FC Dopentus- Ac Milan (pre-game comments)

Paolo Maldini and Kakha Kaladze look ahead to Saturday’s Scudetto showdown and give their views on the key tactical elements.

“We will be playing against a side that never gives in,” said the Milan captain, “but we are relaxed because we know we’re on top form.”

Juventus have a four-point lead going into the final game of 2004, but the Rossoneri are on fire after their 6-0 demolition of Fiorentina.

“We are aware of the problems we’ll encounter at the Delle Alpi, as it can’t be easy to score past the best defence in Serie A and the Champions’ League,” continued Maldini. “I think Juve will sit back at first and try to hit us on the break, so we have to move the ball around quickly.”

Over 55,000 tickets have already been sold for Saturday’s match, so the Turin stadium is heading for a sell-out.

“The Juventus I saw against Bologna last week seemed to be some inferior impostor,” commented Kakha Kaladze after their hard-fought 1-0 win.

“The Bianconeri had an incredible start to the season, but recently they have been nowhere near that level. On the other hand, Milan struggled to begin with and are coming into this tie near to our peak and that 6-0 result gives us a psychological extra gear. This will be the game of the year.”

There is one tradition that might worry the Rossoneri, as they have only won their pre-Christmas match once in the last ten years.

“A bit of complacency can arise when you’re heading towards the break,” concedes the Georgian defender, “but not when you’re taking on Juventus. The holidays will be absolutely the last thing on our minds.”

There seems to be only one doubt in Carlo Ancelotti’s mind going into this clash, as Giuseppe Pancaro or Kaladze will take that left-back role. Jon Dahl Tomasson might not even be fit for the bench after he skipped training this afternoo :

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Well, aside from the frolicking that our fans will do with the Dopentus cronies, I look forward to another typical Italian soccer game, that will probably end up being a low scoring draw.

How is that a typical Italian soccer game? There is not less goals scored in serie A than the other leagues.

Well, I guess the game was given to Bertini and not Collina as everyone expected. Hopefully Bertini is an honest man and will not end up being the proud owner of a new villa near Il Lago di Como after the game. Joking aside, I do hope it will be a game that will be decided between the two teams and as Silvio said "Let the better team win, in other words Milan."

Originally Posted by zlatanov

as Silvio said "Let the better team wins, in other words Milan."

bertini wil referee the match on saturday, have to confess i know very little about him

These are some interesting figures:

Emerson:

Minutes played: 1200
Number of passes: 783
Number of successful passes: 635
% of successful passes: 81.1%
Long ball attempt: 14
Long ball attempt success: 2
% of long ball success: <20%

Pirlo:

Minutes played: 996
Number of passes: 963
Number of successful passes: 776
% of successful passes: 80.6%
Long ball attempt: 47
Long ball attempt successful: 12
% Long ball successful: approximately 25%

what about tackling percentages?

Originally Posted by meazza

what about tackling percentages?

Good question. I don't have it with me. I actually got it from noe of the Chinese website. I doubt if they have tackling %... tackling number may be more appropriate (after all, how do you judge if a player has tackled another player but fail? I mean it's harder to judge than the act of passing)

yeah, emerson to me is a less offensively minded player than Pirlo despit the similar roles they play.
i think if i'm totally honest emerson is the most complete midfielder in the word but that's not a problem, because we play with 4 mids all doing different things and covering each other. emerson may out defend pirlo, and tacchinardi is better offensively than gattuso, but pirlo and rino are a better pairing with better overall options.

http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rub...8/golsheva.jpg

thanks to luciano of xtratime

TIMELESS CLASSIC

Originally Posted by Giovanni

TIMELESS CLASSIC

timeless classic is right, i remember watching that game, i was almost too stunned to celebrate.

Its a bit unusual that we are playing juve tomorrow the biggest game of the season so far and all we have been doing tonight is talking about a match that is not until February!

yep
maybe it's good
it has put off our shoulders a bit of pressure..the italian media are talking about this clash for one week

good point actually that it might take some of the pressure off. the draw will certainly have taken the players minds off tomorrow which might help them relax

I will watch the game with my friend, who happens to be a hardcore Juve-fan... will be fun to tease him afterwards like I did when we beat them in the CL-final 2003.

Originally Posted by Herou

I will watch the game with my friend, who happens to be a hardcore Juve-fan... will be fun to tease him afterwards like I did when we beat them in the CL-final 2003.

who can forget lippi's face--->

and del piero's one--->

and moggi's ---->

and conte after the crossbar--->

and APOLLO ON EARTH PAOLO MALDINI ---->