Galliani: Japan comes first

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...lia/dec7d.html

Does this mean that the club thinks the season is a success if we win this tournament, no matter what?

If we don't win the Champions League or qualify for next season's Champions League, how can we be happy?

I think Galliani said this because he feels it's the only tournament we're able to win this season.

If we don't qualify for next season's Champions League, I couldn't care less about the "Club World Cup"... It's a "Mickey Mouse"-tournament compared to Champions League.

Yup, crazy. 4th place at least should be top priority and retaining the CL would be better than winning the CWC.

I think Galliani made the comments ahead of the tournament as it's time to completely focus on this and it's quite inspiring to say these things. Plus, the tournament is becoming much more prestigious and will likely hold greater value in the coming years with the new format, so we should treat it very carefully (plus we get a lot of good global publicity)

Originally Posted by Arildonardo

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...lia/dec7d.html

Does this mean that the club thinks the season is a success if we win this tournament, no matter what?

If we don't win the Champions League or qualify for next season's Champions League, how can we be happy?

I think Galliani said this because he feels it's the only tournament we're able to win this season.

If we don't qualify for next season's Champions League, I couldn't care less about the "Club World Cup"... It's a "Mickey Mouse"-tournament compared to Champions League.

Yeap...now if 4th or CL title don't become a reality he point to winning this cup and try to convince us (and himself) that the season was a success.

He's probably praying that they win this, as this by far will be the easiest of all tournaments this year.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

I think Galliani made the comments ahead of the tournament as it's time to completely focus on this and it's quite inspiring to say these things. Plus, the tournament is becoming much more prestigious and will likely hold greater value in the coming years with the new format, so we should treat it very carefully (plus we get a lot of good global publicity)

The ticket to enter the Club World Cup is winning the Champions League, the ticket to enter Champions League is doing OK in Serie A... What's more, I''d rather see Milan win real trophies than prestige in some tournament with only two decent teams (Milan and Boca).

Originally Posted by Arildonardo

The ticket to enter the Club World Cup is winning the Champions League, the ticket to enter Champions League is doing OK in Serie A... What's more, I''d rather see Milan win real trophies than prestige in some tournament with only two decent teams (Milan and Boca).

The first part in itself what winning this tournament means (the fact we had to win CL to qualify). There may be only two teams that are genuinely good, but in the end this is still the CWC. I don't see how focusing on this now more than other competitions will hurt us, as right now we don't have Serie A and CL games.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

The first part in itself what winning this tournament means (the fact we had to win CL to qualify). There may be only two teams that are genuinely good, but in the end this is still the CWC. I don't see how focusing on this now more than other competitions will hurt us, as right now we don't have Serie A and CL games.

Look at how we're doing in Serie A for the time being. Serie A is the key to both CL and CWC participation. Not focusing on Serie A has hurt us, we're a mid-table team on the same level as teams like Napoli, Palermo and Catania. Inter (!!!) has almost twice as many points as us and we haven't won a single match at home yet. If this is the price we have to pay for playing the CWC, then I can't be happy.

It will be interesting to see how our team will cope with playing 8 matches in a month from January 13th...

Originally Posted by Arildonardo

If we don't qualify for next season's Champions League, I couldn't care less about the "Club World Cup"... It's a "Mickey Mouse"-tournament compared to Champions League.

I think everyone's all but consigned to the fact that we don't stand a chance in hell domestically the season and this is our only realistic chance at a trophy. Nonetheless, we'll be remembered for the number of CLs we won, not Club World Cups.

Originally Posted by Arildonardo

Look at how we're doing in Serie A for the time being. Serie A is the key to both CL and CWC participation. Not focusing on Serie A has hurt us, we're a mid-table team on the same level as teams like Napoli, Palermo and Catania. Inter (!!!) has almost twice as many points as us and we haven't won a single match at home yet. If this is the price we have to pay for playing the CWC, then I can't be happy.

It will be interesting to see how our team will cope with playing 8 matches in a month from January 13th...

I'm aware of the league position and that should be a priority, but for a couple of weeks there's no point focusing on it, irrespective of how bad we're doing, and instead it's better to focus on something we probably won't have the chance to go for next season. The CWC isn't to blame for our league position, and if the club and players lost focus in the league because of it then the club and players are to blame. But for a couple of weeks we can't do anything in the league and we have a rare opportunity to secure a cup against clubs of other continents, so we may as well focus on the immediate goal.

I agree with ACMILAN1983. We may as well focus on the immediate goal. Besides, winning this competition might prove to be just what we need to get our spirits back up. I just hope we don't get shafted domestically in January. Judging by how worn out they look right now, I can't imagine how the team will be early next year. We definitely need to make a move in January.

For now we can't do anything but focus on the immediate goal which is the CWC. It's not like I don't want us to win it. It's just that I think it's the 3rd most important trophy for us this season, and still the management (read: Galliani) has been going on and on about it since the start of the season. I think it's the reason we're only the 9th best team in Italy, the club's minds have been in Japan since august...

I think some of us here are really underestimating the cup simply because it's not as prestigious. Given that Milan lost it to Boca last time and they are likely to face them again this year, with a trophy as stake, I don't know why poeple will treat this as a non-important cup.

I'll rate this as second after the Champion League. Indeed, you don't have the chance to play for CWC unless you won the CL last year, so the chance is year; the fact that the chance is rare makes it even more important to win it.

It is the same thing they did last year with the championship league victory. When everyone knew and were screaming for changes, Galliani and Berlusconi used the CL victory as excuses to maintain the status quo. Because according to them "we are the european champion! we don't need any changes!" This year, knowing the team is even weaker than last year and there is no way in hell this team will win anything in europe or domestic, they go for the easiest tournment they can find. That way, at the end of the season, they can say something like "we won TWO trophies last season! We are the World Champion! Why do we need changes?" And we are going to see the same old past their prime players back for one more run.