Gourcuff Willing To Stay, Until The Summer

Milan’s midfield starlet Yoann Gourcuff insists he will stay at the club for now, but will reconsider his options in the summer if he is left out of the team.

The highly talented 21-yr-old midfielder is seen by many to be the natural heir to Zinedine Zidane’s throne.

Yet the French youth international has struggled to break into Carlo Ancelotti’s side, leaving some to suggest he would benefit from a loan spell.

But Gourcuff would rather stay and fight for a place at the San Siro,

“I’m sure that I won’t be leaving in January,” Gourcuff declared.

“I will think about my future at the end of the season if I’m still not playing.”

Gourcuff is likely to be handed a seat on the bench for the Rossoneri’s crunch match against Roma on Saturday.

AC Milan for new Ronaldinho bid?

With Ronaldinho reportedly unsettled at Barcelona, Milan are reconsidering a January bid, according to Italian Press reports.

The Rossoneri had been tipped to lure the Brazilian wizard in the New Year after continuous rumours after a summer move proved impossible.

However, Barca chief Joan Laporta has always asserted that the Selecao star is not for sale at any price.

But Ronaldinho is eyeing the exit door at the Nou Camp after a row with the club, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The FIFA World Player of the Year for 2004 and 2005 was late to return to Barca duty after playing for Brazil against Ecuador and was dropped for their clash against Villarreal.

Ronaldinho has failed to live up to his very high standards so far this term and it is believed that Laporta may accept a bid of around £45m in the transfer window.

While Milan have made it clear that they would love to add the 27-year-old to their ranks, they may face some stiff competition.

Chelsea have declared their interest and may prove to have deeper pockets should a bidding war start.

Totti to miss AC Milan?

There are fears that Roma captain Francesco Totti may miss out on the Giallorossi’s crunch match against Milan this weekend.

Er Pupone limped off in the 35th minute of the capital club’s win over Sporting Lisbon last night with an ankle injury.

While these are worrying times for the Magica, the only relief is that it was not the ankle that underwent recent surgery.

The Roman talisman picked up the knock after just six minutes in a collision with Liedson and played on for half an hour before being replaced by Mirko Vucinic.

The Montenegrin proved to be the hero and may be called upon against the Rossoneri, but he claims that he would rather Totti recovered.

“I hope that I don’t play against Milan,” he insisted. “Because that would mean that Francesco didn’t recover and he is too important to us.”

Totti will undergo test later today and these should give a better understanding as to the extent of the injury.

GREAT REACTION

In the dressing room, after the match, there is joy and satisfaction. But everyone knows it will be important to do well in the league too, for that reason Adriano Galliani and Carlo Ancelotti suggest it's better to keep their feet on the ground.

- ADRIANO GALLIANI
Just after the match Adriano Galliani stopped to talk about the match with a large smile on his face. He began by talking about the difference between playing in Italy and in European competitions: "Playing in the Champions League is different. All teams play and let play. But everyone is free to interpret football like they want. It's certainly a pleasure to watch games like this one." He then went on to talk about Kaká's performance: "This is a fact: it's almost impossible to imagine Kaká being able to make runs like the one he made tonight in an Italian league match."
There was great support from the Milan fans tonight, as Galliani acknowledges: "Tonight the crowd reminded me of the one in Athens. It means it's still fresh in their memories, as it is in the club's."
He then continued to talk about the match: "We could have had 10 goals, but we are happy like this, also because on Sunday our mood could change again. I am happy for Kalac, because he did well, but let's not forget that with Dida we reached 3 finals in 5 years."

- CARLO ANCELOTTI
The coach is overjoyed, after the victory and the performance of the team: "I knew we would have a strong reaction, because I know this group well. Now we have to repeat this performance, even though it won't be easy. There are many components that determine the outcome of a match. Scoring quickly, for example, is very important. Then there's the psychological aspect, the physical and the athletic one. Not all matches can be played with the same mentality. That's human. Now it will be important to find the right key to start winning again in the league. And if other teams close down we will have to be stronger. It's inevitable that in Europe we have an advantage, because foreign teams play more attacking football." On the singular players, particularly Kaká, Gilardino, and Dida-Kalac, he said: "Tonight Kaká did well. Saturday he was given a medal for his 200 matches with Milan and I stole it from him as a joke. As soon as he arrived at Milan I did not waste any time letting him play. He deserved it and still does. Gila, meanwhile, always took a while before unblocking himself. This is always the case, but then his performances also improve. I'm also happy about Kalac's display, because he silenced a few critics tonight. But I still maintain faith in Dida."

Ancelotti: We're not cured yet

Carlo Ancelotti warns this cruise to victory has not solved all Milan’s problems, but admits Europe suits them more.

“Everything has not been resolved and we will probably run into certain problems again in the future,” said the Coach.

The Rossoneri had been in crisis after defeats to Celtic and Empoli, but they crushed Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 at San Siro.

Thanks to Benfica’s 1-0 victory over Celtic, this puts the reigning champions on top of their group with six points, ahead of Shakhtar on goal difference.

“We have difficulties in certain games. In Europe there are more open teams and we can make the most of the characteristics of our players,” continued Ancelotti.

Kaka was rested for the Empoli loss on Sunday and was a doubt until this evening with a knee problem, but he put in a stunning individual performance, hitting the inside of the upright.

“Kaka did everything and more. He made a lot of mistakes in front of goal, but he was devastating when going forward at pace.

“Everything is so much easier with Kaka. The Ballon d’Or? He certainly did not need confirmation tonight for that award, he has already done more than enough to deserve it and will continue to impress.”

Alberto Gilardino was the surprise pick upfront instead of Champions League specialist Filippo Inzaghi, but rewarded Ancelotti with an early brace of headers.

“Today Kaka had great help upfront, as Gilardino aided him in holding up the ball and scored two goals.”

Only this week General Manager Adriano Galliani had complained that Milan did not have any strikers who were good in the air, but Gilardino netted two headers this evening.

“That’s the great thing about football – you are immediately proved wrong at every turn!” grinned Ancelotti.

The pressure to deliver is back on Milan, as this Sunday they welcome Scudetto contenders Roma to San Siro.

Four star display eases Milan´s nerves

Written by: AFP

MILAN, Italy, (AFP) - Doubles from Alberto Gilardino and Clarence Seedorf helped ease the sense of crisis enveloping AC Milan as the European titleholders beat Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 in the Champions League here on Wednesday.

This was only Milan's second home victory this season in any competition and it lifted them up from third to head Group D on goal difference from Shakhtar.

One familiar name missing from the AC Milan teamsheet was Dida, the Brazilian international goalkeeper who was handed a two match ban for his theatrical collapse after a brush with a spectator in their 2-1 loss to Celtic at Hampden Park.

Australian Zeljko Kalac replaced Dida for this must win game if Milan were to put the wheels back on their Champions League defence bid.

Italian World Cup winner Gilardino gave the unsettled San Siro fans the perfect start, heading in Andrea Pirlo's sixth minute corner to the far post.

Kaka, favourite in most quarters to be named FIFA's World footballer Of The Year, had an effort saved by Andriy Pyatov keeping goal for Shakhtar, but two minutes later Gilardino had put AC Milan further ahead.

This time it was the turn of Seedorf to fill the role of provider, sending the ball in from the left for Gilardino to head in to leave Shakhtar with an uphill task of taking anything out of the game.

Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu then made the first substitution in defence, bringing on Tomas Hubschman for Alexandr Kucher.

The Ukrainian visitors came out for the second half in feisty mood and in the 51st minute they were rewarded by the quick thinking of striker Cristiano Lucarelli, back in Italy for the first time since leaving Serie A side Livorno in the summer.

Kalac, proving an able replacement to Dida, was up to saving Brandao's shot after a fluffed clearance from Milan defender Massimo Oddo but the ball was deflected into the path of Lucarelli who volleyed into an empty net.

But Seedorf then extinguished Shakhtar's hopes of drawing level when killing off the tie with his own double in the 63rd and 69th minutes.

His first goal, a pinpoint left-footed volley, came off a corner from Pirlo and the second, a fine 45-metre volley after a spineless Kalac punch.

Sacchi Questions Milan Motivation

The Rossoneri have made a dismal start to the Serie A season and currently sit in a lowly 11th position, 10 points behind league-leaders Inter.

This poor domestic form has led the Italian press to suggest that Milan are only really motivated to do well in the Champions League, a competition in which they have a stunning recent record in.

In the past five seasons, Milan have won the tournament twice, and reached the final, semi-final and quarter-final on one occasion each.

“The men of Ancelotti seem like a squad with little motivation,” said Sacchi.

“They have inadequate enthusiasm and their play is developed slowly and without energy.

“Perhaps the main objectives are the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup and the physical preparation of the players is organised so that they are at their peak for these games.

“On Sunday Empoli were deserved winners as they showed rhythm, speed and superior determination.”

Milan will be hoping to get back to winning ways tomorrow night as they host Ukrainian-outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Kaka Doubtful For Shakhtar Clash

Kaka sat out AC Milan's humiliating 1-0 home defeat to Empoli at the weekend in preparation for the impending Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk, but could potentially miss that tie, too.

The Brazilian maestro is a slight doubt for the Matchday 3 tie due to a knee injury - one that was earlier played down by Milanese vice-president Adriano Galliani.

First team coach Carlo Ancelotti, though, refused to guarantee Kaka's presence against the Ukrainians.

"We have one more day to see if he can recover or not," said the manager.

Reigning champions Milan have taken three points from six so far, beating Benfica in the first match before losing out 2-1 to Celtic in Scotland in the second.

Kaka, aged 25, has an all-time Champions League record of 23 goals in 54 games. The former Sao Paolo attacker also set up the winning goal in last season's final, AC Milan defeating Liverpool 2-1 in Greece.

The Race for The Golden Ball

France Football announced this morning the list of 50 candidates for the 2007 Golden Ball winner, which will be assigned on the 2nd of December in Paris. The recognition will be handed following the votes of a jury made up 96 newspapers, amongst which 8 Italian ones.

Milan is heading the list of Italian clubs with 6 nominations; these are the Rossoneri present in the list: Ricky Kakà, Rino Gattuso, Filippo Inzaghi, Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf.
Ahead of Milan only Barcelona and Real Madrid, with 7 players per head, and behind the Rossoneri there are Chelsea (4), Bayern Munich (3) and Liverpool (2).

Therefore there are multiple and constant in time the recognitions which have gratified the Rossoneri at the start of the season.

Here are some examples:
- The list of 30 candidates for the “Fifa World Player 2007” sees four Rossoneri players, of which Milan is very proud: Gattuso, Nesta, Pirlo amongst the Italians, and Kaka with regards to the Brazilians. The winner will be elected on the 17th of December by the coaches and captains of all the national teams in the world. Amongst the nominations, Barcelona is the team which has the highest number of candidates (7), but Milan is the Italian team with most players in the run for the award.
- During the away game of Milan at Montecarlo for the European Super Cup Final, on the 30th of August, during the ceremony of the draw of the calendars for the Champions League 2007/08, three awards were handed out to three Rossoneri players for the past season in the Champions Leagues:
Paolo Maldini, best defender in the Champions League 2006/07;
Clarence Seedorf, best midfielder in the Champions League 2006/07;
Kaka, best attacker and best overall player in the Champions League 2006/07
- On the 1st of September, on the return from the victory in the European Super Cup at Montecarlo, Filippo Inzaghi received the ‘Gaetano Scirea Award’ to highlight the exemplary career of the Rossoneri’s player.
- On the 22nd of September, before the Milan-Parma game at San Siro, Carlo Ancelotti was elected best coach of the 2006/07 season by ESM which regroups the European Sports Magazines.
- On the 5th of October, at the Sports Centre of Milanello, the winners of the third edition of the FIFPro World XI Player Awards were announced. The awards were handed out thanks to the votes of the players’ syndicates around the world. There were almost 45,000 votes which arrived from 42 syndicates. Amongst the 55 nominates for the ideal 2006/07 formation, there were nine Rossoneri players: Maldini, Nesta, Maldini, Nesta, Gattuso, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Dida, Kakà, Seedorf and Ronaldo. Amongst the Rossoneri, Kaka won the best player award of 2006/07 and Alessandro Nesta, together with Kaka was named in the top 11 of the 2006/07 season.

Jankulovski and Dida out of Shakhtar match

AC Milan were hit with a blow ahead of their crunch Champions League clash against Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk as left-back Marek Jankulovski was ruled out.

The Czech player injured his knee in the dismal home defeat to Empoli on Saturday and Milan said Monday that he would not be fit for Wednesday.

Milan face a crisis having picked up only three points from four Serie A home games this season, leaving them trailing leaders Inter Milan by 10 points in the title race.

They also lost their last Champions League clash 2-1 at Celtic, after which goalkeeper Dida was hit with a one-match suspension for feigning injury.

Galliani Happy To See Dida Ban Cut

The Brazilian had been handed a two-match ban after over-reacting to an altercation with a fan during the Champions League clash with Celtic at Parkhead on October 3.

However after an appeal by Milan, UEFA's Appeals Body today decided to reduce the penalty to just one game.

This news came after Dida had offered a public apology at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium before the Serie A match with Empoli yesterday afternoon. The 34-year-old repeatedly bowed to each section of the Milan crowd in an emotional gesture.

"Nelson was in Nyon with Cantamessa and I think that a one match suspension is right - it's ok like this," said Galliani.

"Two matches seemed too much, but Dida made a mistake so one match is correct. He made a mistake that did not bring any damage to anyone, neither to Celtic nor to any other player.

"Reading the rules, you understand that one match is right, but to have two, violence has to be involved, and that was not the case. At most Dida was a victim of violence.

"As far as his apology to San Siro go, Dida made a nice gesture that I think it helped fix the player's relationship with the fans. It was his own idea and the club did not suggest anything."

Cafu Calls For Pato Patience

The 18-year-old Pato signed for Milan from Internacional in the summer. However due to Italian football regulations regarding non-EU minors, he is ineligible to play competitively for the European Champions until January.

Nicknamed ‘The Duck’, Pato is regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in world football in recent years and there are high hopes for him in Italy. However Brazil legend Cafu has a few words of caution.

"I think he's a great player, but he still has to show a lot, we are all eagerly waiting for January when we will be able to see him play,” the ex-Roma star said.

“But Pato has to remain calm, he has to insert himself gradually in the Italian football scene, but no one should hold overly high expectations of him. Off the pitch he is a good lad, he comes from a good family.

"Kaká really had to show his worth, and when he came we already had Rui Costa and Leonardo in the team.

“However around Pato there has been too much expectation, we have to be cautious and take care of Alexandre because much patience is needed with a young player like him."

We Must Remain Calm, Says Maldini

Paolo Maldini's return did not help Milan as the Rossoneri suffered yet another setback in Serie A on Sunday when Empoli defeated the European Champions 1-0 at San Siro.

"The fact we're behind the others annoys us," admitted the Milan captain. "Not only on Inter, but also on all of the other teams in the top positions.

"However, we're not in a crisis," pointed out quickly Maldini. "We must only remain calm. When we went back in the dressing room there was an unreal silence and Galliani's words comforted us."

For Maldini, having so many players missing upfront is a big reason for what is happening right now.

"Let's remember that we were missing three attackers and this has conditioned more than we expected. We had few solutions in attack."

Following this defeat, Milan are now in 11th place, with 10 points from 8 matches played, 10 points behind league leaders Inter.

AC Milan 0:1 Empoli - match report

Scorer: Saudati 55 (E)

Luca Saudati has sent Milan to a shock home defeat as the Rossoneri are undoubtedly in crisis. This result means Empoli are level on points with the giants and the San Siro crowd booed Carlo Ancelotti's men off the field.

The Rossoneri were buoyed by their stunning 5-1 win at Lazio in Week 7, but going into this game were still without a home victory in Serie A. Paolo Maldini returned to the fray for his seasonal debut after injury problems, but Ronaldo remained sidelined and Kaka was rested. Empoli needed a boost after their shock 3-0 defeat to Siena, but Daniele Adani was suspended. The Tuscans' record here was abysmal with just one win and seven defeats in Serie A, during which they scored three goals and conceded 16.

There was a curious moment before kick-off, as Nelson Dida went all around the pitch bowing to the San Siro crowd as an apology for the farce at Celtic that saw him suspended for two Champions League games for feigning injury.

Clarence Seedorf and Pippo Inzaghi had two early chances, but Empoli should have taken the lead when Moro was left unmarked for a volley over from seven yards with the inside of his right foot.

Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo exchanged passes in the area and had timid penalty appeals waved away. Antonio Busce' exchanged passes with Luca Saudati, but fired wide of the target.

Felice Piccolo did well to close down Inzaghi inside the box after he had chested down Seedorf's cross on the counter-attack. Soon after, Inzaghi sprung the offside trap on Pirlo's pass over the defence, but this time Andrea Raggi stuck close to him to prevent the strike, also thanks to a poor first touch.

Empoli wasted another golden opportunity on the counter with Moro blasting well over. The second half began in similar circumstances with chaotic defending. Saudati sprung the offside trap thanks to Marek Jankulovski and was totally clear on goal, but perhaps thinking he might've been flagged, he incredibly turned the header wide of the target!

The Rossoneri also went close moments later when Daniele Balli cut short Seedorf's inspired solo effort.

The endless defensive errors cost Milan in the end, though, as Saudati jumped between two defenders to nod in Marianini's cross from the right and give Empoli a shock lead at San Siro.

Carlo Ancelotti's men pushed forward even more, giving extra space for the counter-attack and Dida smothered a Saudati volley, while Alberto Gilardino's cross-shot struck the side-netting.

Ancelotti had to do something, introducing Cristian Brocchi, Yoann Gourcuff and Kakha Kaladze. Balli was at full stretch to block Massimo Ambrosini's sliding finish with his fingertips, but the San Siro crowd had run out of patience and jeered their every move.

Pirlo's central free kick was easily gathered, as Empoli clammed up in their own half to deny any spaces. Brocchi had two consecutive efforts charged down and Gilardino's header from a Massimo Oddo corner kick was well held.

A goalline clearance kept out Gilardino, although he had been flagged offside.

Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Maldini (Kaladze 67), Jankulovski; Gattuso (Brocchi 64), Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Gilardino, Inzaghi (Gourcuff 64)

Empoli: Balli; Raggi, Vanigli, Piccolo, Marianini; Buscè, Marchisio, Moro, Antonini (Tosto 64); Pozzi (Giacomazzi 56), Saudati (Giovinco 79)

Ref: Giannoccaro