Amauri issues AC Milan warning

Palermo travel to San Siro this weekend to face Milan and striking star Amauri is confident the Sicilians can build on their win over Cagliari.

The Rosanero have endured a miserable spell with President Maurizio Zamparini on the warpath and pressure mounting on Coach Francesco Guidolin.

However, the Aquile bounced back with a hard-fought win over Cagliari last weekend and are still sitting in eighth place.

Amauri has previously been linked with Milan, but Juventus are in pole position for his signature and he is ready to show the Rossoneri what they are missing.

“We are going there to win,” the former Chievo man roared. “Milan are a very strong side, but we will play our football at San Siro.

“Milan showed their strength yesterday to stay in the game when others would have lost, but no team is invincible and so we are travelling with optimism.”

It seems that Brazil and Italy could clash over the right to field Amauri for their national side, as he gets closer to acquiring Italian citizenship.

“I can honestly admit that I have been a bit disappointed by the lack of a call-up for the Selecao,” the 27-year-old admitted. “I haven’t heard anything from Carlos Dunga.

“The bureaucracy involved with getting an Italian passport is moving forward and I hope that it will all be resolved soon.

“Am I thinking about Euro 2008? At the moment I’m not. My objective is to do well in the Palermo shirt and then we will see.”

Kaka Eyes Quater Final

Milan’s Kaka believes a sold out San Siro will be the key to reaching the quarter finals of the Champions League.

The Rossoneri held a dominant Arsenal side to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates stadium on Wednesday night in a game which did not exactly live up to all the pre match hype.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men are now in pole position to go through. The Rossoneri have never lost at home to English opposition in this competition and so they seem favourites to progress.

“The return leg I can imagine being played in front of 80,000 fans at San Siro, above all they are our fans and with a Milan side who will surely be very aggressive,” Kaka told Corriere Dello Sport.

“Personally I have to make the most of training in the next few days as my knee is in good condition, but I still have to find a good match rhythm.

“Arsenal played good, they are a very technical team, well organised and they are capable of changing positions constantly.”

Milan will be hoping to continue their good form in Europe’s elite competition.

Ancelotti Optimistic For Second Leg

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti Believes his side have a foot in the quarter final after holding Arsenal to a draw at the Emirates.

The Gunners clashed with the Rossoneri in the first leg of the Champions League knockout stages and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

It was an entertaining clash and Emanuel Adebayor hit the bar in the dying seconds as Milan held on. The coach believes his side can complete the Italian job and win in the San Siro.

“The 0-0 is not a fundamental result but it’s a good one,” Ancelotti told Sky Sport Italia.

“It’s not a result which makes us feel comfortable but we did play well and we did suffer a little.

“We could have played better. It will be difficult in the second leg but we hope we can go through. Ancelotti also explained his decision to start with 18-year-old Brazilian Alexandre Pato up front.

“We started with him because we wanted some pace in attack. With Pato we had more opportunities because their defence plays a high line.”

Milan have never lost to English opposition in the San Siro in this competition and they will be hoping to continue that record in the second leg.