Milan - Lecce (05/04/09)

After the break with the international games, let's come back to the Serie A ... and for us, a game that we will have to win because of the non-game in Napoli.

It's the 30th game and all games will be played on the 5th of March (Sunday).

13:00
Atalanta (10th) - Fiorentina (5th)
15:00
Roma (6th) - Bologna (17th)
Cagliari (7th) - Catania (12th)
Juventus (2nd) - Chievo (16th)
Reggina (20th) - Genoa (4th)
Palermo (8th) - Torino (18th)
19:00
Udinese (13th) - Inter (1st)
21:00
Milan (3rd) - Lecce (19th)


Serie A after 29 games

1st - Inter (69 points)
2nd - Juventus (62 points)
3rd - Milan (55 points)
4th - Genoa (51 points)
5th - Fiorentina (49 points)
6th - Roma (46 points)
7th - Cagliari (42 points)
8th - Palermo (42 points)
...
16th - Chievo (30 points)
17th - Bologna (26 points)
18th - Torino (24 points)
19th - Lecce (24 points)
20th - Reggina (20 points)

This time, I didn't only write the first 8 teams of Serie A but also the last 5 ones ... why ? Simply because the final sprint is going to start for the teams wanting to stay in Serie A, and these 5 teams (with Sienna too) are in balance and some of them will play against one of the top teams !!

So what to expect of that week-end ??
-> An extra motivation from Reggina allowing them to draw or even beat Genoa, but it's unlikely to happen as Genoa is in great form ...
-> A win from us if we don't want to see Genoa coming back like a bullet !!
-> If both Fiorentina and Roma can have a bad result (draw or defeat), it would just be perfect ...
-> A bad result from Inter with a win from Juventus would be welcome, just to have a fight for the title as there will be a game between these two teams OR a bad result from Inter and Juventus, hoping they will draw when they'll play each other and that we will beat Juventus at home soon ... (with that scenario, the second place would be a reality)

What to expect from our players ??
-> Pirlo really played well against Montenegro, if he plays again that well against Ireland, let's just hope that Ancelotti will use him higher on the pitch than what he usually does ...
-> Kaka' said in medias that one week with Brazilian doctors helped him and he doesn't have pain to his foot (also saying that it was better than 5 weeks with the Italian "experts" of Milan Lab). It looks like he could play a part of the game this Wednesday, if that's the case, he will probably play as a starter this week-end, and that's great news I think.
-> Pato scored 14 goals ... Di Vaio and Ibrahimovic scored 19 goals, let's just hope that Pato will try to join them in the next week ends, starting by the game against Lecce.

For other players, R80 seems to be fit again, Seedorf will be fit, Beckham will be fit, Flamini will be fit, as said previously, Pirlo and Kaka' will be fit, Ancelotti will have to make choices, if possible, the right choices ...

And to finish this long post (longer than usually), good news: Gattuso and Boriello could be back for the last three games of the season ...

Let's go !!

Gattuso and Borriello back for the last three games? That will be HUGE.

so anxiously awaiting the return of Borriello.. !

looking forward to those matches ..

It's a very important game. The goal of reaching CL football next season is getting harder and harder. We may have a lead of 4 points down to Genoa, 6 to Viola and 9 to Roma but anything can happen. We'll see.

If we play to our best I believe there is a good chance we will finish in the top 3. It will be a difficult road containing many difficult matches against very unique teams with good squads. So it won't be easy.

The news of players returning to fitness is a boost to us. Let's await and see who Carlo picks to play. Let's see.

Lecce may be a bottom side with few points but they will do everything they can to beat us. It's a very hard place to visit and I'm sure they'll give us a run for our money.

Forza Milan

If our players are fit and can be motivated (it's at home), this game against Lecce shouldn't be a problem ... I hope for a good performance, especially after the game in Napoli which was horrible. We need to score 3-4 goals, and if possible, not concede any.

Looking fwd to this match. On paper we have clear superiority man for man, but Lecce will come knowing that, and park the bus in front of their 18 yeard box accordingly.

As such, its crucial for us to score early, and as such, put them under pressure to attack, which will open up the game big time.

Our player s on international duty will be tired, as opposed to the Lecce squad, who probably have no one playing the qualifiers, so they will be fitter, again, underscoring the importance of us having the game wrapped up by the first half.

If we have a 2 goal lead going into the 2nd half, the game will be much easier, as we can play on the counter, one of our strengths I believe.

Player selection will be key, and with the stars playing midweek, expect Seedorf to start (unfortunately) and as such, our build up to be too slow to make much of an impact on their defense.

I can see us dropping points, the longer Carlos persists with Slowdorf.

Hopefully he will bring him on, rather than start him...but we all know Carletto!

FORZA MIIIIIIIILAN, regardless!!

I don't think it could be made more obvious to Carlo that Pirlo playing in a more advanced role for Italy improved his game a lot. If he still persists playing Pirlo so deep now then God help us all.

Hopefully it seems like Kaka is now fit as well and should probably be able to start this game. So we should finally be able to see the Kaka-Pato attack that when together this season has been quite effective with potential to blossom.

But still, I feel I will be upset come match time as we will see Pirlo playing pretty much alongside the defence and Seedorf is a guaranteed starter (I might accept this depending on the situation closer to match time).

Great news! Kaka should be fit for this game , he played 90 min against Peru and seemed fine, he 'made' the opening goal as he was brought down inside the box- converted by Luis fabiano.

His presence will be crucial in the remaining games so to reach 3rd spot in the league ..

Forza Milan!

Originally Posted by edysupriadi

Great news! Kaka should be fit for this game , he played 90 min against Peru and seemed fine, he 'made' the opening goal as he was brought down inside the box- converted by Luis fabiano.

His presence will be crucial in the remaining games so to reach 3rd spot in the league ..

Forza Milan!

Yep, will be great to have Kaka back. He played for Brazil as though he hadn't been injured at all... he was among the contenders for the man of the match, so he'll definetly play the way I see it.

Originally Posted by Christian

He played for Brazil as though he hadn't been injured at all... .

Yes, its amazing to see him playing as if nothing had happened before. Im soooo relieved.... Hmm just wondering, shall we replace our doctors with Brazilian ones too ?

Originally Posted by edysupriadi

Yes, its amazing to see him playing as if nothing had happened before. Im soooo relieved.... Hmm just wondering, shall we replace our doctors with Brazilian ones too ?

I'd start with Doctor Galliani.

Originally Posted by edysupriadi

so anxiously awaiting the return of Borriello.. !

..

Really? He isn't that good....and how long do you think he'll last THIS time before he is off for another spell? We should sell or loan him out again.

MILAN-LECCE: CARLO ANCELOTTI'S CALLED UP PLAYERS
4/4/2009
MILANELLO - Here are the 18 Rossoneri players called up by Carlo Ancelotti for tomorrow evening's match against Lecce:
Dida, Kalac, Antonini, Favalli, Jankulovski, Maldini, Senderos, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Beckham, Flamini, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Kakà, Pato, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho.
Unavailable players: Abbiati, Bonera, Kaladze, Nesta, Cardacio, Gattuso, Borriello.
Players not called up: Mattioni, Emerson.

MILANELLO - Here are the declarations made by Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, who spoke during a press conference today at Milanello, ahead of the match against Lecce:

ON MILAN'S MOMENT IN THE LEAGUE AND THE SEASON
"We will have to use the period ahead of us in which we will face three matches out of four at home to consolidate the third place in the standings. It's an important period because the more we go on the more delicate the matches will be, we have to try and increase our advantage on the fourth place in the table.
This difficult season could represent the basis for next season, in which we want to get back to playing the Champions League. We have to do our best in these games.
Without injuries we would have done better in the league, but some injuries strongly penalised us. The idea for the team we made in July was different because some players, like Nesta for example, would have been fundamental."

ON THE FIRST MATCH AGAINST LECCE
"Compared to the first match against Lecce, many difficulties have been added to our season in the league and the start coincided with that match. It was a good match, one of our best away from home, but now we are in a different position in the table and we have different objectives. We are experiencing different moments now, and we want to experience them by doing our best."

ON LECCE
"They're a team who have changed coach recently and I don't know them very well. Di Canio changed the team's organisation compared to his predecessor and considering Lecce's position in the table we cannot expect them to have a superficial attitude."

ON THE SINGULAR PLAYERS AND THE ANTI-LECCE FORMATION
"Kaká has completely recovered.
The players who stayed here during the break worked well and if I have to make choices then certainly I would give them the priority because they are fresher than the international players.
Inzaghi is doing well and will play. Then after the last training I will decide whether to play with an extra striker.
Bonera has a problem due to an inflammation in the pubic area. He is close to coming back, and should be available for the match against Chievo.
Flamini is revealing himself to be a very good alternative to Gattuso, Pirlo, and Ambrosini, which is why he was bought. At the start he had some difficulties, but it's comprehensible, now he's doing well, he's young and for the future he will certainly be an important player. We bought Borriello because we considered him an atypical striker, with particular characteristics and we wanted to try and play with a different type of striker. Unfortunately this curiosity remains, but he will certainly be a part of Milan's future. He is recovering very well.
Emerson had a problem to his foot until Tuesday, but he did train, so he could be available.
After the delicate operation he underwent, we are not going to force Nesta, but he is doing things calmly to have him in good shape again for next season. During the summer he will do special work."

ON PIRLO'S POSITION ON THE PITCH
"With the national team Pirlo plays in a different position than with Milan. In the match against Montenegro he had more freedom compared to his usual position. Seven years ago he proposed to play as a central midfielder and if he now wants to play in a different role I will listen to him, but Andrea is such an intelligent player that he would never ask me that. He has become the best player in his position and I think it's both his desire and mine that he continues to play in front of the defence.
Lippi's decision to replace him during the break against Ireland was understandable, even though Pirlo is in a good moment because he has recovered completely."

ON THE BRAZILIAN INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
"I am surprised that Pato doesn't play much with the national team, but it's hard for me to look inside Dunga's head. Also here at the start Pato wasn't used as much, due to a lack of experience, but then he showed his qualities and found his space.
On Kaká's declarations from Brazil I can only say that I haven't spoken to Ricky and I don't trust the news from Brazil. In any case medically every player has the right to make his own choices, Milan can give advice, but it's the player who has to decide.
As for Ronaldinho's conditions, usually it happens that a coach calls when he's interested in the conditions of a player, like Lippi does, but Dunga doesn't."

ON HIS FUTURE
"I am very happy about what Adriano Galliani said about me, he compared me to Coppi. Personally I have never asked for any kind of extension, I have a contract until June 2010 which I intend to respect."

acmilan.com

Bonera has a problem due to an inflammation in the pubic area.

This Sht was funny.

Well atleast we know next year is going to be another rebuilding year for us.

Originally Posted by OCmilano

Bonera has a problem due to an inflammation in the pubic area.

This Sht was funny.

Well atleast we know next year is going to be another rebuilding year for us.

I read this part, I thought it was some kind of joke, hahaha