UCL Final - Milan vs. Liverpool... Athens, May 23rd

Well, if someone wants to post this on any other board then feel free to do it. And present it as your own.
You have my permision

And if Milan wins the CL then i promise i'll make another video just for forza-inter members, and you can show them both this and that video.
Don't care if you get banned. You can always register under another username and post the videos from there

Oh, and if you guys want to make your own movies, then just go here :
http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?lang=uk

Click on Make a Movie, chose a clip ( up right) , add the subtitles, write your name, put some e-mail ( better invent some e-mail, don't give yours) and you'll get the link of your video

Originally Posted by curry chicken

Something that's brightened up my day..and it came from Platini of all people, go figure.

UEFA: New look for final ceremonies
Monday, 14 May 2007

There will be a new, yet also time-honoured and traditional, look to the trophy ceremonies at UEFA's two big forthcoming club showcases - the UEFA Cup final in Glasgow on Wednesday and the UEFA Champions League final in Athens on 23 May. In this article, UEFA President Michel Platini explains why the winning teams will climb the steps to receive the respective trophies at the end of each final.

..."The winners will climb steps to receive the trophy amid the crowd of fans, the football people, those who are loyal to the game. Football is being restored to its rightful place - its heroes are being returned to the crowd, the winners are united with the fans in the grandstand, rather than the fans merely watching events on the big screen. Following the victory, the trophy, and the emotion...

OH and 9 DAYS TIL ATHENS...

We must see Maldini walking up those steps into the crowd, this match is one we have to win just for that truly tear jerking sight!

Originally Posted by zlatanov

haha, nice one Tony Spielberg.
I would gladly post that on our beloved forza-inter but I am affraid I would get banned, no questions asked ... and I have a feeling I would many reasons to go back there in the near future

Be patient Zlat....Lets win the CL first...I`m sure that Tony will be kind enough to make another production where Moratti and Mancio complain about how We get all the attention of the world when They won the Scudetoo.....

Scudetto > CL

It will be sweeter to post it than in Forza Inter

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

We must see Maldini walking up those steps into the crowd, this match is one we have to win just for that truly tear jerking sight!

Yeah, it'd be nice, but in terms of security, that's a huge accident waiting to happen right there.

Originally Posted by kastriot

Be patient Zlat....Lets win the CL first...I`m sure that Tony will be kind enough to make another production where Moratti and Mancio complain about how We get all the attention of the world when They won the Scudetoo.....

Scudetto > CL

It will be sweeter to post it than in Forza Inter

the Cl is another reason to wait a little and have mercy
but I wasn't actually referring to it ... just have a feeling the status quo would be getting back to the good old way things were before calciopoli ... Roma gave me those thoughts, you know

Originally Posted by BMWTaylor

Yeah, it'd be nice, but in terms of security, that's a huge accident waiting to happen right there.

I don't know, though there is some risk, that's how it used to be in the past and I don't think there were ever any problems really (maybe someone can correct me if wrong).

I believe the "stairs" the players will be using are in that section of the stadium where are the high-profile seats taken primarily by UEFA delegates and guests who have been invited by UEFA as well as other, less-risky individuals.
all in all, players will not be going thru the sections with ultra

Originally Posted by BMWTaylor

Yeah, it'd be nice, but in terms of security, that's a huge accident waiting to happen right there.

Especially how drunk the scousers get

Is it right to say that the Athens final is a Battle between a team that likes to play good football and another team that prefers to counterattack?
Rafa Benitez: You see, I have a deep respect for Milan and his coach, especially after the way they played against a great team like Manchester United. To be honest, it was a great tie. We all love that kind of football, but in a final everyone must use his weapons to achieve victory.

Would you share a bottle of wine with Ancelotti?
Rafa Benitez: Of course, He deserves my respect. In the final two years ago he did what he had to do. They were 3-0 up and when the game started to change badly for them he did what he had to do considering his options. The final was very even and we were lucky to find a way to stop them. Then we won on penalties. I say it again. Ancelotti is an excellent coach.

Originally Posted by curry chicken

Garcia asked them not to touch the coppa, and when he saw Kaka and Sheva pat the cup, it gave him a hint of hope. I don't know about you guys, but am starting to beleive in the warning. Should we send out a message to the boys in Italy?

I think we should send them a message that everyone of them should touch the trophy, wear our white shirts, do everything we did last time, except giving up those 3 goals. Put things right.


Also it's good to hear Benitez giving Carlo some respect along with SAF. It's a little refreshing after hearing some statements from Gerrard and the Mourinho style of Press.

From uefa.com:
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Gerrard's Liverpool have no fear
Tuesday, 15 May 2007

by Michael Harroldfrom Liverpool

e-mailPrint

Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard insists his side have nothing to fear from AC Milan as they look to win the UEFA Champions League for the second time in three seasons.

'Strong Milan'
Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down against Milan in 2005 to win the final on penalties, and as Rafael Benítez's side prepare to take on the Rossoneri again in Athens, Gerrard says confidence is high they can bring the trophy back to Merseyside for a sixth time. "I've watched Milan a lot this season and they are different from 2005, but they are still strong," said Gerrard, who has been offered a new contract by Liverpool.

'Confident'
"They showed against Manchester United [FC] that they are a fantastic team and deserve a lot of respect and that's what we'll give them on the night, but we won't fear them. We're a good team ourselves and we're confident we can do the job. What's important to us is that we prepare right and that the Liverpool team that's been in Europe all season turns up in Athens. If that good team turns up then Milan are in for a really difficult game and we're confident we can lift that cup."

'Humidity'
Liverpool have flown to Spain for a training camp to prepare for next Wednesday's final, just as they did before defeating FC Barcelona in the first knockout round. That trip was dogged by controversy, but Liverpool responded with a superb win at Camp Nou. "We are taking our golf clubs out there," Gerrard joked. "We are going to prepare normally - do the things we normally do back home but obviously we're going to prepare in the heat because we know it's going to be really humid in Greece and that it will be an important factor.

'Turning point'
"The Barcelona game was a big turning point in our Champions League run. To go to the Camp Nou and beat one of the best sides in Europe 2-1, playing good attacking football, that gave us the confidence and belief we could get to this final. But all the hard work we've done this season against your Barcelonas, your Chelseas and in the group, we don't want to let all that go to waste by getting beat in the final."

Refocus minds
Since knocking out Chelsea FC in the semi-finals Benítez has rested key players for the final Premiership games against Fulham FC and Charlton Athletic FC. Having failed to win either, the Liverpool manager said the time had come to refocus minds. "In the last games we were watching a team thinking about the final," he said.

'Calm and confident'
"Our job is to keep the players calm and confident and to give them the things they need to know. The whole idea [about going to Spain] is to train normally and to enjoy it, but especially to be focused. The difference now is that we are closer to the end of the season and cannot train as hard as before. It is more about atmosphere and team spirit."

I haven't read the last 30 pages, i apologise.
I don't know if you have been updated that this time the trip to Athens has been organised in much better way than Istanbul.
The news is not very fresh, but maybe the international links haven't posted it: anyway, the problem when we played in istanbul two years ago was that italian travel agencies bought a large part of travel packages ( ticket+ flight+ hotel) but they found more convenient to sell them in UK, where the request was much bigger.
This caused a disaster in the stadium: 3/4 of it were filled with english supporters.

This time the society has remarked that they will give the tickets directly to fans, withouth any mediation of agencies. This will guarantee a more balanced support during the final.


*****************************************


On a tactical note, i think Benitez is preparing, as i said in the first post, a catenaccio style game. They have no world class players, except Gerrard. Therefore, they will focus on teamwork and tactical accuracy, trying to frustrate our game with Sacchi style pressing.

I think this can be an advantadge, if you think about it: this is a style of game we cope with week in week out. When we face the middle table (no disrespect meant to Liverpool ) teams, they usually close every space left.

That's why we'll have to win the game on the flanks. I think Kakà will have to do a superwork, starting from the flanks and getting to the center. If quality players will cause trouble on the wings, they will widen the defensive lock and we'll have more space to hit with other players, like Pippo or, for ex, with Seedorf or Ambro's headers.
The secret is to have a quick flow with the ball and sudden game diversions, from one side to another.

Another key will be to slower the tempo, with ball possession, and therefore to avoid their pressing.

Originally Posted by Milancelotti

Especially how drunk the scousers get

and especially how violent italians are.

Jamie, my boy, are you with us or against us??

Liverpool will play on courage and hard work with Kuyt and Gerrard, and with the Aerial power of Crouch they are very strong in the air.
If we give them minimum space and play quick football with Kaka' on the end I can see chances for us.

Forza Milan.