Champions League Final: AC Milan vs Liverpool (ALL-match comments)

Originally Posted by Haroon

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

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.

Originally Posted by Jeff

Haroon, I surely admire the fact that you bother to spend your time replying, with such serenity and splendidity.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Haroon, I just admire the fact that you bothered replying to such a stupid post

Originally Posted by dcvg

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

From http://football.guardian.co.uk/Fiver...480035,00.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....

From: http://football.guardian.co.uk/break...993149,00.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.

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.

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

From: http://football.guardian.co.uk/break...993149,00.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.

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.

Originally Posted by Jeff

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.

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

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

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.

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.

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

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"

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.

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.