3-3 draw at home to Palermo on Friday, 20 May handed the championship to Juventus.
# Liverpool finished fifth in this season's Premiership. They also reached the Carling Cup final, losing 3-2 to Chelsea.
European Cup/Champions League Final General stats
# The 2005 Champions League final will produce the 50th winner of the Champions Cup/Champions League.
# There have been 49 previous finals with 50 matches played because of a replay in 1973/1974.
# 38 of the 50 matches have been settled in normal time.
# Four have been won in extra-time whilst the remaining eight have had no decision after extra-time.
# Of those eight, seven were settled on a penalty shoot-out and one was settled in a replay.
# 15 finals have been decided by a score of 1-0, the most common scoreline.
# The biggest wins have been by four goals - Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in 1960, Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the 1974 replay, AC Milan beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in 1989 and FC Barcelona by the same score in 1994.
# In total, 129 goals have been scored at an average of 2.58 per match.
# Of these, 51 came in the first half, 70 in the second half and eight in extra-time.
# The 15 minute interval in the match with most goals comes between the 61st and 75th minutes where 33 goals have been scored.
# The team scoring the first goal have won the final 31 times without the need for a penalty shoot-out. The team conceding the first goal has won 11 times without the need for a penalty shoot-out.
# Real Madrid have scored most goals in finals with a total of 30. This year's finalists AC Milan have scored the second highest total of 17. Liverpool's total is just six goals in five finals.
# 18 different Spanish players and the same number of (West) German players have scored in the 49 previous finals.
# There have been four hat-tricks in the finals, the last one coming in 1969 when AC Milan's Pierino Prati scored three goals in the 4-1 win against Ajax.
# The quickest goal in a Champions Cup/Champions League final was in the first minute of the 1959 final when Enrique Mateos scored the opener for Real Madrid in their 2-0 win over Stade de Reims.
# AC Milan goalkeeper Dida kept a clean sheet in the 2003 final. One more hour without a goal conceded will give him 180 minutes in Champions League finals without a goal against.
# Only five goalkeepers have achieved three hours in the final without a goal against, the record being 276 minutes by Bayern Munich's Sepp Maier across three finals in the 1970s.
# The last to achieve this was AC Milan goalkeeper Giovanni Galli who kept clean sheets in the 1989 and 1990 finals.
Most successful clubs and countries in the 49 previous finals
# Real Madrid hold the record of finals won with nine.
# 21 different clubs in total have won the 49 previous Champions Cup/Champions League finals.
# 36 different clubs have played in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
# Last year's finalists AS Monaco were the last team to make their first ever final appearance.
# Spanish and Italian clubs have won 10 Champions Cup/Champions League finals each. English clubs are the next most successful with nine victories.
# In total, clubs from 10 different countries have won the competition.
# France were the last to add themselves to the list with Olympique Marseille's win in 1993.
# Clubs from 13 countries have contested the final. Belgium, Greece and Sweden are the only countries whose finalists have failed to take the trophy home.
Bravo Nadir! That is scary these facts you have! Call you the Milan Almanac from now on.
FORZA MILAN!
Seedorf has to be in every Milan match, and specialy in finals.
I dunno about this one. I think Serginho deserved the starting job on this one as Seedorf is on a cold streak right now. I dont like how Ancelotti rotates the players. Maybe the Milan Lab needs some tweaking a little bit cause it has not helped us with the Scudetto.
Scaryscouse
24-05-2005, 06:09
Mind if I join you in here lads?
Scouse you dont need to be too polite either. What I do is read a couple of pages of the previous posts and then respond to it. As you can see, you can also qoute the poster so that there is comprehensiveness in the discussion.
Scaryscouse
24-05-2005, 06:15
I was actually just trying to find an avatar there with no luck so I said I'd just say something to stall the conversation for a few minutes. What do you reckon he's going to do tomorrow will it be Seedorf? he's hardly set the worl alight this season but imo he's still a better bet than Serginho.
humanTORCH
24-05-2005, 06:28
I don't know where you get the news that seedorf is injured. Maybe just a gimmick to fool our opponent. there seems to be no news from reliablbe source. :smileani:
Scaryscouse
24-05-2005, 06:33
If people were saying he was injured to fool the liverpool staff it hasn't worked. I haven't heard anything about him being injured at all. What really would have screwed with our heads would have been saying Schevchenko was injured.
humanTORCH
24-05-2005, 06:37
Great news from milan official website. Galliani was saying tht the Turks will be backing Milan for the final. so we have a slight advantage as we know liverpool have best fans around. :cool:
Scaryscouse
24-05-2005, 06:40
I'm not surprised to hear that the turks will be up for the Italians. There is a history of crowd violence between English and Turkish Supporters.
Well I think Serginho is way more creative than Seedorf. Seedorf maight be more defensive reliable though.
It’s easy to say Milan will win, right? But after having seen the frankly frightening catenaccio employed by Liverpool and the risks the Rossoneri ran in Eindhoven, one has to be cautious. Don’t forget that a Final is always a Final, so anything can happen and an early goal could decide how the rest of the match pans out.
Not much changes for Milan. They know that they will play their usual style of football with Marcos Cafu pushing, Kaka creating, Andrea Pirlo organising, Andriy Shevchenko scoring and Dida saving. For Liverpool a goal scored, like the one they put past the much stronger Chelsea side, changes everything. That is when they can clam up and rely on the counter-attack, taking full advantage of opponents who are afraid to lose in a Final.
This is all bar talk, of course, because the field of play can give us other answers we weren’t expecting. It depends on innumerable factors including experience. This Milan side has barely changed from two years ago and has the extra bonus of Hernan Crespo, Cafu, Kaka and Jaap Stam. Nobody in the Liverpool squad has played in a Champions’ League Final before. The UEFA Cup won by Gerard Houllier is another matter entirely in terms of tension, prestige and motivation. This means that a lack of experience can affect performance in this setting - such as Bayer Leverkusen against Real Madrid back in 2002.
Liverpool can take advantage of the fact they are nowhere near as physically tired as Milan. For the last two months, practically every game has been a Final for the San Siro giants who just lost out to Juventus in the title race. The Reds meanwhile have never really been in the Premiership title race from the moment they drew their opening game 1-1 at Tottenham. Liverpool have lost the fight to even capture fourth place and they know they must win in Istanbul to have any chance of winning their plea to UEFA to defend the trophy.
So how about the quality of the two squads? How many Liverpool players can turn a match? Steven Gerrard and now Luis Garcia, but the rest are mere foot soldiers placed strategically on the field of battle. These are honest hard-workers, nothing more. Milan are a multi-national conglomerate full of stars, bought on the criteria that ‘we’ll buy a few players, but make sure they’re world class.’ In other words, you’d never find a Steve Finnan or an Antonio Nunez at the San Siro, not even on the bench. For those who don’t know the usual Rossoneri reserves, they are Christian Abbiati, Alessandro Costacurta, Massimo Ambrosini, Kakha Kaladze, Giuseppe Pancaro, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Manuel Rui Costa.
Quality does shine through in the end and, if football is the only sport that doesn’t guarantee the best team wins, then at least it gives you a good chance of dominating the individual duels around the pitch. This is why the big clubs rarely take the wrong approach in the key games – they are there to win. Liverpool are deservedly in the Final, but still have a lot to prove, whereas Milan merely have to reconfirm their pedigree. Seven Finals in 16 years must surely mean something.
We now move on to tactics. Milan will probably shelve the Christmas tree formation, if only because a defeat with this system would spell the end for Carlo Ancelotti’s time at the club, having already earned some stern reprimands from patron Silvio Berlusconi and de facto President Adriano Galliani. So we’ll see the same 4-3-1-2 that has been employed in almost every game bar against PSV.
If everyone has understood Milan’s style, strength and star power, then few realise what Benitez does with his players during the week – apart from studying how best to keep opponents away from their goal. Perhaps attacking manoeuvres are merely optional and left to chance? Obviously that is an exaggeration, but watching them play often pushes us to bring out that kind of joke. It’s difficult to see a decent forward move where Liverpool are concerned, as they push without every really getting a shot on goal.
We understand that injuries have not helped, but Milan are accustomed to facing outfits like this every week, teams who man-mark, put eight players around their own penalty area and close up all available spaces. The Rossoneri rarely lose their patience and keep attacking until the last minute, knowing full well that sooner or later the goal will come. There is no other team in Europe at the moment with the same confidence and quality throughout the squad.
They pass the ball around constantly in a bid to find room, whether with crossfield passes between Pirlo and Kaka, down the flanks through Cafu, with individual runs by Kaka, Sheva and Seedorf, poaching from Crespo and Shevchenko, or the set-pieces of Pirlo. The team is relaxed in its own skin and knows that even defeat in Istanbul would not be a disaster, as there is always next year. Liverpool know they’ll probably never find themselves in this situation again. This is not a detail to be overlooked. The anxiety to get a result could well be detrimental to the English side rather than the favourites.
There is also an issue wrapped up in money and image. The Champions’ League Final signifies, even in the event of defeat, an impressive influx of cash from television rights to ticket sales and sponsors, regardless of the UEFA cash prize for a victory. Winning it means another two such lucrative encounters – the European Supercup facing CSKA Moscow and the Inter-Continental Cup. Both have always been real money-spinners with the Japanese marketing boom.
Milan take a great interest in their international image and this is why they consider the Champions’ League an increasingly important element of their season, Liverpool haven’t been able to choose between domestic and European titles over the last 20 years.
Carlo Ancelotti has refused to dwell on his side's stuttering passage into the Final at the expense of PSV. He says the Premiership side, in their first European Cup Final since the start of the Champions’ League in 1992-93, would offer a different kind of test. Milan's defence, hitherto outstanding in the competition with seven successive clean sheets, was run ragged by Guus Hiddink’s energetic team. "Liverpool will be a completely different game," says the Milan Coach. "Their semi-final against Chelsea showed they are capable of keeping a clean sheet. They are a defensive side and so will be very hard to beat."
The Merseysiders stand on the verge of what would be an incredible triumph against all odds - one which, according to Gerrard, would write another piece of history and put the names of the Liverpool players high on the great club's role of honour. "There is no doubt we have the chance to become legends at the club - and we want to grab that," said the Reds’ skipper. "We have been disappointing domestically this season. Really I don't think any of us thought about actually reaching the Final this year. We have been underdogs from the start. But we have produced some great form in the Champions’ League, and when we beat Olympiakos we started to get a feeling we could do it."
These are momentous times at Anfield, with the European heyday of the '70s and '80s brought vividly back to life by the defeat of Chelsea. Manager Rafa Benitez - in his first season - wants to build a real dynasty on Merseyside, just like Bill Shankly did in setting the blueprint for domestic and European domination over two decades.
So, what can we draw from all of this? That the first team to score will win, as always. Milan always score, Liverpool don’t...
Scaryscouse
24-05-2005, 06:58
Tough one to call.
The way I see it is Garcia has been our dangerman this season Seedorf would be better suited to trying to slow him up on the wing. He won't offer going much forward but he will stop Garcia getting at Maldini with pace, which he proved is dangerous against the Chelsea and Juventus defense. Still it's nice to have a player of Serginho's aibility to come off the bench all the same.
Scaryscouse
24-05-2005, 07:01
So, what can we draw from all of this? That the first team to score will win, as always. Milan always score, Liverpool don’t...
Actually thats not true we scored first in our last few Champions League games. And granted your bench has Better players but Baros and Cisse are hardly a joke either. but apart from that I pretty much agreed with the gist of that post.
But we are under no illusions either that we are any better than we are. Guys like Igor Biscan and Nunez are simply bodies on the pitch.
humanTORCH
24-05-2005, 08:28
let's bring back the memories of two years back:
humanTORCH
24-05-2005, 08:32
the stealth bomber:
humanTORCH
24-05-2005, 08:34
Two heroes!
humanTORCH
24-05-2005, 08:35
It's gonna be our seven! :5schal:
Christopher
24-05-2005, 09:26
I have a good feeling about tomorrow.
I have a good feeling about tomorrow.
D@mn back from the dead are we???? What island did you get lost on??? Good to have ya back!
Scaryscouse
24-05-2005, 10:21
Whats your predictions for the match then lads?
Stezagud
24-05-2005, 11:01
2-0 to Milan
Sheva to get the break through goal and then Kaka to add a second with a counter attack.
Rapierist
24-05-2005, 12:12
1-0 to Milan.
4-1 to milan.. i had a dream it will end this way... and carlo said we will win and we will do it with an excellent display so im confident with my scoreline
Warro Bantan
24-05-2005, 12:39
No predictions, too nervous to make any....
Not nervous that Milan will lose, just in anticipation of the biggest game of the season.
Sweaty palms, nervous tics and weird dreams, no appetite, all describe my current physical and emotional state.
The business community in Jamaica wil lbe closed down for the day on Wednesday, in protest of the death of a supermarket owner who refused to pay extortion money.
I cannot tell you how happy I am for this opportunity to watch the game, unworried about interruptions from work. :510: (Condolences to the deceased and all that, and thanks to Divine providence that the business community decided to make the protest/solidarity event for the 25th!)
I am a firm believer in the superiority of class over muscle and brawn, and this I think will be the difference in Istanbul...this last seems familiar, I am sure I have typed those very words in this thread before.
While football is the game in which oftentimes the best team (ie the one with more class) doesnt always win (the recent FA Cup final was a perfect example), in tomorrow´s showcase, I am quietly confident that we will win. We will also score, (ie no penalty kicks) and score more than once, as somehow, try as I might, I dont believe Dida will keep a clean sheet, though I pray he does.
Milan will win, end of story. I do salute Liverpool for their achievement in reaching the final. I hope for a clean, exciting game, and for Milan to win, comfortably.
Tomorrow is big day...
I hope that we will win, we are better then L'pool but in football everything is posible.
It's only important that our players be in good form.
I'm ready for big celebration of 7th title!!!
FORZA MILAN!!!
killiegradge
24-05-2005, 12:43
I hear Crespo limped out of training at the stadium this afternoon.Wheather it was a precaution or if he is really doubtfull for the game i do not know.
3-1 Milan
25 hours to go.....
This one has 1-0 written all over it
Warro Bantan
24-05-2005, 13:06
I hear Crespo limped out of training at the stadium this afternoon.Wheather it was a precaution or if he is really doubtfull for the game i do not know.
3-1 Milan
Where did u get that killiegradge?
Christopher
24-05-2005, 13:56
LoL . . I have been around, I check in and read what people are writing. I havent had much time to waste at work!
D@mn back from the dead are we???? What island did you get lost on??? Good to have ya back!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4516555.stm
good article here for people who don't know the euro pedigree of both clubs
nadir .. i have a small request ... may u please send me your avatar on the email .. its gona be a great favour ..
thanx in advance
[email protected]
killiegradge
24-05-2005, 14:43
Sky Sports are reporting the Crespo injury.As well as that t*&%£r Andy Gray slagging off our defence.Its easy to score past them according to him-he then shows how by showing 2 goals from PSV and Barca and claims he could have shown lots more!Absolute crap given that the 3 goals conceded v PSV were also the same number coceded in the whole of the tournament upto that point!
lets hope Crespo is fully fit and at least an option for us.
Forza Milan
Tomorrow we will know which defence is the better. Talk achieves nothing.
Forza Milan:3band:
nicostallion
24-05-2005, 16:12
Sky Sports are reporting the Crespo injury.As well as that t*&%£r Andy Gray slagging off our defence.Its easy to score past them according to him-he then shows how by showing 2 goals from PSV and Barca and claims he could have shown lots more!Absolute crap given that the 3 goals conceded v PSV were also the same number coceded in the whole of the tournament upto that point!
lets hope Crespo is fully fit and at least an option for us.
Forza Milan
it was pathetic did you see the way they were talking about us, i hope tomorrow milan treat liverpool the way we treated barcelona back in the champions league 1994 when we won 4-0, oh how i would love milan to do that again
ac_milan_foreva
24-05-2005, 16:13
Hey guys I think Liver will(Though I`m for Milan and will be till last minute) win, what do tou think?
THEN YOU ARENT A MILAN FAN ARE YOU????
:broken:
ac_milan_foreva
24-05-2005, 16:16
I'm not surprised to hear that the turks will be up for the Italians. There is a history of crowd violence between English and Turkish Supporters.
:3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band:
if i was in sofia right now id take the 1st bus to Istanbul and go to istanbul to watch it. unfortunetly there is still 1 more month till i go there.
i remember that liverpool and galtasaray played like 3 years ago and i do remember it getting out of hand of the pitch.
ac_milan_foreva
24-05-2005, 16:18
4-1 to milan.. i had a dream it will end this way... and carlo said we will win and we will do it with an excellent display so im confident with my scoreline
carlo will never go offensive. thats the only cricitism that i have of him.
Warro Bantan
24-05-2005, 16:18
From: Sky Sports:
http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=279157&lid=2&cpid=5&title=Silvio:+Milan+too+classy&channel=Football_Home
Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi believes that his side will have too much class for Liverpool.
The Italian giants face Rafa Benitez's Reds in Istanbul on Wednesday as firm favourites to lift the trophy for a seventh time.
Berlusconi says that Liverpool have been tactically astute to make their way to the final, but says Milan will have too much class for the Merseysiders.
"Liverpool are very clever with their tactics but they are not as good as Milan when it comes to pure class," said Berlusconi.
"We will have to see whether we are able to impose our class in Istanbul.
"We just have to want it - really want it because I believe victory is there for the taking.
"We are now playing our seventh European final since I took over the club.
"I am the first Milan fan and I am so happy and so proud by how much satisfaction the team has given me so far.
"I truly believe we can take home our fifth European Cup under my mandate and that will be a record considering that no-one in the world has done better than us in this respect.
"My players are not only European stars but also world sporting figures.
"I have champions in my team who are also artists.
"We show good football, we win, but most importantly on Wednesday we want to convince."
Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, says that Liverpool's lack of big-game experience will count against them in Turkey. The Italians have a wealth of Champions League experience in their squad, with the large majority remaining from their last triumph in 2003.
The Reds will have nobody in their side that has played in the final before, and Ancelotti believes that will be a massive advantage.
"That experience will count for a lot," said Ancelotti.
"If you have players with lots of experience they know how to deal with the pressures and anxieties these big games bring.
"Experienced players are normally a lot more relaxed."
Big words from the two big men....definately fills me with confidence! Echoes of my previous post.... :stuckup: :p1511: :hmm2:
ac_milan_foreva
24-05-2005, 16:22
however i feel confident. We are well rested and we have been preparing for this one ever since we lost to juventus thus technically handing them the tittle.
i think liverpool has a terrific home record but now they are at a neutral stadium. I think that everyone will step up for milan. People like kaka and sheva and crespo who are in a bit of a slump will pick their game up and make us proud.
CANT WAIT
ac_milan_foreva
24-05-2005, 16:26
wtf a spanish referee for this game???
liverpool has a lot of spaniards in their game....
THEN YOU ARENT A MILAN FAN ARE YOU????
:broken:
you have no right and no evidence to say that he isnt a milan fan... please appologize immedietly because its plain rude what u just said
oh and ive seen carlo's milan play very attacking football more than once so think twice
Tension is growing.First and foremost i`m looking forward to a good and fair game ...and of course magnificient performance by us;).I think we should feel confident because we have every reason to feel so.However(and a big however) it still doesn`t mean it is going to be easy.Liverpool are without doubt a `clever` side,but not as experienced as we are.Thus i do believe in Carlo`s words about that being one of our biggest advantages.
On another note,I`m a bit sick of media here who have been blasting us so much lately,everything has started after the matches against psv,then they started rambling on about us handling lo scudetto to dopentus...and aaaaaarggggggh,i`m so angry i swear i won`t even watch tv tomorrow...not before the game that is.
Anyway,put your seat belt on,we`re about to take off....FORZA MILAN!:rone:
Warro Bantan
24-05-2005, 16:40
Yet I dont think this favours them ac milan foreva....he would be foolish to be obviously prejudiced against us, and he will blow for fouls that a German or other Northern European refs wouldnt...IMO a distinct advantage for us.
We have the more skilfull players, and I expect Liverpool to foul us more than we do them....my only concern is our poor use of set plays, while Liverpool is quite efficient.
Pirlo may well prove to be the decider...and Carlo as well...this is how I see it:
If Pirlo has a great game, he will set up chance after chance, and this will free up Kaka to do what he does best, run at defenders, and make the incisive final pass, or score from a long range bomber.
If Pirlo has a poor game, he will put us under intense pressure, and this is where Carlo becomes decisive. If Carlo reacts to Pirlo´s poor form by substituting him for Rui, and does so early enough, we can recoup the lost time and opportunities and go ahead and win the game.
Probable teams(from uefa.com)
AC Milan: Dida; Cafu, Stam, Nesta, Maldini; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaká; Shevchenko, Crespo.
Liverpool FC: Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypiä, Traoré; Hamman, Alonso; García, Gerrard, Riise; Baroš.
Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).
I don`t mind having Gonzalez as a referee to be honest.He`s definitely the top of world`s referees and i think that having him in this match won`t affect the game.
That is a dreadfully defensive looking line-up you have for Liverpool Ariel :(
I agree, Gonzalez is not a bad choise.
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