Bleacher Report - Articles by Marzia Hazra

Derby D'Italia Preview: Juventus Host Inter Milan in Vital Scudetto Clash

Marzia Hazra — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:58:40 -0500

The term Derby d’Italia was coined back in 1967 by sports journalist Giovanni Luigi Brera. Although the fixture has no geographical reasons to exist, it does so purely based on both club’s sporting achievements.

If the fierce rivalry between Juventus and Inter Milan was intense before, it got a whole other dimension after the infamous Calciopoli scandal in 2006. As the title of 2004/2005 was simply not assigned, Inter was controversially awarded the following season’s Tricolore which till today is known as the ‘Scudetto di Cartone’ (the cardboard Scudetto).

But this Saturday much more than prestige will be at stake as two of Italy’s most storied clubs clash swords at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

A victory is absolutely vital for the Bianconeri in order to keep their Scudetto hopes alive as a defeat would see the Nerazzurri move a massive eleven points ahead in the standings. Inter, on the other hand, have a comfortable seven points separating them from the chasing pack.

It was supposed to be Juventus’ season. The Old Lady was supposed to be the only team able to challenge Inter at the top. Will they be able to salvage their title dreams?

Juventus

There were many promises ahead of the new season. After a smart player market a reinforced Juventus were supposed to fight on three fronts; the league, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia.

As the Old Lady opened the season with four consecutive victories, many believed that this Juventus side was going to give the current champions a good run for their money.

As things stand, however, a mix of incredibly inconsistent performances has seen the Bianconeri drop down to the third spot. Despite having the world’s best goalkeeper guarding the sticks, the main issue of concern lay in the brittle defense where Giorgio Chiellini has been the sole consistent performer. A large majority of the other players have simply been underperforming lately.

The team is yet to find their identity and as the struggle continues, Ciro Ferrara is feeling the heat as his coaching abilities along with his abilities to motivate his players have been called into question. On top of that Mister has been forced to deal with a great number of injuries which has forced the Italian to switch from his preferred 4-3-1-2 system.

Club directors and many top names in calcio are calling for patience as Juventus work their way towards some kind of consistency while preparing for their two critical games in the coming days.

The Bianconeri are coming in to the game with a shattered confidence after collecting back to back defeats in their two latest games against Bordeaux in the Champions League and Cagliari on the domestic scene.

Pride, history, honor and bragging rights are only benefits of achieving the main goal this Saturday; to close down the gap to Inter. The Bianconeri will be hoping for their big turnaround to come in the most anticipated fixture of the season.

Possible starting XI (according to the Gazzetta): Buffon; Caceres, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Sissoko, Poulsen; Diego; Amauri, Del Piero

Inter Milan

Just like their rivals, Inter too had an impressive transfer market. The departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic had left a massive gap to be filled and it wasn’t until the late arrival of Wesley Sneijder that José Mourinho announced that his squad was finally complete.

Inter were no longer a one-man show, they were a team. And they would prove just how well off they were without Ibracadabra.

After getting off to a shaky start against newly promoted side Bari in the opening day of the season, the Nerazzurri soon went back to winning ways. Although the Beneamata haven’t showcased convincing performances at all times, they—unlike Juventus—have been able to collect the points nonetheless.

Inter boast with impressive statistics as well having scored the most number of goals, 33, and conceded the least, 11. On top of that, the team has lost only once this season—away to Sampdoria as Giampaolo Pazzini made the difference.

Despite Inter being the indisputable dominant force in the Italian top league, Mourinho, just like his Juventus counterpart, is feeling the pressure. Inter patron Massimo Moratti have made it crystal clear that the club’s main priorities lie in the Champions League—a tournament where the Milan outfit have thus far failed to impress.

There is no denying the prestige and rivalry surrounding this particular clash, but unlike their hosts, Mourinho’s men have a lot less riding on this game. For them it’s all about the reinforcing their position as the No. 1 force in the Italian top flight.

Possible starting XI (according to the Gazzetta): Cesar; Zanetti, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Thiago Motta, Cambiasso, Muntari; Stankovic; Eto’o, Milito

Leonardo Gamble Finally Paying Dividends for AC Milan?

Marzia Hazra — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:40:59 -0500

As Carlo Ancelotti confirmed, he was leaving AC Milan on May 31, after eight years on the Rossoneri bench, the club wasn’t late to announce his replacement, Leonardo.

At the time, the Brazilian—who had represented the Milan outfit in 96 games—worked as the club’s technical director, but was to take over the coaching duties from the season of 2009/2010.

The appointment of the 39-year old was questioned and on top of that the rookie coach was hardly given the ideal conditions to begin his work with as Paolo Maldini bowed out of the game and playmaker Ricardo Kaká was shipped away to the Spanish Capital.

How would he cope?

When Leonardo held his first press conference as official Milan coach and talked about how he wanted the team to play entertaining, offensive minded football, many shook their heads—not out disbelieve, but out of pity. He was talking, but would he be able to deliver the goods with his lack of experience and what he had to work with?

A non-existent mercato followed by a disastrous preseason—also dubbed the Milan-slaughter—only confirmed what most thought they knew. The Diavoli were headed for a tough season.

Despite all the hesitations and questions surrounding Leonardo’s coaching abilities, Milan went on to collect an inspiring victory against Siena in the opening day of the season.

However, the success was to be very short-lived as league champions Inter Milan completely humiliated their city rivals the following week by a 4-0 scoreline against a Milan side that looked completely devoid of ideas. The team lacked pace, creativity and most of all—the right kind of attitude and determination.

The derby loss was followed up by a set of mixed results and at one point the club was hovering in the second half of the league table—an absolute disgrace for a club of Milan’s high standings.

It didn’t take long for media and supporters to demand a replacement.

Then came the turnaround.

Milan was displaying a new 4-4-2 system as they played hosts to AS Roma in week eight. As Ignazio Abate was forced out with an injury, the coach had to make some rearrangements and switched back to his beloved 4-3-3 as his side ultimately turned the score to win by 2-1.

The Rossoneri then went on to collect an impressive four points out of their double fixture with Spanish giants, Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages.

Things are looking bright on the domestic front as the team has now recorded six victories and two draws in the eight latest outings and on top of that passed Juventus in the standings. Leonardo’s men are currently resting comfortably in second place—seven points after league leaders Inter.

As the two mentioned above face off this Saturday, Milan could even come to reduce the deficit to the top spot and their cross town rivals.

After being completely written off, the Rossoneri are suddenly very much back in the title race.

Leonardo is slowly learning the tricks of the trade, and although he has an extremely long road to walk, things finally seems to be headed down the right path for the rookie coach and his team.

The Brazilian has been able to convey his ideas and implement them on his team which has finally started to gel and are showcasing a new-found confidence.

Although the game has been far from entertaining at times, the team is still picking up the points and hasn’t lost a game since their 1-0 defeat to Udinese in week five.

Although it’s too early to tell, it looks like Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani’s gamble might pay off after all.

CL Preview: Barcelona Host Inter Milan in Decisive Qualification Clash

Marzia Hazra — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:57:30 -0500

As Barcelona and Inter Milan were drawn alongside Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kyiv, few expected any form of tussle on the road to qualification for the European powerhouses. But as we head into the fifth matchday of the Champions League group stages that have hardly been the case.

The situation in Group F is a delicate one where all four contenders are very much in the competition to the knock out stages. Inter are currently topping the group with six points closely followed by both Barcelona and Rubin at five each with Dynamo resting at the bottom with four.

Ahead of this season’s edition of the best club competition in the world, the main buzz was about whether or not the reigning European Champions, Barcelona, would be able to do what none before them had achieved before: winning the big-eared trophy twice on the trot.

Looking at the situation the current cup holders are on the brink of an early elimination – unless they collect three vital points at home as they host José Mourinho’s men on Tuesday evening’s high profile clash. It may have been about prestige in the first encounter between these two sides, but this time around it’s about pure survival.

Barcelona

The treble-champions of last season haven’t quite lived up to the standards of last year. The Catalans have struggled in both domestically as well as the Champions League. Just this week Pep Guardiola’s men lost the top spot to bitter rivals Real Madrid after a disappointing 1-1 draw on the road to Athletic Bilbao.

In the first matchday of the group stages, Barcelona was pinned against Italian Champions Inter. Although they had a massive overtake in ball possession they lacked the efficiency to carve out those vital goals.

Barcelona went on to play well below par in their following home game against a stubborn Dynamo-side but Lionel Messi and Pedro each bagged a goal on either side of the interval to collect their first Champions League victory of the season.

The Catalans then sensationally walked away from a total of zero points in their double fixture with Rubin. Barca shockingly lost at home to the Russians who closed down the spaces efficiently and went on lightning counters to secure three very unexpected points. In the return clash in Russia the home side managed to play out goalless draw after a very disciplined defensive display. Barcelona were suddenly in deep trouble.

Unlike Mourinho, Guardiola’s squad is marred by absentees. Both Yaya Touré and Eric Abical have picked up the H1N1 virus with Rafael Marquez suffering from a different bug. Dmytro Chygrynskiy is ineligible but according to the latest reports both Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic should be fit for fight – but whether or not the duo plays is another side of the story.

Guardiola’s men now lie in a very tight spot where anything but a win would all but eliminate the Spanish champions out of the Champions League tournament. On top of that the all important El Clasico waits just around the corner.

Probable Starting XI: (4-3-3) Valdes; Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell; Busquets, Keita, Xavi; Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Henry

Inter Milan

While Inter have struggled in the Champions League, the same cannot be said for their domestic displays. José Mourinho’s men are currently topping the Serie A table with a five point lead to second place Juventus.

In the opening day round against Pep Guardiola’s men, Inter had to rely heavily on their defensive play and despite a major overtake in ball possession, the Catalan were unable to break through – ending the game in a goalless stalemate.

The following away draw against Rubin Kazan has to be considered somewhat lucky considering how many chances the Russians squandered while they more or less dictated the game from beginning to end.

The same goes for the first of two consecutive clashes with Dynamo as the home team fell behind twice before they were able to draw level against their Hungarian opponents. In the return fixture in Ukraine’s, Inter once again fell behind but completed an impressive comeback in the closing stages of the game as they overturned the 1-0 deficit to a lucky 2-1 victory

There is no way to deny that Inter possess enough quality and depth to go far in this season’s edition of the Champions League, but unless they can rid themselves of the mental block that is currently preventing them from bringing their free-flowing attack minded domestic play – which by the way simply oozes of confidence – out on to the European scene, they can’t expect things to go their way quite yet.

Considering that Wesley Sneijder – who suffered a thigh injury during the international break – is included in the squad, the only absentee is full back Davide Santon who’s recovering from a knee operation. In other words, the Portuguese tactician virtually has the entire squad at his disposal ahead of the important clash.

If Inter walks away with a victory they secure qualification into the next round independent on the outcome of Dynamo’s away game to Rubin earlier in the evening. It is going to be a special night for Samuel Eto’o who spent five incredibly successful seasons at the Catalan club before being shipped off to the fashion capital. The Cameroon has respectably vowed not to celebrate should he score against his former side at the Camp Nou.

Probable Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso; Sneijder; Eto'o, Milito

Gianluigi Buffon: Celebrating Gigi's 100th Cap for Italy

Marzia Hazra — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:44:48 -0500

On October 14th 2009, Gianluigi Buffon won his 100th cap for La Nazionale. The Italy No.1 – also fondly dubbed ‘Superman’ by the supporters due to his Superman t-shirts and sometimes gravity-defying saves – has guarded the posts for well over a decade and along the way has grown into one of the greatest – if not the greatest – goalkeepers the world has ever seen.

On an October night some 12 years ago, a 19-year old Buffon made his Azzurri debut as he came on for the injured Gianluca Pagliuca. It wasn’t the easiest of games considering the freezing Moscow night as Italy played Russia in the play-off to the 1998 World Cup in France.

“I must say I would’ve aspired for an easier debut! We were in a World Cup play-off, plus the weather did not help us. I had said it was the one game I wouldn’t want to play in and I had to!”

It might come as a surprise, but the shotstopper actually started out as a midfielder. "I enjoyed it. I scored lots of goals, and when a kid gets lots of goals it's the nicest thing in the world. Then you grow up, become stupid and become a goalkeeper, right?"

While the rest of Italy watched in dismay as La Nazionale lost to Argentina in the semi-finals in the 1990 World Cup, a 12-year old Buffon had already seen his personal hero being knocked out in the quarter finals. Cameroon goalkeeper Thomas N’Kono had won over little Gigi’s heart.

“I was a big fan of Cameroon. N'Kono was their symbolic, totemic player. I experienced this lightning strike, if you like. I decided to give it at least a year at being a goalkeeper. I went in goal when playing with friends, and did quite well. After that, I always stayed in goal."

A year later Ermes Fulgoni snatched the young talent right in front of AC Milan and made sure he ended up at Parma. Two years later, the veteran goalkeeper trainer went on to tell the then 15-year old gangly teenager that he would play for the Azzurri before the age of 20.

Having no issues with confidence the youngster simply replied by; "What am I supposed to do until then?"

Buffon may be eccentric at times but that quality combined with his charisma and outspokenness only tends to make people even fonder of him.

It’s not unusual to see the goalkeeper pacing impatiently around the half line and making conversation with other players while on the pitch. Buffon is simply one of those few players who are appreciated by all supporters, no matter where their club loyalties lie.

In 2001 Juventus paid a record fee of £34 millions to secure the services of Buffon – making him the most expensive goalkeeper in history.

Dino Zoff, Stefano Tacconioch Angelo Peruzzi were some of his predecessors at his new club, but that was never going to be an issue. Neither would the record breaking fee.

"To tell you the truth, it's never bothered me. I'm proud of it. If they hadn't taken me, another would have paid the same figure."

The undisputed number one has since then paid and re-paid the fee many times over with his brilliant rise to the top. Buffon has been extremely consistent and despite his stature, his quick reflexes, agility and vision is second to none.

On top of that the gangly keeper always adds another level of calm and confidence to the team with his sheer presence on the pitch.

Some of Gigi’s best performances came during the 2002/2003 Champions League. Despite saving no less than two penalties in the shoot-out to Milan, Juventus walked away as runners-up.

However, the absolute peak of his career came when as Italy won the 2006 World Cup with the goalkeeper as one of the protagonist considering that he only conceded a single goal through the entire course of the tournament – an own goal at that.

As the nation celebrated the World Cup triumph, the players at Juventus were contemplating what to do next as the Calciopoli scandal was taking its course.

As several of the players jumped ship, Buffon along with Alessandro Del Piero, Pavel Nedved, Mauro Camoranesi and David Trezeguet decided to remain behind – making them undisputed heroes in the eyes of the Bianconeri faithful along the way.

“Serie B is a championship that I have never won. I always strive towards happiness. I chose to stay with Juve in Serie B since I knew that it would make me happy to help the club in its time of difficulty.”

Ironically, the best goalkeeper in the world was suddenly playing in Italy’s second tier.

Since then Juventus have once again re-established themselves in the top with Buffon once again one of their key protagonists. However, they have yet to win a single title after their promotion back to Serie A.

Buffon has won almost everything and although he came tantalizingly close to winning it, there is still one important title evades him – the Champions League.

After spending much of the 2008/2009 season struggling with injuries, pundits were debating whether or not Buffon would be able to regain his position as the number one goalkeeper in the world.

Gigi beat the odds and is once more back to his legendary best. The shotstopper has been the decisive factor in many games this season and have saved the team single-handedly – sometimes literally – with some simply stunning saves while being one of his side’s most consistent players.

If his form for Juventus has been stunning thus far, it’s going to take a whole other level to define his form for the Azzurri where he practically defied gravity in the qualification games against Bulgaria and Georgia.

“I’m not doing anything special. It’s just that when you are coming off eight months of constant torture from injuries and suddenly you feel fine, it gives you back that joy and desire to play that before you didn’t have.”

Gigi reached a personal milestone by winning his 100th cap for Gli Azzurri this year. Will he be able to complete his trophy cabinet come next May before it’s once more time to take part in another World Cup?

Time will tell, but there’s no denying that Buffon might just be the greatest goalkeeper of all time.

Does Juventus Have What It Takes to Dethrone Inter Milan?

Marzia Hazra — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:56:25 -0500

The Calciopoli scandal dethroned Juventus as the dominating force of Italian football – and allowed Inter Milan to step out of the shadow and claim the top spot. Since then, the Nerazzurri have been the undisputed top club in the Peninsula.

As Juventus slowly picked up the pieces and re-established themselves in the top tier, only AS Roma provided any kind of resistance to the Nerazzurri, who went on to collect several consecutive league titles.

How long was Serie A doomed to remain under the domination of Inter?

The Milan outfit reinforced heavily during the summer, but despite names such as Thiago Motta, Diego Milito, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto’o and Lucio, Juventus still managed to land the most impressive signing in later years: Diego—the fantasista from Werder Bremen.

A record seven-point deficit separated Juventus from the reigning champions only 11 rounds into the campaign; but after last week’s performances, it has now been reduced to five points.

Juventus have displayed very mixed performances since Ciro Ferrara took charge. Honestly, the only consistent quality the team has showcased this season has, ironically, been their inconsistency.

However, things have started to look brighter after Ferrara’s 4-2-3-1 formation switch. With the exception of a shocking 3-2 home defeat to Napoli, the players are showing signs of improvement. The team usually enjoys a big chunk of the possession, and in spite of creating chances, they have lacked efficiency in front of the goal—until recently, that is. The 5-1 thrashing of Sampdoria closely followed by the 5-2 thumping of Atalanta brings a reassurance that things are indeed headed the right way.

The new system allows a more free-flowing and offensive-minded football. Gianluigi Buffon have performed some truly astonishing saves during the campaign and in front the Italy No. 1, the centre defense consisting of Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Cannavaro have rarely let down. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the fullbacks.

The €25 million summer signing, Felipe Melo, has been far from the dazzling dominating force he was during his last season with the Viola. The Brazilian has, however, shown glimpses of his previous good form and looks like he may be regaining some of his lost confidence. When in good shape, this Brazilian beast is simply unstoppable.

After fellow defensive midfielder Mohamed Sissoko made his highly anticipated comeback after seven months on the sidelines, he quickly cemented his position in the starting eleven—only to pick up yet another injury. The Mali international is a force to be reckoned with and with Melo at his side, the defensive duo form an impermeable partnership.

The players making up the offensive trident may be small in stature, but they’re unbeatable in vision and creativity. As expected, much of the distribution and build-up goes through Diego. After showing off some dazzling displays in the opening days of the season, it seemed like the pressure weighed on the pint-sized playmaker’s qualities. While the fantasista now seems to be returning to his brilliant self, he has yet to reach his true potential. A mouth-watering prospect, indeed.

With winger Mauro Camoranesi in extremely fine form and Sebastian Giovinco finally gaining some consistent time on the field, the trident undoubtedly form one of Serie A’s most impressive offenses. The link-up with the fullbacks has been smooth and their playmaking vision combined with precision crossing to the lone striker has resulted in an ever-increasing number of chances.

Striker Vincenzo Iaquinta looked mighty impressive before he was forced to go under the knife. Amauri’s goal drought is finally a thing of the past, and combined with David Trezeguet’s hysterical form, there is no shortage of competition to the forward positions.

But that’s not all.

Like last season, Juventus has been hampered by many absences. The international break couldn’t have come at a better time considering how the pileup of injuries. Fortunately, several potentially decisive comebacks are now just around the corner.

Add captain Alessandro Del Piero’s comeback and suddenly Ferrara has a very luxurious forward dilemma in his hands. The captain has been written on numerous occasions, only to come back stronger and better than before. Il capitano may have turned 35, but just like good Italian wine, he only seems to get better with time.

Aside from Del Piero, midfield maestro Claudio Marchisio will soon be at the disposal of Ferrara once more. The Turin native impressed greatly prior to his surgery lay-off and was one of the key reasons for the club’s high-flying start to the season. In addition, he’s soon to be accompanied by Sissoko.

December 5 is the first ‘Derby d’Italia’. Two Scudetto candidates will face off at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin as Italy’s most storied club hope to regain lost ground. Juventus may possess more class and technique than Inter Milan, but they also need to field the right kind of determination and will if they are to achieve their ambitions this season.

This is as close a chance Juventus will get to overtake their biggest rivals.

Alessandro Del Piero: Celebrating Il Capitano On His 35th Birthday

Marzia Hazra — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:01:05 -0500

In a world where loyalty means very little, Alessandro Del Piero have showcased just the opposite by staying true to the club closest to his heart for a sensational 16 seasons.

The captain, who today celebrates his 35th birthday, has grown to become one of the club’s greatest – if not the greatest – of all time. He doesn’t just represent Juventus, he is Juventus.

Del Piero has written many memorable pages of Juve’s history books over the years ever since his debut in 1993. Il Capitano has won no less than 16 titles with the Bianconeri and Italy. On top of that, he’s broken all sorts of previous records with his 262 goals and 604 appearances – honors most players can only dream about.

Anyone can be a hero during the successful times, but it’s when difficult moments arises that real heroes are separated from the rest. With his humble approach, Del Piero is one of those real heroes – especially considering that he’s always acted with the outmost of class and professionalism with whatever that has been thrown his way.

Such as the turbulent time during the Calciopoli scandal.

While several of his team mates demanded transfers, Del Piero spoke of his love for the club. As most of the team’s star players jumped ship, Del Piero along with Gigi Buffon, Pavel Nedved, Mauro Camoranesi and David Trezeguet remained behind and pledged to take Juventus back to the top once more.

“The Agnelli family deserves this, as do the fans and the new directors. Besides, a gentleman never deserts his lady,” Del Piero said.

The No.10 is probably one of the classiest players to ever have graced the field and with his gentleman manners both on and off the field he’s earned the respect of not only his own supporters, but that of the opposing sides as well.

Last season Juventus returned to the European scene after a two-year absence – with Il Capitano leading the way. Del Piero was once again back to his best as his sensational performances earned victories in the high-profile double fixture with Real Madrid. Such is the greatness of the talismanic player that he received standing ovations from the home crowd after downing the Spaniards in their own backyards. Only a handful of players have managed that feat while playing on the opposing side at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The captain has only featured a mere ten minutes this season due to a persistent injury, but is set to make his anticipated return after the international break. That the team has missed the presence of their leader on the pitch has been obvious on one too many occasions this season.

The versatile player, with his sensational vision and creativity, has been the one to take the team out of a tight spot many times, no matter if he scores the goals or produces them. The captain has always stepped out to take responsibility when needed and carried the team on his shoulders when the time has called for it.

There will always be those who claim that Del Piero is past his expiration date, but don’t let his age fool you. What he lacks in speed he makes up through other qualities. Just remember that both of his Capocannoniere titles came in the past three years.

There are only a few players that have spent their entire professional careers in one club. Even less has demonstrated the same kind of loyalty through the selfless acts which Del Piero has. He will always be more than a footballer to the Juventini faithful.

And when he retires, a legend in every sense of the word will remain.

But that’s not for another few years.

Happy birthday, Il Capitano.

AC Milan: Alive and Kicking Once More

Marzia Hazra — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:41:08 -0500

In his first press conference as AC Milan tactician, rookie coach Leonardo said that he wanted to see a Rossoneri that in its coming season would put the emphasis on playing entertaining, offensive-minded football.

We all know what happened from there.

The circumstances were anything but ideal. The close to zero activity in the player mercato combined with the lack of real training resulted in a disastrous preseason. On top of that, Leonardo missed the key components to his preferred 4-3-3 system—high quality fullbacks.

The bright start against Siena on the opening matchday was followed by the 4-0 onslaught at the hands of their city rivals, Inter Milan. As the Diavolo followed up with more mediocre performances and goalless stalemates against teams such as newcomers Livorno and Bari, it naturally resulted in the papers calling Leonardo’s future into question.

The Brazilian was, however, not the only one to be torn into pieces as both the media and the club’s supporters questioned many of the players’ commitment and attitude on the pitch. Only a select few were lucky enough to evade the criticism that was directed towards the team.

The team was having a hard time scoring the goals despite creating a magnitude of chances. In the defense, it was mainly down to the heroics courtesy of a rejuvenated Alessandro Nesta and second goalkeeper Marco Storari that kept sparing the Diavolo from blushes.

Twelfth place in the domestic league and a shocking defeat to FC Zürich in the Champions League wasn’t simply acceptable for a club of Milan’s standings.

Then came the turnaround.

In week eight, Milan welcomed AS Roma to the San Siro after a string of disappointing performances. Despite going down early due to Jeremy Menez, Milan completed a comeback in the second half as Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato lead the way. There was, however, some controversy surrounding the result considering some very dubious refereeing decisions.

The win gave the Rossoneri side a much needed morale boost as they travelled to the Santiago Bernabeu to clash swords with Real Madrid. As expected, Leonardo’s men headed into the interval with a deficit, 1-0. There were few who believed they could equalize, much less turn the score.

However, that was exactly what happened. Andrea Pirlo created a goal out of nowhere and invited his side back into the game. Due some exceptional play and the superb vision of Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf, Pato was able to bag a brace as Milan collected an unexpected victory which made them joint leaders in group C.

Next in the league, Milan came from behind to heap misery on Chievo, courtesy of a Nesta brace in the final stages of the game. The Rossoneri followed up with a dramatic draw against Napoli in midweek and went on to secure another victory against Parma thanks to Marco Borriello’s spectacular brace.

Soon, it was time for the return fixture against Real Madrid. The Spaniards came out with guns blazing at the San Siro, but after the explosive start by the visitors, Milan gradually took over and was able to play out an entertaining draw.

In the past couple of weeks, the Diavolo have showcased that the players described as “past their expiration date” still have much more to give to the team. You can’t take away class and lately, Milan has showcased that they still have plenty of it in their ranks. Despite lacking the obvious depth unlike some of their competitors, the team is still very much alive and kicking.

Out of favor Dida is performing miracles on a weekly basis. Nesta is probably the best centre back in the world at the moment and with Thiago Silva by his side, the duo creates one of the league’s most impressive center defenses.

The midfield is showing both heart and vision.

Ronaldinho can be downright stunning at times and Pato’s goal drought seems to be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the same things can’t be said for the full-backs which continue to be disappointing—but when the entire team raises its performances, the flaws are not quite as distinct.

A disturbing fact is, however, how the Rossoneri have stayed true to their bizarre inability to start games properly. Coming back from behind has been somewhat of a specialty for Leonardo’s men lately and perhaps that works as motivational factor, but inviting the opponents into the game is a habit that the team must break as soon as possible.

While it, at times, has looked like the team is completely devoid of ideas and even seems downright unable to get out a sticky situation, the team still possesses enough quality players who with their individual brilliance can save the day. The struggle against inconsistency continues, but the players are slowly finding it and being decisive once more.

Despite the mixed displays of form, Milan still sits at a decent fourth place with nine points currently separating them from the top. On top of that, the Rossoneri top their Champions League group with a superior head to head record to Real Madrid who are also tied on seven points.

History has repeatedly showcased that the Rossoneri never are to be written off. Evidently this time is no exception.

AC Milan-Real Madrid: All's Square as Two Powerhouses Share Spoils

Marzia Hazra — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:49:44 -0500

Expectations were sky-high as two of Europe’s powerhouses, AC Milan and Real Madrid, clashed swords for the second time within in a fortnight. Since the Italians won the first encounter by a 3-2 scoreline after a highly entertaining fixture, the pressure was on Manuel Pellegrini’s side to come up with the goods.

For obvious reasons a lot of the hype surrounding the match was centered on Ricardo Kaká, who returned to his former ground to face his old crowd for the first time since his summer switch to the Spanish capital.

After the weekend’s performance Pellegrini opted to go with match-winner Gonzalo Higuain up front along with Karim Benzema. Leonardo countered with the same, as Marco Borriello’s brace against Parma earned him a starting shirt next to Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho in the trident attack.

First Half

The crowd was in full voice right from the get-go as it welcomed back former fan favorite Kaká. The game got off to a somewhat slow start as the teams built on possession. The home side took the early initiatives but the visiting side soon started to dictate the game in a confident manner.

Despite its recent crisis, Real pushed high up the field and fired off all the early warning shots. The home side was forced to rely on its defense, and luckily for Milan, goalkeeper Dida, who has showcased brilliant form since the last encounter between these two teams, was up to the task as he parried shots from Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain with ease.

On 20 minutes Benzema had the first real chance of the match, picking up Lassana Diarra’s pass just inside the area and rounding Alessandro Nesta before firing off a shot that whizzed just inches from the bottom right corner.

A few minutes later it was Milan’s turn to try its fortunes, and Clarence Seedorf went on a promising counter, feeding a through ball to Alexandre Pato on his right. The young Brazilian made a complete mockery of Alvaro Albeloa as Iker Casillas came off his line to cut off the angle for the forward.

Real had been nosing around and thirty minutes into the game Benzema finally broke the deadlock. Lass intercepted the ball in the middle of the park and headed it to Marcelo who passed it on to an onrushing Kaká. The midfield maestro then slalomed his way past three defenders before firing from 30 yards. Dida was unable to hold onto the ball, which trickled to the feet of Benzema, who coolly fired it in behind the Brazilian keeper, putting Real up 1-0.

On 34 minutes the home side was awarded a penalty after the ball accidentally touched on Pepe’s arm in a duel with Gianluca Zambrotta. There were heavy protests from the visitors but referee Felix Brych stood by his decision.

Ronaldinho stepped up to the take the spot kick and smashed the ball into the top corner to the wild joy of the home crowd, tying the game 1-1.

In the following minute Pato found the back of the net but looked on distraught as the referee controversially disallowed the goal. The reason for the decision is unclear considering there was very little to no contact between the forward and his marker Albeloa in the preceding moment. Either way, the teams went into the interval with all squares.

Second Half

Real continued to have most of the possession in the early stages of the second half and launched many counterattacks through Marcelo, who simply revelled in his new offensive role on the flank.

On 55 minutes a brilliant Ronaldinho found Pato with a long ball but the latter received the first booking of the evening as he accidentally controlled it with his arm.

By this time, the tempo had slowed down remarkably, which forced the visitors to repeatedly try their luck from distance while the home side tried to capitalize from the many set pieces.

On the hour mark, Marcelo gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area as he brought down Zambrotta and received a yellow card for his troubles. Andrea Pirlo stepped over the ball and swung it beautifully into the area where Massimo Ambrosini unfortunately headed it wide.

Kaká, who was the main offensive force for Pellegrini’s men, was shown no mercy by his former teammates who fouled him repeatedly. The home side was growing in confidence and showed it off as the evening's two brilliant players, Ronaldinho and Seedorf, showed off some fancy footwork, arousing applause from the crowd.

It wasn’t until the introduction of Raúl and Filippo Inzaghi in the latter stages that the game picked up in pace. The Milan veteran was given a golden opportunity to grab the winner towards the end as Pato’s lovely cross flew across the face of goal to a completely unmarked Inzaghi, who, very uncharacteristically, wasn’t able to control the ball in front of a wide open goal.

In the final minutes of the game Dida was called into action once more as he parried Marcelo’s long range effort and shortly after denied Raúl with some wonderful reflexes to keep his side in the game.

After the final whistle the 76,000 Milan fans applauded a visibly emotional Kaká, who thanked his former crowd for the warm reception.

AC Milan 1, Real Madrid 1

0-1 (29) Benzema, 1-1 (34) Ronaldinho (penalty)

Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Seedorf, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Pato, Borriello (Inzaghi 79), Ronaldinho

Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Pepe, Arbeloa; Xabi Alonso, L Diarra; Kaka, Benzema (Van Nistelrooy 82), Marcelo; Higuain (Raul 74)

Ref: Felix Brych (Ger)

CL Preview: Can AC Milan Make It a Double Against Real Madrid?

Marzia Hazra — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:01:32 -0500

Real Madrid and AC Milan crossed swords only a fortnight ago, as the latter walked off the pitch with a 3-2 victory as a Alexandre Pato brace gave the Italians a shocking win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

On Tuesday night, these two powerhouses will once again lace boots of war for the return fixture as they prepare for battle at the mighty San Siro. The home side will be hoping to make it a double while the away side will be fighting to restore their honor.

Expect an emotional encounter for former Rossoneri maestro, Ricardo Kaká, who returns to the ground that served as his second home for six long years. Considering the circumstances around which he was sold to Real Madrid, there’s no doubt that the Brazilian playmaker will get a standing ovation as he faces his old crowd for the first time since his summer switch to the Spanish capital.

Expect this mouth-watering ‘Derby d’Europa’ to be an unforgettable affair.

Ready. Set. Game.

AC Milan

Ahead of matchday four, Milan is proudly sitting atop group C with six points to their name and a superior goal record to their Tuesday night opponents, Real Madrid.

After going through a rough patch in their domestic play, Leonardo’s men managed an impressive 2-1 win against Marseille in their opening Champions League game after Pippo Inzaghi scored on each side of the interval to make it a 2-1 scoreline in favor of the visitors.

Milan followed up by a disappointing—and surprising—defeat to Swiss outfit FC Zürich on the second matchday. However, their fortunes were to turn as they entered into the third group stage game against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital.

After going into the interval with a 1-0 deficit after a classic Didá howler, there were few who believed that the Rossoneri were going to be able to turn the score. However, Andrea Pirlo created a goal out of nothing and provided his side a way back into the game.

Alexandre Pato slotted home the following minutes after but watched as Royston Drenthe equalized for the home side shortly after. The drama wasn’t over and in the closing stages of the clash the young Brazilian hitman completed his brace as he struck 3-2 behind Iker Casillas.

The victory against Real confirmed the Milan outfit’s turnaround as things have been looking rather bright on the domestic front as well. Seven points in three games has resulted in the team finally being within touching distance to the top as they now sit on fourth place in Serie A.

Goalkeeper Marco Storari and centre back Alessandro Nesta have undoubtedly been the brightest players for the Rossoneri this season, but it now it finally seems like the entire team has woken up. On top of that, Leonardo’s finally gotten some much needed breathing space after the intense start to the campaign.

In the absence of the injured Storari even Didá has managed to find good form as he’s delivered miracles on a weekly basis lately. Ronaldinho can be downright brilliant at times and Pato’s goal drought seems to be a thing of the past.

At the moment, things are undoubtedly looking good for Milan, but staying grounded and keeping their focus for a full 90 minutes will be vital against a Real that has struggled as of lately—the ones put up against the wall tend to be the most trickiest to handle.

Probable starting XI: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho, Inzaghi

Real Madrid

While starting well on the domestic front, Real also got off to their Champions League adventure in fashion as they recorded two victories on the trot by trashing FC Zürich on the road with an impressive 5-2 scoreline—which Los Merengues then followed up with a 3-0 win against Marseille at the Bernabeu.

Real went into the clash—without a certain Cristiano Ronaldo on the stands due to injury—with AC Milan on matchday three as clear favorites as two of most storied clubs in Europe clashed. Despite being up 1-0 at the interval, the home side wasn’t able to maintain the Rossoneri who capitalized on the many defensive errors made by Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

It was clear that the team was heading into a crisis of some degree as they followed up the defeat with a goalless draw against Sporting Gijon the following weekend...

The team has only a few short weeks into the new season been labeled with ‘Cristiano-Dependencia’, and considering how the team’s form has dipped in the Portuguese winger’s absence, it’s easy to understand why this has highlighted even further what the team’s weaknesses are.

If the defeat against Milan didn’t make it clear as to what the team’s weaknesses, then the 4-0 defeat to third division side Alcorcon certainly did. The defense continues to be Los Merengues’ main issue of concern but another compelling notion was the lack of interest from the players themselves.

The embarrassing defeat even prompted sporting director Jorge Valdano and Pellegrini to make an official apology to the supporters as they had no other choice than to accept the humiliating defeat.

Despite the poor results as of lately, the team will go into Tuesday’s clash with a bit of confidence considering that Pellegrini’s shake-up in formation and player positioning during the weekend seemed to go down well with the team’s performance as they beat Getafe in the ‘little Madrid derby’ with a 2-0 scoreline as Gonzalo Higuain bagged a brace.

The media and fans have been far from easy on Pellegrini this season as they continue to refuse what the team is in need of right now; time. But then again, a team like Real Madrid isn’t given the time to adjust to things such as summer arrivals as or a new coach. Galactico 2.0 needs to win every week – and they need to do it in style. To say that the pressure on Pellegrini has been high lately is probably an understatement.

Due to obvious reasons, Ricardo Kaká will undoubtedly be the main focal point of the evening.

The Brazilian looked solid during the first half against Getafe, but question remains whether or not the midfield maestro will be able to put his emotional ties aside as he returns to his former home ground to face his old crowd for the first time since his high-profile move away from the San Siro.

Will the professional be able to keep it professional?

Probable starting XI: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; L Diarra, Xabi Alonso; Kakà, Raul, Granero; Benzema

Alexandre Pato Bags a Brace As AC Milan Downs Real At the Bernabeu

Marzia Hazra — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:02:06 -0400

The fixture between Real Madrid and AC Milan was one of the most anticipated clashed since the group stage draw. It was the game where Ricardo Kaká would come up against his old team mates for the first time since his high-profile summer switch to the Spanish capital.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side had won all of their games in all competition ahead of tonight’s big clash with the exception of a sole defeat to title contenders Sevilla in the league. Confidence was running high amongst Los Merengues after the weekend’s 4-2 thrashing of Valladolid despite them missing one of their key-players in Cristiano Ronaldo through injury.

The visitors had started the league in a disappointing fashion under the guidance of rookie coach Leonardo and shockingly fell to a defeat to Swiss outfit FC Zürich on the second matchday at the San Siro. The Rossoneri received a much needed morale boost ahead of their away trip to the Bernabeu as they managed to overturn a 0-1 deficit to a 2-1 victory against AS Roma during the weekend.

Around 80,000 spectators greeted the two teams as they entered the field. The main character of the evening, Kaká, received lots of hugs and smiles from his old teammates in seconds preceding the game but would have to brush aside his emotions as the players took to their positions.

The expectations were high as two of Europe’s most storied sides prepared to battle it out on the stadium of the 2010 Champions League final—and what a game we were in for.

First Half

After a balanced opening few minutes the home side was beginning to take over the proceedings at the Bernabeu. On 14 minutes the Real-players were furious as Gianluca Zambrotta’s challenge brought down Karim Benzema inside the area, but luckily for the visitors the referee awarded a goal-kick despite the full back’s lack of contact with the ball.

Minutes later Raúl—who scored twice on his 711th appearance in the Real-shirt during the weekend—put the home side one up after Didá showcased just why he’s Milan’s third choice goalkeeper this season. The Brazilian shotstopper was unable to hold onto Granero’s effort and accidentally dropped the ball and with his knee passed it to an onrushing Raúl who simply rounded the keeper and slotted in 1-0 to into the back of the net.

Ronaldinho was looking lively down the left but Sergio Ramos did a good—albeit somewhat too rough—job in keeping the Brazilian under check. On top of that Alexandre Pato was helping out the midfield on several occasions—leaving Filippo Inzaghi extremely isolated up front.

The visiting side had difficulties getting out of their own half at times and all their players behind the ball—going on the counter when given the opportunity. Although Leonardo’s men did an admirable job in the defense, they were having great difficulties stringing passes together in the final third.

As the first half entered into its closing the stages the players were clearly showcasing fatigue after the intensive first 45 minutes. Marcelo had one last effort at goal from distance before the interval, but this time Dida was able to punch away the danger with the minimum of fuss.

Second Half

The Milan players were looking focused as they entered the pitch after the half time break as Leonardo opted to wait with the substitutions. The Rossoneri were clearly looking for the equalizer and at times even played with four strikers as they poured forwards in numbers.

Despite the visitors efforts it was the home side that was edging closer to adding a second as both Raúl and Kaká tried their fortune from various distances—lucky for Milan, Dida was up to the challenge.

Milan were running out of ideas, but on 63 minutes Andrea Pirlo created a goal from completely nothing as his piledriver from 35 yards found its way into the back of the net and silenced the Bernabeu-faithful.

Just two minutes later it was Pato’s turn to get on the scoresheet. The young Brazilian scored a goal that was a mirror image from his winner against Roma as Massimo Ambrosini played a glorious long ball to the forward who went on to outrun two defenders, skip past Casillas and put 2-1 into the empty net—scoring his first ever Champions League goal.

The travelling supporters were singing in full voice. Milan were looking sharp after overturning the deficit in the space of two minutes and immediately set out to add a third. Clarence Seedorf came close on a few occasions but squandered the opportunities as he lacked the distinction in the final shot.

The drama was, however, far from over. With 15 minutes to go Raúl’s corner kick reached an unmarked Royston Drenthe who unleashed a daisycutter that wound its way through several pair of legs before it went into the net behind Dida.

On 84 minutes the Brazilian shotstopper failed to clear Kaká’s shot on which the rebound ended up at the feet of the Real captain. The ball was saved on the goalline by Nesta but by that time the linesman had already flagged for offside.

Two minutes later Thiago Silva thought he had scored the winner on a Milan corner, but the referee dismissed the goal due to scuffles in the box preceding the header. In the following seconds all hell broke loose as furious players from both sides started shoving each other in the midst of some heated arguments.

Milan was to get their winner the following minute as Seedorf looked up and lifted the ball to an onrushing and unmarked Pato who added his second for the evening on a fine volley. Casillas was rooted to the spot and could only watch as the Rossoneri players celebrated like crazy while Leonardo lifted his fist to the sky.

The following minutes were played out in slow fashion as Milan held onto the ball in order to let the minutes tick by. The joy knew no limit as the referee blew the final whistle.

The win against Real Madrid could very well mark the turnaround for the Rossoneri—just like it did for Juventus last season. The two sides now top group C on six points—making their encounter at the San Siro in a fortnight all the more important.

Real Madrid – Milan 2-3
1-0 (19) Raúl, 1-1 (63) Pirlo, 1-2 (65) Pato, 2-2 (75) Drenthe, 3-2 (87) Pato

Real Madrid : Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; L Diarra, Xabi Alonso; Kakà, Raul, Granero (Drenthe 68); Benzema

AC Milan : Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho (Flamini 91), Inzaghi (Borriello 60)

CL Preview: Real Madrid Host AC Milan at the Mighty Bernabeu

Marzia Hazra — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:11:17 -0400

Matchday three's most anticipated fixture is around the corner as AC Milan lace boots of war to take on Spanish giants Real Madrid at the mighty Santiago Bernabeu.

Real are topping the group with maximum points from both of their group stage outings whereas Milan surprisingly fell to a defeat against FC Zürich on the second matchday and now sit in third place considering the Swiss outfit’s superior goal tally.

A player who was at one time so brilliant now returns to the stage where he once received standing ovations from the opposing fans. Another who is hailed as one of the world’s current top players awaits an emotional reunion with his old teammates with whom he was forced to part ways earlier this year.

In other words, more than points will be at stake as two of Europe’s powerhouses prepare to battle it out at the stadium of the 2010 Champions League final.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid are proudly topping group C after two consecutive victories in their opening game's group stage fixtures. Los Merengues recorded an impressive 5-2 away victory against FC Zürich and followed up with a 3-0 home win against Marseille.

The Frenchmen were putting up a good fight at the Santiago Bernabeu but six magical minutes changed the outcome of the game as Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace with Kaká adding a third.

Most of the new arrivals have settled well into the team with Cristiano Ronaldo already scoring like possessed. Kaká, Xabi Alonso, and Karim Benzema are on their way but the latter has received much criticism due to his work-rate on the pitch which has thus far only resulted in three goals.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side has only lost this season as they succumbed to Sevilla at the Ramón Sanchez Pizjuán by a 2-1 scoreline. Although it has been their sole defeat this season, it did highlight the team’s problematic areas very clearly.

Real have scored 21 goals in nine outings and conceded only six along the way. However, don’t be fooled by the fancy numbers. The backline has been the main issue of concern for Los Merengues this season and the number of conceded goals would have been at least the double had it not been for Iker Casillas’ brilliant run of form.

The defenders have been horrible with marking their players which has naturally resulted in the set pieces having become the team’s biggest enemies.

On top of that the team has been labeled as Cristiano-dependant due to the Portuguese winger’s incredibly bright start to the season, but it is somewhat questionable considering it has been Casillas who’s been the most decisive player thus far. Either way, it’s a major blow for the home side to be missing their highest goalscorer ahead of such an important clash.

Although Real are welcoming a team that has been going through an early crisis, this game could very well turn out to be their turning point. Record-breaking captain Raúl who recorded his 711th appearance in the Real jersey last week is sure to be at his best per usual.

The same goes for former Milanstar Kaká who’s coming up against his beloved club for the first time since his summer switch to the Spanish capital. The pressure is one the home team to deliver—and they need to do it in style.

Probable starting XI: Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, L. Diarra; Kaka, Granero; Raul, Higuain

AC Milan

AC Milan is currently sitting in third place in group C—tied on points with FC Zürich but with an inferior goal record. After getting off to a high-flying start in their opening day 2-1 away win against French outfit Marseille courtesy of a Filippo Inzaghi brace, things didn’t go quite as smoothly in the second round.

The Rossoneri fell to a surprising defeat against Swiss side Zürich on matchday two after Hannu Tihinen scored the only goal in front of a shell-shocked San Siro crowd.

Rookie coach Leonardo has been under fire ever since the 4-0 derby defeat to city rival's Inter Milan, but received some much-needed breathing space after his side recorded a victory against AS Roma on Sunday evening as Brazilian duo Ronaldinho and Alexandro Pato paved the way.

The Milan tactician had switched his preferred 4-3-1-2 to a more compact 4-4-2 after reportedly sitting down with his players. One good result doesn’t, however, mean that all the problems are gone. The team has only scored eight goals in 10 outings this season and conceded 10 along the way.

Goalkeeper Marco Storari and centre-back Alessandro Nesta has without a doubt been the team’s most consistent players and revelations of some sort. The latter has come to form a strong central defense partnership alongside the newly arrived Brazilian, Thiago Silva. The same can, however not be said for wingbacks Gianluca Zambrotta and Massimo Oddo who have been quite disappointing thus far.

Andrea Pirlo continues to mix good with bad but the Brazilian duo up front consisting of Pato and Ronaldinho looks like they could be on to something promising. A few seasons ago the entire crowd at the Bernabeu gave Ronnie a standing ovation as he toyed around with Los Blancos. The playmaker certainly showed that he still has the magic touch, but the question is; can he deliver it on a more consistent basis?

The win against Roma certainly acts as a much-needed morale boost, but Leonardo’s men need to be wary when they enter the pitch on Wednesday evening.

Probable starting XI: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Abate, Pirlo, Flamini, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho and Pato Down AS Roma at the San Siro

Marzia Hazra — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:59:31 -0400

AC Milan hadn’t managed a win for over a month and the pressure on the team (and coach Leonardo in particular) were building up as they played hosts to AS Roma on Sunday night.

The Brazilian tactician has been in the hot seat ever since the humiliating 4-0 derby defeat to city rivals Inter Milan and has been living on borrowed time since then.

Roma had experienced an upsurge since Claudia Ranieri took over the post after Luciano Spalletti. The Giallorossi were undefeated under the Tinkerman as they travelled to the San Siro for one of week eight’s most high-profile clashes.

However, the visitors received a major blow ahead of the game as prolific striker Francesco Totti failed to make the trip to Milan.

First half

An inspiring Roma broke the deadlock only three minutes into the game in front of an half-empty San Siro. Jeremy Menez collected a sloppy back pass and skipped past his marker to put the ball away behind Dida in the Milan goal and silenced the scattered crowd around the stadium.

The Frenchman followed up shortly with another shot but saw his effort saved with the minimum of fuss by the Brazilian keeper.

While Roma were showcasing the same kind of confidence that had taken them from rock bottom to eight place in the table, Milan were looking shell-shocked from having conceded such an early goal.

The home side was slowly growing into the game and after 15 minutes of play, Leonardo’s men were awarded a free kick in Roma’s half after Marco Cassetti fouled Alexandro Pato. Andrea Pirlo’s ensuing delivery was, however, dealt with comfortably by Doni in the Roma goal.

Ten minutes later the visitors should have been awarded a penalty as Thiago Silva clearly tugged on Menez’s shirt as the Frenchman made his way towards the six-yard box, where he only managed a weak shot as he tried to stay on his feet and saw his effort hit the side nettings.

Milan were enjoying a lion’s share of possession around the half hour mark but failed to maintain in the final third. The Rossoneri were piling up the pressure but failed to create anything of distinctive nature.

In any case, the visitors defended admirably and also created most of the dangers as they looked threatening each time they went on the counter.

Shortly after midfield, warrior Daniele De Rossi missed a glorious opportunity to extend his side’s lead as his long-range effort was tipped just wide of the far post by Dida.

On 38 minutes, Mirko Vucinic should have scored after being played through beautifully by Menez. The Montenegrin managed to skip between two defenders but took too long before shooting straight at Dida.

Instead, Milan had a golden opportunity as they went on the counter, but Clarence Seedorf’s shot was knocked into the post by Doni and the ball fell to Massimo Ambrosini who somehow managed to shoot high over the crossbar from close range.

Second half

After the interval, Leonardo opted to take out Ignazio Abate and introduce Filippo Inzaghi in his place. The home side was extremely close to canceling out Roma’s lead only two minutes into the second half, as the poacher’s header on a Andrea Pirlo corner kick was cleared off the line by Claudio Pizarro.

Milan was handed a dubious penalty around the hour mark as Nicolas Burdisso made a harsh challenge on Alessandro Nesta, but replays clearly shows that the Argentine won the ball. Despite going the right way, Doni could do nothing to stop Ronaldinho’s well placed spot kick and suddenly all was square.

As Roma were going on the counter 10 minutes later, Rodrigo Taddei read an upcoming challenge from Ambrosini and simply stepped aside to avoid the sliding tackle.

Despite zero contact, the home side was awarded a free kick from Rosetti to the amazement of the winger.

The ensuing free kick was received by Ronaldinho, who skipped past three defenders and passed a glorious ball to Pato who chested the ball down before running past John-Arne Riise, rounding Doni and finally slotting in 2-1 into the back of the net.

Ranieri made a double switch with 20 minutes to go by taking off a disappointing Vucinic and Taddei for Stefano Okaka and Stefano Guberti. The Tinkerman then followed up minutes later with his third and final switch for the night by introducing Julio Baptista for the injured Menez.

De Rossi had a golden chance to score the equalizer 15 minutes from time but blasted his close shot high over the crossbar. The visiting side was given new hope five minutes later as Ambrosini received his second booking of the evening and left the Rossoneri down to ten men.

Despite the opponents being one man down the Giallorossi failed to capitalize from the numerical advantage and collected their first defeat under Ranieri.

The Rossoneri, on the other hand, recorded a much-needed victory (and morale boost )– ahead of their important upcoming midweek Champions League clash against Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

AC Milan – AS Roma 2-1

0-1 (3) Menez, 1-1 (56) Ronaldinho (penalty), 2-1 (67) Pato

AC Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Abate (Inzaghi 46), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho (Flamini 83)

AS Roma: Doni; Cassetti, Mexes, Burdisso, Riise; Taddei (Guberti 71), De Rossi, Pizarro, Perrotta; Menez (Julio Baptista 75), Vucinic (Okaka 72)

Sent off: Ambrosini (81), Milan

Referee: Rosetti

Serie A Preview: Last Chance for Leonardo as AC Milan Hosts AS Roma?

Marzia Hazra — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:11:05 -0400

With the international break finally drawing to a close, two of Serie A’s biggest clubs gear up to battle it out at the mighty San Siro. AC Milan host AS Roma in one of round eight’s most anticipated clashes and considering the disappointing result over the weeks, much more than points will be on stake on Saturday.

Leonardo is in the hot seat after the club’s poor start to the campaign. The Brazilian’s men have only collected nine points in seven outings and currently sit on an unacceptable 12th place in the table.

Things are looking better at Roma who, after opening with two straight defeats, finally have broken into the top ten and remain unbeaten after Claudio Ranieri took over the reins.

Based on the latest encounters between the two, the numbers are in for the visiting side who have won on all three of their latest travels to the San Siro.

AC Milan

The international break came very timely for Milan who fell to their second consecutive draw against Atalanta two weeks ago. Despite playing against 10 men for most of the game, it wasn’t until the 83rd minute that Ronaldinho managed to level the score and spare the team from blushes.

Four days before the clash against Atalanta, the Rossoneri shockingly fell to a defeat to Swiss outfit FC Zürich in their own backyard in the second matchday of the Champions League.

Confidence is low and Leonardo is under heavy pressure after collecting a mere nine points in seven games—meaning that his future at the club could very well come to depend on the outcome of Sunday night’s important fixture.

According to reports from the Gazzetto dello Sport the Brazilian sat down with his players where the old guard supposedly convinced the tactician to switch the current 4-3-1-2 formation to a more solid 4-4-2 considering that the team has only scored four times and conceded almost the double.

On top of that, the team obviously lacks the components to successfully pull off the attacking minded formation.

Ronaldinho has once again been spotted out partying—this time in Paris. But the out of favour Brazilian has sworn to get back into form but it remains to be seen if Ronnie will be handed a starting shirt following his recent antics—but one has to bare his important equalizer against Atalanta in mind.

Possible starting XI according to the Gazzetta: Storari; Abate, Nesta, Kaladze, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Ronaldinho, Pato

AS Roma

After spending two weeks on the bottom of the table, Luciano Spalletti resigned and former Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri took over and quickly switched his predecessor’s 4-3-1-2 to his own preferred 4-4-2 system. Lupi remains unbeaten since the switch and sit on eighth place with 11 points to their name.

The Giallorossi recorded their third victory of the season before the international break as they defeated Napoli at home by a 2-1 scoreline. The visitors grabbed an early lead through Ezequiel Lavezzi, but two goals courtesy of Francesco Totti overturned the scoreline in favor of Roma as they walked away with all three points.

However, the victory proved costly for Ranieri’s men as Marco Motta, Julio Sergio, and Francesco Totti all picked up injuries during the course of the game. The latest reports indicate that Er Pupone have shaken off his knee problems and should be able to make the trip up north. Considering Totti’s recent revival his participation could prove to be determining.

Although Roma just like Inter Milan and Genoa have scored 14 goals they, like Napoli, have the worst defensive record with 13 goals conceded. The defense has been looking shaky ever since the start of the season, leading the Tinkerman to put Philippe Mexes on the bench in favour of Juan and Inter loan Nicolas Burdisso.

On the other hand, the players have adopted a never-say-die attitude over the past couple of weeks and whereas they would normally throw in the towel they have fought back on several occasions and grabbed important points along the way.

Possible starting XI according to the Gazzetta: Doni; Cassetti, Burdisso, Mexes, Riise; Taddei, Pizarro, De Rossi, Perrotta; Totti, Vucinic

SSC Napoli Going…Where?

Marzia Hazra — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:07:07 -0400

Despite a promising start to the season wherein Napoli even aspired to a Champions League spot, the Partenopei went on to plummet in the league table during the second half of the season and ultimately finish at a lowly 12th place.

Prior to the ongoing campaign, owner Aurelio De Laurentiis had set his sights on a top six finish. The movie mogul wanted to see a more disciplined squad as opposed to last season, wherein there was much speculation over whether or not the stars were too young to handle the pressure the fanatic city of Naples was putting on them.

In spite of Europe’s powerhouses trying to lure away stars such as Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Fabiano Santacroce, the club managed to hold on to their key-players—and add quite a few more.

Napoli had one of Serie A’s most impressive mercatos as they spent around £30 million in order to secure the services of Morgan De Sanctis, Hugo Campagnaro, Juan Zuñiga, Daniele Mannini, Luca Cigarini, and Fabio Quagliarella.

The expectations were high, but despite their impressive signings, their investments haven’t paid dividends.

Various injuries on the defenders have seen an incredibly shaky defense and along with Roma, the two clubs unflatteringly boast the highest number of conceded goals in Serie A.

While the rest of the squad has played below par, Marek Hamsik has, in particular, stood out and has by far been the brightest player in the Napoli side.

Newcomer Fabio Quagliarella hasn’t quite adapted to his new club and with Lavezzi, only recently rediscovering his goalscoring ability, the team only has nine goals to its name.

After seven games, the team has only collected a mere eight points and currently sits in 15th place.

The Partenopei have been defeated on every single one of their away trips—which, unfortunately, is nothing new considering the results from the former Gli Azzurri coach’s 11 games in charge from last season.

At one point, De Laurentiis even admitted to have made a mistake by firing the Donadoni’s predecessor, Edy Reja.

On Oct. 5^th—after much speculation—the club officially announced that Roberto Donadoni had been sacked and was to be replaced by Walter Mazzarri.

Two weeks previous to that, the respected sporting director Pierpaolo Marino left by mutual consent after having played a vital role in the club’s revival since he was responsible for bringing the unknown talents of Hamsik and Lavezzi, amongst others, to the club.

Riccardo Bigon has now been named the new sporting director.

The main question now would be is Mazzarri the right man for Napoli?

Mazzarri has five years of experience as a coach in Italy’s top tier. He served as Reggina boss during 2004-2007, when he went on to save the team from relegation in three consecutive seasons—most notably during his final at the Calabria club, considering the 11-point deduction due to the Calciopoli scandal.

In 2007, he took charge of Sampdoria and during his first season at the helm of the Genoa-based club, he managed to finish on an impressive sixth place. Antonio Cassano—notorious for fighting with his tacticians—even publicly praised Mazzarri’s coaching abilities.

During the following season, Sampdoria finished at a disappointing 13th place, but the side managed to go all the way to the Coppa Italia final—beating Italian champions Inter Milan 3-1 on aggregate along the way—where they ultimately lost out on penalties to Lazio. The former Reggina coach then went on to leave the club by mutual consent.

Although some question the eccentric De Laurentiis’ actions over the past few weeks, it was probably better to act right away than to wait until January—at least regarding the change on the bench.

Firing Edy Reja probably was a very big mistake, but letting Donadoni continue on would have been an even bigger one, considering he only managed to collect a mere 19 points in his 18 games in charge.

The situation at the club is very delicate at the moment with all the changes taken place, but there’s no doubt that Mazzarri has an extremely talented squad at his disposal.

The young side has all the qualities in order to succeed, but currently lacks the confidence and the ability to handle the pressure to do so. This is where the new tactician will need to begin.

De Laurentiis is keen to start on a new five-year project, and despite the poor start to the season, the team still has 31 games left to go.

Can they bounce back?

CL Preview: Juventus Faces Tricky Bavarian Test At Allianz Arena

Marzia Hazra — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:09:56 -0400

Two of Europe’s superpowers are set to go head-to-head in a mouthwatering clash at a sold-out Allienz Arena on Wednesday evening.

Despite Juventus sputtering in the league as of late, they are only one point shy of Sampdoria and the top spot. Bayern Munich is coming into the game fresh from a defeat and currently has 11 points—sitting in seventh place—after an equal amount of games.

The fixture is undoubtedly the great highlight of Group A and, as always, there are incredibly valuable points at stake. The Germans got off to a perfect start after their 3-0 victory against Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, and are topping the group with three points.

The Italians are set to fight for victory considering their less than flattering start to their European adventure following an opening day draw against Bordeaux—laying the groundwork for an intensive affair where the smallest of errors could come to affect the outcome of the highly-anticipated encounter.

Bayern Munich

After getting off to a bad start with only two points from three outings, the Bavarians managed to string together three victories in the Bundesliga before succumbing to rival Hamburger SV. Although there was no shortage of opportunities against the league leaders, there was a whole lot of inefficiency in front of goal.

Bayern currently sits in seventh place—six points shy of HSV—seven games into the new campaign.

With the arrival of striker Mario Gomez and wide-forwards Arjen Robben and Ivica Olic, the Germans truly have an impressive offense. On top of that, the Germans have in their ranks Franck Ribery, who will no doubt cause all kinds of trouble for Juventus’ backline.

Under the guidance of new coach Louis Van Gaal—who is one of Europe’s most experienced tacticians—the Bavarians got off to the perfect start in the Champions League as they defeated group minnows Maccabi Haifa by a 3-0 scoreline.

The Israelis struggled against Bayern’s sheer physicality and strength in both defense and midfield, but were able to hold onto the hour mark before finally conceding. The deadlock was broken at 64 minutes when Daniel van Buyten was able to smash home a right-footed shot after a corner kick had caused confusion in the Haifa penalty area.

The game was, however, far from over. The home side was pressing for an equalizer and came close to netting, but the 20-year old Thomas Müller would have none of it as he bagged a brace in the closing stages of the game to seal a 3-0 victory.

Van Gaal is still missing Martin Demichelis and Mark van Bommel. There is some bright news as Demichelis has returned to normal training, whereas the latter might have to wait until the end of the week before he can do the same.

Probable starting XI: Butt; Lahm, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Braafheid; Altintop, Tymoshchuk, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Gomez, Ribery

Juventus

After getting off to a high-flying start in the domestic league with victories over Chievo, Roma, Lazio, and Livorno, things have halted somewhat for The Old Lady of Turin.

Juventus is currently housing second place in the league—a single point shy of table topping Sampdoria.

Although there was controversy as Genoa held Juventus at the Marassi (considering at least one goal was disallowed incorrectly for offside), Ciro Ferrara’s men failed to impress as they hosted relegation candidates Bologna at the Olimpico.

The Bianconeri wasted several good chances and should have decided the game early on. Instead, they allowed the visitors to equalize the score deep into the stoppages—thus unnecessarily losing two precious points.

Juventus’ and the inexperienced coach Ciro Ferrara’s Champions League adventure didn’t get off to the best start as they hosted Ligue 1 champions Girondins De Bordeaux on match day one. The home side couldn’t find its flow and struggled in the driving rain.

Despite an unconvincing performance, Vincenzo Iaquinta managed to give the Bianconeri the lead around the hour mark—only to have it canceled out by Jaroslav Plasik 10 minutes later. Despite the outcome, the Italians should be more than happy with the draw considering the heroic performances by Gianluigi Buffon.

Although Juventus boasts one of the league’s least amounts of conceded goals, the statistic hardly mirrors the displays on the pitch. The defense has been vulnerable on several occasions and, had it not been for the Italy’s No. 1 between the sticks, the numbers would read quite differently.

Despite a struggling defense, Juventus still has an impressive midfield packed with creativity, flair, and strength in players such as Diego, Felipe Melo, Claudio Marchisio, and Mohamed Sissoko. Although Amauri hasn’t scored in eight months, both Vincenzo Iaquinta and David Trezeguet have looked impressive lately.

On top of that, captain Del Piero has returned to action following his injury.

After struggling with injuries for the past few weeks, most of the players are now back in training—with the only exception being Fabio Cannavaro, who has trained separately.

Both Alessandro Del Piero and Diego starred against Bologna and although both are competing for the same position, it’s far more likely that the latter will be allowed to make his debut in the Champions League in the Juventus shirt.

Probable starting XI: Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso; Poulsen, Felipe Melo, Marchisio, Diego; Amauri, Trezeguet

Genoa-Juventus: Controversy at the Marassi Over Shared Spoils

Marzia Hazra — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:10:57 -0400

The highly anticipated clash between Juventus and Genoa promised to be both entertaining and intense. The expectations were high as the crowd watched the two of the most in-form teams of Serie A walk out onto the pitch of the mighty Stadio Marassi.

Juventus are one of only two sides, along with Sampdoria, that had maintained their full record five ahead of match day, and they were looking to continue their impressive streak. Whereas Genoa were looking to bounce back quickly following their humbling at the hands of Chievo.

In the matches between these two teams from last season, the home team won by a controversial 3-2 scoreline and tonight was going to be no different.

First half

With Diego still recovering from his injury, it was thought that that the pint-sized playmaker Sebastian Giovinco would take his place. Instead, Ciro Ferrara decided to drop the starlet and change to a 4-3-3 with Mauro Camoranesi, Vincenzo Iaquinta, and Amauri completing a trident attack.

Gasperini decided to start with Hernan Crespo on the bench and countered with Sergio Floccari up front flanked by Giandomenico Mesto and Giuseppe Sculli.

Juventus got the game underway and showcased the reason for their winning streak by dominating right from the get-go.

The visiting side got off to a dream start when Claudio Marchisio made a great run down the left flank and crossed over to Camoranesi who dummied the ball, allowing Iaquinta to fire off a low drive that made its way into Marco Amelia’s bottom corner.

There was end-to-end stuff at the Marassi as Amauri nearly doubled the Bianconeri’s lead a few minutes later, closely followed by some great defending from Fabio Grosso as Mesto continuously made dangerous runs down his flank.

At 15 minutes, Camoranesi swung the ball into the area, but Amauri’s free header somewhat incredibly went over the bar. But by now, Juventus were dominating possession and were firmly in control of the game.

It took a while before the home side grew into the game, and as they finally did so, they started to enjoy more possession, allowing them to put pressure on Ferrara’s men.

The intense game was high on emotions and it wasn’t long before the frustration was starting to show—so naturally, the tackles were coming in.

Thirty minutes into the game, Iaquinta was again fouled inside the Genoa half. Camoranesi’s free kick resulted in another free header from Amauri, but once again the Brazilian-born hitman managed to throw away the opportunity.

Instead, Mesto levelled the score less than 60 seconds later as he put a bullet header past a Gianluigi Buffon, who stood rooted to the spot after a brilliant cross from Sculli.

The equalizer was exactly the wake-up call Juventus was in need of and despite chances from both sides the scoreline remained one-all until the interval.

Second half

Gasperini introduced Crespo directly after the interval and the Argentine wasn’t late to steer up the home side’s game. Genoa was looking determined in the early stages of the second half, resulting in Juventus making some very easy and unaffordable mistakes.

Marchisio—who had been fantastic throughout the game—showcased some truly brilliant skills but saw his long range effort smothered by Amelia.

At 54 minutes, Marchisio chipped the ball to Iaquinta, who had another glorious opportunity to restore Juventus’ lead, but instead the forward delayed and allowed Genoa to escape unscathed. In the following minutes both Iaquinta and Camoranesi managed to miss further opportunities for the visiting side.

Six minutes later, Gasperini made his second substation by taking off Francesco Modesto and replacing him with Sokrates Papastathopoulos, thus switching to a 4-4-1-1.

Five minutes after that, Omar Milanetto made way for Houssine Kharja which immediately had a positive effect and on 70 minutes Buffon had to acrobatically tip the ball over the crossbar as Sculli unleashed a projectile shot.

With fifteen minutes remaining there was great controversy. Iaquinta thought he had added a second for Juventus. The goal was disallowed, but replays showed that the Italian international was, in fact, onside.

Instead, Crespo turned the score as he headed home from close range the following minute after yet another lovely cross from Mesto. To add insult to injury, Marchisio had to switch due to injury, allowing Giovinco some much needed playing time.

With ten minutes remaining, Ferrara removed a disappointing Amauri, who made way for David Trezeguet. Juventus were pushing forward in numbers in their frenetic search for the equalizer.

But just five minutes later it was once again time for controversy.

Giorgio Chiellini was fed through by Trezeguet but saw his goal called off since the lineman had ruled the Frenchman to have been offside. The replays, however, showed that the ruling could have gone either way.

Juventus finally got their equalizer four minutes from the end as Grosso’s free kick found Chiellini who headed towards Trezeguet. Standing only one yard out, the super-sub only had to steer the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides were pushing hard for the winner in the stoppages but after four minutes of additional time, the referee blew the final whistle and put an end to a highly entertaining, albeit controversial, game.

Genoa – Juventus 2-2

0-1 (5) Iaquinta, 1-1 (31) Mesto, 2-1 (74) Crespo, 2-2 (86) Trezeguet

Genoa: Amelia; Biava, Moretti, Bocchetti; M. Rossi, Zapater, Milanetto (Kharja 67), Modesto (Papastathopoulos 62); Mesto, Sculli, Floccari (Crespo 46)

Juventus: Buffon; Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grygera, Grosso; Poulsen, Felipe Melo, Marchisio (Giovinco 75); Camoranesi, Amauri (Trezeguet 82), Iaquinta

Serie A Preview: Juventus Travel To Take on Genoa at Fortress Marassi

Marzia Hazra — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:01:55 -0400

We’re four rounds into the new campaign and only Juventus alongside high-flying Sampdoria have managed to maintain their hundred per cent record.

In week five’s most stand-out encounter, Ciro Ferrara’s men travel to the Marassi for a tricky away fixture against a Genoa-side that has just been humbled away from home by relegation candidates Chievo by a 3-1 scoreline.

Gian Piero Gasperini and five of his players all have pasts in the Juventus jersey which alongside the defeat against Chievo will serve as extra motivation as they seek to put an end to the Bianconeri’s impressive run in what is expected to be an intense affair.

Genoa

After three successive wins against Roma, Atalanta and Napoli—followed by a midweek triumph over Slavia Prague in the Europa League—Il Grifone finally succumbed to Chievo as coach Gian Piero Gasperini rested a few of the regulars at the Bentigode due to the tough gaming schedule.

The visitors were already two goals down less than 10 minutes into the game and struggled to make an impact. Despite Gasperini throwing in both Giuseppe Sculli and Marco Rossi on the wings at the interval, Sergio Floccari only managed to put one away after a Mario Yepes howler resulting in a spot kick for the Rossoblu.

Just as the Genoa-players were piling on the pressure the home side’s Sergio Pellissier added a third for his team. The visiting side was awarded a second spot-kick in the stoppages after Sculli went down in the penalty but this time around Floccari got to see his shot saved by Stefano Sorrentino.

The Genoa tactician will be without the services of the sidelined Bosko Jankovic and Domenico Criscito who is set to sit out the second of his two-match ban.

Gasperini alongside Raffaele Palladino, Giuseppe Sculli, Omar Milanetto, Domenico Criscito and Emiliano Moretti all have a past with the opponents at one time or another and will be extra motivated to repeat the 3-2 triumph from their last encounter.

Genoa are looking to get back to winning ways and considering the fact that they lost only twice at home last season it clearly speaks of just how strong Il Grifone are at the fortress Marassi.

Possible starting XI (3-4-3) according to the Gazzetta: Amelia; Biava, Moretti, Bocchetti; Rossi, Milanetto, Zapater, Mesto; Palacio, Crespo, Sculli

Juventus

Juventus are desperate to add to their impressive runt but as Ciro Ferrara and his men travel to the Marassi to take on Genoa they’re perfect record could come to a quick finish.

After the midweek disappointment against Bordeaux in the Champions League the team was looking to quickly bounce back. They were in for a tough game as newcomers Livorno who are most likely fight for survival during the entirety of the season came to visit the Olimpico.

In the end the home side walked away from the clash with a 2-0 victory after a brilliant Mauro Camoranesi served both Vincenzo Iaquinta and Claudio Marchiso.

Livorno was, however, refusing to throw in the towel and it was mostly down to Gianluigi Buffon’s parade of wonder-saves that ultimately gave Ferrara’s men another three points.

The Italy shotstopper have finally put eight months of “torture” behind him and has once more claimed the spot as the world’s number one—and in doing so also been one of the league’s, if not the world’s most consistent players as of lately.

After last season’s injury crisis Juventus are no strangers to having players ruled out. Although the team has been suffering from injuries lately, most notably on Diego, the Brazilian fantasista hopes to make it to the Genoa clash.

Felipe Melo will be ready for the game whereas Ferrara is expected to make a last-minute decision for his fellow countryman, Diego. Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero has still not shaken off his injury woes quite yet and joins the sidelined Tiago, Hasan Salihamidzic, Fabio Cannavaro and Mohamed Sissoko.

Possible starting XI (4-3-1-2) according to the Gazzetta: Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Felipe Melo, Marchisio; Diego; Amauri, Iaquinta

Tajinder Singh: Chasing the Dream

Marzia Hazra — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

“Talent is worth nothing if you don’t nurture it.”

A lot of boys dream of becoming professional footballers when they’re young. For most it is a far-fetched fantasy, and as they grow up it will remain only that. There are, however, those few who fight to make it their reality.

Tajinder Singh is one.

Towards the end of the 2002-2003 football season, Tajinder Singh was watching a Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United with his grandfather. In the middle of the game his grandfather turned to him, motioning to the television, and asked; “You play football, right? Then why aren’t you playing there?”

It was the defining moment for Singh, at just 16-years-old, as he then decided to pursue a professional footballing career.

Born in Sweden to Indian parents on Feb. 3, 1987, he started showing an interest in football early on and began playing for Flemingsberg IF's junior team at the age of seven. He stayed there for four years, before joining Allsvenskan’s Hammarby IF youth team, a club in the Swedish top league.

It wasn’t until that fateful conversation with his grandfather many years later that he switched to Huddinge IF and things started to get serious. Singh was very aware that talent only gets you so far. For that reason he equipped himself with a fierce determination that drove him past any obstacles he faced.

“I didn’t have time for anything else when I decided to go for it. I was determined and football was my life.”

Extremely hard work, iron-clad determination, sheer will, and passion for the game saw his development curve spiral skywards. During his freshman year at a Stockholm sporting high school, a normal day began at 6 am for Singh. He trained before school and an hour in the gym took over his lunch break.

After school, he rode his bike to training, where he was the last to leave the ground. A normal day wouldn’t be complete without another session before bedtime. On top of that, he would round off with a BIP test every Wednesday.

The combination of hard work and discipline paid off as Singh showed exceptional speed, good movement, and an ability to read the game in midfield. Skillfulness aside, he is also an accomplished finisher.

“Discipline is everything. I made my own schedules and stuck by them no matter what, while at the same time always striving to work harder than everybody else around me.”

Singh’s passion for the game saw him excel during the 2004-2005 season and landed him a tryout with top Danish outfit FC Århus. Unaware that a scout from the Danish club was present, the midfielder came on towards the end of a game in the Gothia tournament against older opposition, where he scored two goals and created a third.

The week-long tryout went well. Singh continued to impress and was offered a contract. Unfortunately, they were unwilling to pay transportation or accommodation costs, which ultimately resulted in the deal falling through.

The following year, Singh switched to Syrianska FC—a second division club at the time—where an agent set up a tryout with England then-Premier League club Crystal Palace. The tryout lasted a week, but in a league that emphasizes pace, Singh was told it was the only thing he was missing in his arsenal bag.

Once back in Sweden, he was offered a professional contract with his club Syrianska FC, but with an acceptance to a sporting college in California already in the bag, he decided to reject the offer and try his chances abroad.

That same year he enrolled into the College of the Desert in California, where, aside from majoring in business administration, he played on the soccer team—quickly growing into one of its key players.

The following year he was recruited to North Park University, where he became an integral part of the team and had a fantastic season, grabbing ten goals and serving 15 assists in 30 matches along the way.

Last year, Singh landed his third tryout, with League Two English team Aldershot Town FC. The midfielder impressed greatly and was handed a contract proposal—which he decided to turn down in order to begin his third year in America, this time at Robert Morris University.

After enjoying a successful start to his Robert Morris campaign in the fall of 2008, things soon took a turn for the worse. Eredevise top club PSV Eindoven had offered Singh a tryout, but as he was preparing to face the biggest opportunity in his life, he would soon learn that fate had something else in store for him.

Only a few weeks into the season, a late tackle by an opposing player saw Singh tear the ligament in his right knee. His injury troubles were, however, far from over.

During the recovery process, Singh picked up a groin injury as a result from overexertion that unfortunately required an operation. The operation which Singh was in need of was only performed by four doctors in the world and, luckily for the youngster, one of those four resided in the Chicago area, where he attended school.

The tryout at PSV has been postponed for the time being and with Singh’s final year back at North Park just around the corner, he has to showcase his very best form.

There is no shortage of determination from the midfielder’s side, as he’s only too aware that his dream could hang on the threads of the forthcoming football season.

“This season could be my make or break. If I’m going to succeed, I’ll have to have the perfect season.”

Having dreams is easy, but to actually make them reality is just the opposite. A lot of people give up their quests even before they begin simply because they’re afraid of failure or lack the right kind of motivation. Not many possess the will power or the determination that is required to see them through, but there are always exceptions.

Clash of the Titans: Inter Milan and Barcelona Lace Boots for War

Marzia Hazra — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:58:50 -0400

Tonight two of Europe’s powerhouses will flex their muscles against each other in what can only be labeled ”The Clash of the Titans.” At 20.45 CET Italian champions Inter Milan and reigning European champions Barcelona will walk out onto the pitch in the mighty San Siro with 85,000 spectators framing what is expected to be an enthralling affair.

Inter have been underachievers on the European scene for a long time now but will have the advantage of their home field as they hope to kick off their Champions League season in fashion.

Barcelona have won two European cups in the past four years and are undoubtedly the best team in the world at the moment—laying the foundation for an unforgettable evening.

Emotions are running high ahead of a game that has all the ingredients to become a modern classic.

Two masterminds set to measure their tactical brilliance guiding two of Europe’s leading powerhouses.

The world’s best player out for official confirmation.

The unwanted goal scorer now seeking revenge for the unjustified way he was treated.

The former icon now a hated traitor who’s returning home perhaps sooner than he expected in order to take on his former supporters and teammates.

It’s game time.

Inter Milan

The Champions League has been top priority for Inter Milan for the past couple of seasons, but their disappointing performances on the European stage have seen them fail repeatedly.

Inter patron Massimo Moratti is tired of the excuses and has spent big money this summer on bringing in players that have the ability to add that extra dimension to the game, which could ultimately deliver them the long evasive trophy.

The typical one-dimensional play has become a distant memory with the sale of their Swede superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Inter have now become a more balanced and complete side with impressive acquisitions such as Lucio, Thiago Motta, Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito, and Samuel Eto’o.

Inter have collected seven points in their first three outings of the season, and although things hasn’t flowed perfectly yet, the players have integrated well into the team and are showing immense potential.

The reigning champions are, without doubt, favorites for the Scudetto, but it’s the clash against Barcelona tonight that will allow them to measure just how good they really are—or, more importantly, if they have a decent chance to go far in the finest tournament of them all.

Eto’o, who has fit in superbly into his new team, can rise where his predecessor Ibrahimovic failed. Whereas the Sweden international has an impressive record in Serie A, the same can hardly be said for the the Champions League.

The Cameroon, on the other hand, has an outstanding goal tally in the Spanish domestic league and has also on a continuous basis proved his worth in the European cups—scoring in both of the Champions League finals where he walked off as the winner.

The forward is probably fired up to score against his old side after the treatment he received, seeing that he was merely a pawn in the exchange deal that took Ibrahimovic to the Nou Camp. The forward was unhappy about not getting the respect a player of his caliber deserves—especially after giving so much to the club.

Probable starting XI

Cesar; Maicon, Samuel, Lucio, Chivu; Stankovic, Sneijder, Zanetti, Motta; Milito, Eto’o.

Barcelona

Last season Barcelona managed the unimaginable in Pep Guardiola's rookie season—the Blaugrana coach led the club to a historic treble as the team triumphed in La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.

No club has won the title in succession since the tournament changed to the Champions League in 1993, and although the Blaugrana are hot favorites for this season’s edition of the tournament, Guardiola has confessed that it will be difficult—if not impossible—to repeat last year’s success story.

Guardiola made it very clear early on that he wanted to get rid of Samuel Eto’o and motivated the move by declaring that the club was in need of a change. The Barcelona tactician had his eyes set on Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the interest was mutual.

On July 28 Ibrahimovic was unveiled as the club’s latest acquisition and very surprisingly kissed Barcelona’s club emblem in front of a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators. The Swede has scored twice in his two league games with Barcelona, and despite struggling somewhat with the team’s style of play, he’s started to settle into his new surroundings.

The Swede is in for an emotional return but can only expect indifference or a nasty welcome after doing almost everything on his side to fire up the heat ahead of the clash. The outspoken forward has already declared that the Blaugrana are a better team than his prior club as he credited the Nerazzurri’s last three Scudetti to himself.

The new Barcelona has been dubbed the “dream team” by the media, and with last year’s performances in mind, it’s easy to understand why. The team still has a 100 percent record in the league, but they’re going to have to step up a gear for the European cup competition.

When Barca plays at their potential, they are a joy to watch. On top of that they showcase such inspirational teamwork, which is sprinkled perfectly with individual brilliance from players such as Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, and the world’s best player right now, Lionel Messi.

Probable starting XI

Valdez; Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Keita; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Henry

Henok Goitom: From Suburban Stockholm to La Liga

Marzia Hazra — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:12:15 -0400

The second week of La Liga is around the corner. In UD Almería, Henok Goitom is recovering for the thigh injury he sustained during an internal friendly during the preseason. Soon he’s going to make his official debut for his new club.

Have you heard of him before?

If not, then let me take you on a little journey that starts not quite far from where I grew up. Although Henok has already travelled quite far, our journeys could still end up relatively close by.

The only difference will be the two of us simply covering different aspects of the sport we love. One on the field – and one from the Bleachers.

Henok Goitom was born to Eritrean parents on September 22nd, 1984 and grew up in the notoriously immigrant-dense Stockholm suburbs of Tensta and Husby.

As a youngster he could be seen in the third gravel pitch, or simply “Husby 3” at six o’clock where he and his friends competed over who could score the most tunnels on each other.

The young Goitom was trained by his father and although the dream of making it as a professional footballer was always at the back of his mind he didn’t start taking football seriously until his mid teens.

In 2003 the Swede-Eritrean took a leap most young footballers can only dream off. He traded fourth division Vasalund/Essinge for Udinese and Serie A.

The rising young talent was discovered by scouts during a qualification game with Sweden for the U-19 European championship in Portugal.

“I was 18 years old and thought “fuck it”, let me do this. If this doesn’t work out I can always come home and play for one of the Stockholm clubs. I managed it all through discipline and patience.

"I was focused on my goal during the entire time. But people should know that it wouldn’t have worked out without the support from my family and friends,” Goitom told Braxingen.

La Gazzetta dello Sport quickly labeled Goitom “Udinese’s new pearl” where the newcomer was taken under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti and trained alongside players such as Vincenzo Iaquinta, David di Michele and Antonio di Natale.

Unfortunately his dream move would soon become a nightmare as he sustained a rather serious knee injury only one month into the move, that kept him from the pitch for most of his first season in Italy.

On February 19th the following season the forward made his debut as he came on as a late substitute against Inter Milan with only seven minutes remaining of the fixture. It turned out that this was all that was needed as he he grabbed the equaliser with a header in the 90th minute.

Despite the successful debut it was to be his sole appearance in the Udinese shirt.

Having played only seven minutes on the pitch in two seasons it naturally took its toll on the youngster, who missed everything and everyone he had left behind. Goitom later revealed that he even considered a move to Stockholm-based outfit Djurgården (DIF) in Allsvenskan.

“I talked to DIF-coach Kjell Jonevret. I was incredibly close to joining Djurgården that summer. I was thinking; after two years in Udinese I’ve only played seven minutes, I miss Stockholm, I’m 19 years and not that mentally strong for the moment.

“When I talked my Father he said; what are you going to do here? Not even when I’m really bored do I sit down to watch Allsvenskan.”

With seemingly no playing time at Udinese, the then 21-year old was shipped on loan to Segunda division club Ciudad de Murcia where he spent two seasons during which time he scored 24 goals.

During this time he’d also established himself as a regular in the U-21 side, but unfortunately he didn’t make the final cut for the Swedish squad that went on to play the World Cup in Germany.

After having been released by Udinese in 2007, city rivals Real Murcia secured the services of the gangly forward for a fee of €3 million as he put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal.

With his new club, Goitom only netted twice as the side was ultimately relegated to the Second Division. With no desire to go back to the second tier combined with the club’s financial situation the Swede-Eritrean was once again shipped out on loan – this time to Valladolid who had just finished their first season back in the Spanish top flight after three years in Segunda.

Valladolid paid €500,000 for the forward who was brought in to replace Villarreal-bound Joseba Llorente and was given a €3.5 million buyout clause at the end of the season.

Despite establishing himself as a first choice in the starting line-up under José Luis Mendilibar, Goitom was finding it extremely difficult to find the net. The supporters weren’t merciful and soon started to show their discontent with the new arrival.

It wasn’t until the 13th round that the forward found the back of the net. After his second goal he was asked if he thought the supporters would finally warm to him, but the reporters were in for a somewhat different reply.

“The war has just begun. It’s me against them and if I have to fight against 25,000 then I will. I don’t want them to cheer me on. If they’ve been against me once then they can continue on with that the entire year. It’s like you talk behind my back at first and then want to come close to me,” he said to Aftonbladet.

The Swede-Eritrean finished the season as the club’s top goalscorer with ten goals to his name.

Despite the success in the second half of the season Valladolid chose not to exercise their buying option, which meant that the player was once again in the possession of Real Murcia.

In July UD Almería officially announced the €2.5 million signing of Goitom after their star-man from the previous season, Alvaro Negredo, was called back by Real Madrid and eventually headed for Sevilla.

Not too long from now, Goitom will make his first appearance for his new club. The 24-year old is excited about his new club and has already praised them for their attack-minded football.

Around Sweden, Goitom has become a huge inspirational source for teenage boys who just like the Almería forward hopes to be able to one day make it as a professional footballer – and nothing would please him more.

“I like to talk to 15-16 year olds here in Sweden, the ones that can think; he went from Husby to La Liga, and so can I”.

Just like his fellow countryman, the very outspoken Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henok Goitom too is different. They duo simply represent another part of Sweden.

The dream is to play for a bigger side and a good run this season could very well spark interest from the more prestigious La Liga clubs, but there’s no denying that Goitom has come a long way since his days in the Husby gravel pitches.

Diego Ribas Da Cunha: Juventus' New Magician

Marzia Hazra — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:01:41 -0400

Diego Ribas da Cunha, or Diego as he’s simply known, has with his eye-catching performances over the last couple of years emerged as one of the world’s most exciting footballers.

The pint-sized playmaker has—with his divine technical skills, magic footwork, inventive passing, and his cool finishing—restored the Bianconeri supporters’ hope of knocking Inter Milan down from their pedestal, as well as putting on an impressive show in Europe’s finest club tournament, the Champions League.

Diego started playing football at the age of six and entered the infamous Santos youth system at twelve years of age. The Brazilian made his debut four years later and, with the young Robinho at his side, quickly became infamous as they tore defenses into shreds on their way to the Brasileiro Campeonato league title in 2002.

In April 2003, the 18-year old made his first international appearance in the Selecão shirt and was also included in the squad that lost in the final to Mexico in the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Although Diego played in the U23 side, FIFA still counts it as a senior-team tournament. The Brazilian quickly became a key player and went on to play an integral part as Brazil won the Copa América in 2004.

In July 2004, Porto—with José Mourinho at the helm—signed the Brazilian playmaker for a fee of €8 million as they looked to replace Barcelona-bound Deco.

When Co Adriaanse replaced the Portuguese mastermind the following season, Diego soon found himself spending more and more time warming the bench. This consequently resulted in the fantasista losing his place in the national side.

In 2006, Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen paid €6 million for the bench-warming fantasista’s services—what a bargain they made! In his debut against Hannover, the playmaker not only scored his first goal for the club, but also provided two assists in the 4-2 victory.

Diego quickly became a fan favorite at the Weserstadion and the reference point of the team. After a high-flying start in his new club, he was soon called back to the national side, which went on to win another Copa América title.

On April 20 that same season, the playmaker scored what later turned out to be the “goal of the season” against Alemannia Aachen. Going on the counter, Diego quickly noticed the goalkeeper was standing too far out and decided to lift the ball from an amazing 62.5 meters—beating the goalkeeper as the ball first bounced to touch the crossbar and then into the net.

At one point during the season Werder Bremen even topped the table, but ultimately the Bremenclub finished in third place after champions Stuttgart and runners-up Schalke 04. Despite the final outcome, Diego still had plenty to smile about as he was voted “Player of the Season” after some truly mind-boggling performances in the physically tough Bundesliga.

The Brazilian continued on with the impressive performances the following season and played a vital part as the German side qualified for the group stages of the Champions League, but after finishing third they had to make do with the UEFA cup where they later crashed out in the quarter finals.

Ahead of the 2008/2009 season, Diego was part of the U23 side that won the bronze medal in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

Things were, however, to only get better as the no. 10’s best and final season with Werder Bremen was due around the corner. Despite the club ultimately finishing at a lowly tenth place, Diego still managed to score an incredible 20 goals along the way—a total eclipsing the goal tally of his two previous seasons combined.

The Bundesliga outfit once again crashed out of the Champions League and into the UEFA Cup, where they were drawn against the cup favorites AC Milan. Milan was on the verge of qualifying to the round of 16, but an amazing comeback late into the second fixture—where the Brazilian played a pivotal part—saw the Italian giants eliminated in the first knock-out round of the tournament.

The playmaker then went on to score four of the six goals as well as one assist in the thrilling double fixtures against another Italian side, Udinese—going through to the semifinals on the away goal rule.

In the semifinals, Werder Bremen surprisingly lost at home to Hamburg by a 1-0 deficit. However, the team was able to overturn the result in the away fixture and once again go through on the away goal rule.

Unfortunately, Diego had picked up a booking which left him suspended for the final game against Shakthar Donetsk where the team fell to a 2-1 defeat.

On May 26, Juventus officially announced the €24.5 million signing of the Brazilian who had put pen to paper on a five-year deal as he switched his shirt number to 28 (2+8=10).

The newcomer was quickly labeled the best import to Serie A by La Gazzetta dello Sport. They weren’t exactly wrong following their statement when Diego finally introduced himself to his new crowd in the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

Diego was viewed as the fantasista that would finally link together the midfield and attack with that creative spark that had been missing at the club for so long.

In his official Old Lady debut, Diego provided the assist to Vincenzo Iaquinta’s winning header against Chievo Verona with a brilliantly taken free-kick on top of an overall impressive outing.

In the following outing against classic opponents, AS Roma, the playmaker earned himself the highest rating as he scored a brace—one of which was a fantastic solo-run as he outran two defenders and slotted the ball into the far post from the tightest of angles in front of an ecstatic crowd.

A preseason and only two games into the new campaign, and the little magician from Ribeirão Preto has already earned himself a spot in the Bianconeri supporters’ heart and is by many regarded as the player that will lead the team to the desirable Scudetto come May.

To say that the expectations on the little magician are high is probably an understatement.

The Fall of an Empire: Can AS Roma Save Their Season?

Marzia Hazra — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:32:49 -0400

On Sept. 1, Luciano Spalletti, AS Roma coach of four years, announced that he had handed in his resignation to the board and would be leaving the club.

Roma had gotten off to their worst start since the 1950-51 season—as they ultimately dropped down to the second tier. After consecutive defeats in the two opening games, the prestigious club now lay at the bottom of the table.

For three seasons, the capital club from the mythical Eternal City competed with Inter Milan for the top spot. Roma and Spalletti were hailed over all of Europe for their entertaining play as they showcased some truly mind-blowing football.

Since then, the relationship between the coach and the club has grown to be infected.

Last season was spoiled by a confidence-shattered Roma that struggled against an alarming rate of injuries. Spalletti was naturally linked with an exit in the early stages of the summer, but did the contrary as he rejected a lucrative offer from the Old Lady in the North in order to remain loyal to I Lupi.

After last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Juventus (how ironic), the tactician hinted that he had lost the locker room.

The club and Spalletti were simply no longer heading in the same direction.

Roma has barely been active in the summer’s mercato. Although the financial situation at the club isn’t news, it’s extremely worrying that the newly-promoted trio of Parma, Livorno, and Bari has outspent the capital club on the transfer market.

Despite dragging debts which leave very scarce resources to be spent on the transfer market, president Rosella Sensi refuses to sell the club despite the fact that foreign investors would probably be the best thing for Roma at this point. The club is slowly losing their key players, as it’s trying to work with their debts.

This summer was no different as the club—much to the horror of the Giallorossi faithful—decided to sell prodigal son Alberto Aquilani to Liverpool. Although the Roman spent much of last season on the sidelines with persistent injuries, he was without a doubt cemented as part of the club’s future.

With Aquilani's obvious love for the club he’d belonged to all his life, it was more like a sacrifice than anything else—much like Ricardo Kaká’s situation with AC Milan.

There's no doubt that Roma possesses quality players in the squad, but as they continue to lose important players—with only mediocre players brought in as substitutions—they’re falling further behind the top competition. To see the storied club in mid-table at the end of the season wouldn’t actually be surprising at all.

Considering the crisis the club is undergoing at this moment, there will be even more pressure on newly-appointed coach Claudio Ranieri to get positive results...soon.

The Romanista—who incidentally has a brief history in the club as a player back in the '70s—was quick to dismiss the idea of Spalletti’s former "champagne football", but assured the media and the fans that there would be changes taking place.

The Tinkerman then went on to compare Roma’s situation to that of Chelsea’s when he coached the club in the early 2000's, as the London-based outfit managed to qualify for the Champions League without spending a penny.

So, is Ranieri the right man for the job?

Well, he’s a cheap option at the very least, but it’s very difficult to tell considering that Spalletti and Ranieri have very different philosophies when it comes to their approach to the game. Considering the squad he has at his disposal, a mid-table position sounds like the most likely outcome—especially after being thrown into the hot air.

Ranieri is no great coach, and has his entire coaching career to vouch for that. He does have a history of building up good teams, however, without managing to take that last step.

As far as I’m concerned, the squad looks rather thin, and with the club getting ready to battle on several fronts, keeping the players away from injuries will be absolutely vital.

If the teams comes too close to struggling with the same number of injuries as last season, the horizon looks extremely dark for the Romans.

On top of that, the players can’t let the bad start of the season get to them, as we’ve seen what happens to the team when the players lack the right kind of confidence and attitude.

Players such as Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi will need to step up even further in order to lead the team by example as they try to pull the club out of this early crisis.

Four-Star Inter Milan Humiliate 10-Man AC Milan

Marzia Hazra — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:44:49 -0400

Expectations were high on the first Derby Della Madonnina of the season as AC Milan hosted bitter rivals Inter Milan.

Despite their disastrous pre-season campaign, the Rossoneri managed to impress in their season opener away against Siena as Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato led the team to victory.

The Nerazzurri, however, were anything but impressive in their first as newcomers Bari came to visit. José Mourinho’s men struggled against a side that was ready to fight for survival and walked away from the fixture with a disappointing 1-1 draw.

The atmosphere at the San Siro was electrifying as almost 80,000 spectators waited for the highly anticipated derby to get underway.

Milan coach Leonardo was, however, in for a nightmarish evening as Inter steamrolled the “home” team by a humiliating 4-0 scoreline after goals by Thiago Motta, Diego Milito (on penalty courtesy of Gennaro Gattuso), Maicon and Dejan Stankovic.

To make things even worse, Gattuso was sent off while awaiting substitution only 35 minutes into the game, leaving his already mentally defeated team mates one man down for over an hour.

First half

The Rossoneri had undergone massive changes during the summer and the team entered the pitch without important key players such as former captain Paolo Maldini and playmaker Ricardo Kaká as well as tactician Carlo Ancelotti.

The Nerazzurri, on the other hand, were missing their Swede superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Newcomer Wesley Sneijder, who had completed his move to Inter less than 24 hours ago, was thrown into the hot air right from the get go by Mourinho, who previous to the game had insisted the Dutchman wouldn’t make his debut in the prestigious derby.

The game got off to massive cheers from the crowd and the former Real Madrid-man wasn’t late to unleash one his notorious long distance shots which brought out a fantastic save by Marco Storari in the Milan goal as he tipped the ball over the crossbar.

The “home” team enjoyed a nice spell with a lot of possession as the game got underway and Alexandre Pato looked extremely lively in the early stages of the fixture.

The same could, however, not be said for his countryman Ronaldinho, who despite all the hype surrounding him due to his opening game against Siena, just seemed unable to repeat the impressive performance.

The deadlock was broken 30 minutes into the game by Thiago Motta. Samuel Eto’o combined brilliantly with Diego Milito before the latter set the midfielder through, allowing him to slot it into the far corner and thus handing the “away” team an invaluable lead.

About five minutes later, Milito doubled the lead from 11 yards after Eto’o was taken down in the box by Gennaro Gattuso, also resulting in the latter being shown the yellow card for his troubles.

Unluckily for Milan, the hot-headed Italian was far from done. On 38 minutes, Gattuso signaled for a substitution due to an earlier knock but as Clarence Seedorf was receiving his final instructions before entering the pitch, the midfielder fouled Sneijder and was shown his second yellow card for the evening.

This left Milan behind with only ten men for the remainder of the game.

Milan’s misery was, however, far from over as Maicon (benefiting of their numerical advantage) deservedly added a third on stoppages after being played through beautifully by Milito.

Second half

Leonardo didn’t waste any time during the interval and introduced both Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf for Marco Borriello and Mathieu Flamini, respectively, as the second was due.

The Rossoneri players looked miserable as they entered the pitch and with their heads hanging low it almost looked as they had accepted defeat despite the high profile encounter.

Perhaps having Gattuso (the one player who actually looked like he cared) back on the pitch wouldn’t have been such a bad thing after all.

Despite sitting back and allowing Milan much of the possession during the beginning of the second half, it was still Inter who created the most dangerous opportunities through Sneijder and the glorious Maicon.

The home side barely put their back into it and being one man down also resulted in acres of space for Mourinho’s men to play on.

On 62 minutes Eto’o found the back of the net after a brilliant cross by Maicon but the Cameroon was correctly flagged for offside.

The poor performance had already made Milan owner Silivio Berlusconi to leave his seat and the Milan supporters were starting to follow his lead.

As Ronaldinho was substituted for latest addition Jan Klaas Huntelaar, the Brazilian received massive boos for his poor performance.

Inter were to get their fourth only minutes later, as a Sulley Muntari cross found Dejan Stankovic standing completely unthreatened, allowing him to take his time and unleash a venomous shot which headed straight for the back of the net.

Stankovic’s goal proved to be the final nail in the coffin as the tempo was brought down drastically.

The Milan players looked like they didn’t have a care in the world and had long ago accepted the humiliation as there was no real effort from their side to tidy up the numbers.

Huntelaar had two semi-dangerous shots on goal in the closing minutes of the game but it was Inter who came closest as Eto’o saw his shot whizz by Storari’s post with only minutes to go.

There was no stoppage time signaled from referee Nicola Rizzoli who promptly ended Milan’s misery on the 90^th minute.

Milan – Inter 0-4 (0-3)
0-1 (29) Motta, 0-2 (36) Milito (straff), 0-3 (45+1) Maicon, 0-4 (67) Stankovic

Milan: Storari; Zambrotta, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Flamini (Seedorf 46); Ronaldinho (Huntelaar 63); Borriello (Ambrosini 46), Pato

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Stankovic, Thiago Motta (Muntari 60); Sneijder (Vieira 73); Milito (Balotelli 78), Eto'o

Serie A Preview: Derby Della Madonnina

Marzia Hazra — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:25:46 -0400

The season has barely kicked off and it’s already time for the first Derby della Madonnina as AC Milan play host to local rivals Inter Milan at the mighty San Siro.

Despite a disastrous preseason campaign, the Rossoneri picked up three points in the season opener in their tricky away game to Siena in impressive fashion while the Nerazzurri did just the opposite as they struggled against newcomers Bari and walked away from the fixture with a disappointing 1-1 draw.

Needless to say, the derby will be played without a number of key players as Paolo Maldini at the end of last season wrapped up an incredible career while Ricardo Kaká and Zlatan Ibrahimovic switched to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively in two of the summer’s most high profile transfers.

The derby could very well set the tone for the coming weeks and with Inter already having lost important points in the opening round the pressure mainly lies on the Italian champions to deliver a positive result. A negative outcome, however, could see the gap grow to a possible five points only two games into the new campaign.

AC Milan

Coming into the season the team had undergone some major changes. Captain Paolo Maldini had bowed out of the game after 25 impressive seasons in the Italian top flight while Ricardo Kaká – who many considered the future Milan captain and icon to be – was sold to Spanish giants Real Madrid after six years in the fashion capital due to economic reasons. Last but not least, Carlo Ancelotti decided the time had for a change of scene after eight years at the club.

Rookie trainer Leonardo was appointed the head coach only hours after “Carletto” announced his departure and quickly declared that he wanted to see the team play a more offensive, fast-paced and entertaining kind of football.

Although Milan hasn’t been very active during the transfer window they have managed to secure the services of Dutch forward Jan-Klaas Huntelaar. Milan signed centre back Thiago Silva during the wintermercato but the Brazilian made his first official appearance in the Milan jersey only last Saturday. On top of that both midfielder Gennaro Gattuso and defender Alessandro Nesta has returned after lengthy injury spells.

Last week’s opening game away against Siena saw Alexandre Pato score a brace as Ronaldinho – in his new trequartista role – created both of his fellow countryman’s goal. Aside from that both newcomers Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta impressed greatly during the team’s first outing while new signing Huntelaar sat out a suspension. The Dutchman is most likely to make his debut in Saturday’s big showdown.

Leonardo was happy after his first victory and it was easy to see that – despite the lack of activity in the transfer market – the team is sporting a different kind of attitude and approach to the game altogether. In other words, major changes are taking place in a team that will probably come to surprise us despite having lost so many of its key components in such a short time.

Probable starting XI according to the Gazzetta: Storari; Zambrotta, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Flamini; Ronaldinho; Pato, Huntelaar

Inter Milan

Out of the top teams in Italy has undoubtedly been the one most active during the transfer window. The season had barely rounded up before Genoaduo Diego Milito and Thiago Motta had both put pen to paper for the Italian champions.

Some weeks later the Brazilian defender Lucio arrived from Bayern Munich along with strikers Mirko Arnautovic on loan from Twente and former Barcelona hitman Samuel Eto’o as their main star Zlatan Ibrahimovic went the other way in one of the summer’s hottest transfer deals.

Although all the above are very impressive signings indeed the club have yet to address the main problem. Inter are in dire need of a creative force – especially after the departure of the Swede – as Dejan Stankovic simply don’t seem to be able to fill that role a creative midfielder no matter how much heart he displays on the pitch.

Inter looked void of ideas and lacked both pace and creativity against Bari which lead José Mourinho to change formations no less than three times. This clearly indicates that something is missing in the team that still seems to be somewhat unbalanced.

Sulley Muntari was substituted only thirty minutes into last week’s game – most likely due to his fasting and how Ricardo Quaresma once again worked his way into the team is still a mystery. The will is certainly there but not much went right way for the Portuguese winger against Bari. The only goal came from eleven yards through Eto’o after Milito had fallen to the ground all too easily.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic obviously left a big void behind.

Reports are claiming the Inter has signed Real Madrid’s playmaker Wesley Sneijder but the deal has yet to be made official. Should the Dutchman complete his move in the coming hours he could make his debut as early as Saturday night’s kick-off in the derby – playing the role of trequartista in the high-profile clash right behind Milito and Eto’o up front.

Probable starting XI according to the Gazzetta: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Stankovic, Thiago Motta; Balotelli, Milito, Eto’o

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Finally En Route To The Champions League Title?

Marzia Hazra — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:16:52 -0400

For five years Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been plying his trade in Italy and Serie A. During that time, the Sweden international has blossomed into one of the most highly rated footballers in the world, along with his unique technical skills, wonderful back flicks, and the ability to singlehandedly determine the outcome of a game. Along the road he has also won an incredible five Scudetti (two revoked) and two Italian Super Cups.

This coming season he’s switched for La Liga outfit Barcelona that last season completed the very unpredicted historic triple as they rampaged their way to the title, picked up the Copa Del Rey, and lifted the Champions League trophy as they thumped Manchester United in the final by a 2-0 scoreline—all in Josep Guardiola’s first season on the Blaugrana bench.

Ibrahimovic’s departure has no doubt left a bitter aftertaste in the mouths of the Interisti faithful who have seen their gangly superstar play an integral part in delivering three consecutive league titles to the Nerazzurri—the team that he dreamt of playing for ever since he was a kid kicking his ball around the old pitches of his suburban hometown Rosengård.

To say that the Swede played an integral part is almost an understatement. The dependence on which the team placed on their hit man was more than obvious, as they tended to rise along his moments of sheer brilliance and fall when the burden of carrying the team became too heavy for the shoulders of Ibrahimovic.

It soon became clear that Ibrahimovic’s yearning for the Champions League title and desire to be the world’s greatest footballer had outgrown the priority of representing the team he had dreamt of since childhood. He had come to terms that his ambitions simply couldn’t be reached in the Nerazzurri shirt.

On July 27, Ibrahimovic was presented as Barcelona’s latest acquisition and after thanking Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti for the past three years he wasn’t late to stir controversy. In front of crowd of more than 50,000 people present at the Nou Camp, he kissed the badge of his new employers.

The reactions differed greatly as some were truly happy to see their latest addition embrace the club so quickly, while others were utterly disgusted by the gesture that they labeled the utmost betrayal. However, one thing was for certain, the happiness on the Swede’s face was almost tangible.

Expectations are high on the prolific striker, and pundits expect the Swede to continue on with the same goal scoring form that landed him the Capocannoniere crown with 25 goals to his name.

On order to succeed Ibrahimovic will have to shake off the label of “notoriously anonymous” when it comes to the European stage, but there’s a lot of difference in his new surroundings, and he’ll have much more support on the field—especially from the middle of the park with players like Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez serving the balls.

On top of that, there will be natural obstacles in adapting to a new country and a new league that puts its emphasis on a more technical and offensive football—especially since he missed the entire preseason due to a hand surgery.

The Swede, who debuted in the Blaugrana shirt in Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday, has confessed that he’s far from his peak at the moment, but there’s no doubt about the fact that he’s arrived at a club that shares the responsibilities and plays more like a team.

“My physical condition is not the best, and I lack rhythm. To become part of that mechanism takes training and matches that I have not had yet,” said Ibrahimovic to El Mundo Deportivo.

However, the physical condition isn’t something that concerns the confident forward who, over the summer on several occasions, reiterated that Barcelona was the only team he would leave Inter for.

“I’m starting to adapt to the team, and I'm getting to know everybody better both on and off the pitch. This is the only club where I can learn more. It’s here that I can develop even further as a player. The kind of football Barcelona plays fits me much better than that of any other team,” said Ibrahimovic to Expressen.

Fellow striker Thierry Henry expressed the same kind of emotions after his arrival from Arsenal in 2007. After struggling during his first season under the guidance of Franck Rijkaard, he excelled along with the rest of the team last season, and he finally lifted the Champions League trophy that had evaded him for so long.

The Catalan club is undoubtedly one of the hot favorites for next season’s edition of the Champions League, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic is hoping for the same happy outcome, and the forwards couldn’t have picked a better place to try and fulfill his ambitions.

Even if he has to endure a season of transition, the Swede could, despite his cocky outspokenness, come to walk down the same successful road with hard work and a humble approach to the game.

José Mourinho's Inter Milan Is Still Missing the Key Link

Marzia Hazra — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:23:59 -0400

Inter Milan cruised to their fourth consecutive Scudetto last season as they beat runners-up Juventus by a notable 10 points gap in José Mourinho’s first season at the club.

Although the statistics may be an impressive read the game on the pitch many times showcased just the opposite.

Last year’s activities in the player mercato proved to be anything but successful as Mourinho’s purchases of Ricardo Quaresma och Amantino Mancini flopped hard as the team struggled to adapt to the Portuguese mastermind’s preferred 4-3-3 system.

This summer’s activity on the transfer market will result in massive changes for the coming season.

After securing the services of players such as Diego Milito, Lucio, Thiago Motta, and Samuel Eto’o, Mourinho quickly declared that he had finally landed the Inter Milan of his dreams.

Although the new additions are exceedingly impressive, the Inter tactician was forced to release his biggest player:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Sweden international’s departure will have no doubt left much bitter aftertaste in the mouths of the Interisti faithful and although he was an integral part of the team, to say the very least, they now need to look forward.

In the past much of the play has been centered round the gangly Swede who has no doubt been the reference point of the team during much of the past three years.

The team has often depended on the brilliance of Ibrahimovic (often rising and falling with their superstar) but with their main man gone, the team will come to be more balanced and thus more stabilized on all positions.

So let’s have a look at all the positions.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar performances from last season cast a serious shadow of doubt regarding who really is the world’s best keeper.

The Brazilian has been an absolute rock between the sticks and looks set to continue that way.

Last season, Douglas Maicon proved why he’s considered as one of the best fullbacks in the world.

The Brazilian’s quick pace and raids on right flank which caused constant havoc for the opposing team can only improve with the arrival of Bayern Munich’s centre back Lucio as it allows the defense to work further up the field.

With the emergence of young starlet Davide Santon on the other side the backline is looking very solid indeed.

The latest acquisitions in Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o easily strike up one of Europe’s most dangerous partnerships in attack.

Milito scored a stunning 24 goals in his first season back in Serie A and gave both Ibrahimovic and Bologna’s Marco Di Viao a run for their money in the race for the Capocannoniere crown.

Just like Milito, the Cameroun is poisonous in the box and unlike Ibrahimovic he is more consistent and has proved his worth on the European stage on a constant basis.

If you compare the two it’s easy to see that they are two very different types of players, especially in their approach to the game, but analyzed separately and only on abilities it’s safe to say that the Swede can give more to his teammates.

Ibrahimovic likes to do a little bit of everything and relies heavily on his technical brilliance which allows him to singlehandedly determine the outcome of a game whereas Eto’o’s has a more traditional approach and is lethal in the box with his perfect timing and speed when served with those through balls from midfield.

After a successful stint in Genoa, the arrival of Thiago Motta adds another dimension to Inter’s otherwise somewhat questionable midfield.

Defensive midfielder Esteban Cambiasso was brilliant last season and at times grossly underrated but others such as Javier Zanetti, Sulley Muntari, and Dejan Stankovic did only just enough.

What Inter is lacking, that final piece of the puzzle, is a creative midfielder that can dictate the play in the middle.

Although Stankovic had a handful of great games last season he’s proved that he’s gone way past his expiration date.

The midfield is lacking the quality needed in order to be able to maintain possession and control the tempo of the game...and have been since the days of Sebastian Verón.

With Ibrahimovic present, this was perhaps not so painfully visible but the dependence the team showed on the other hand, was. With the Swede gone, he’s also leaving behind a big void in creativity.

The competition in the league is growing increasingly tougher and if Inter are to maintain their position as champions (and perform admirably on the European scene) this is the position they will need to strengthen before the transfer window draws to a close.

The Inter of next season will be one of teamwork instead of heavily relying on one the brilliance of a single player.

Ibrahimovic could create something out of nothing but the same can’t be said for the new offensive partnership, which instead will have to rely on the creativity of the midfield.

Mourinho is tantalizingly close to completing what could be a dream team and with reports linking Sampdoria’s playmaker Antonio Cassano to the Italian champions the former Bari-man could prove to be the missing link in Mourinho’s puzzle.

What Impact Could Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Exit Have on Inter and Serie A?

Marzia Hazra — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:56:59 -0400

Not long ago certain quarters of the English press called Serie A a retirement ground. Although that is far from the truth there is no denying that the Italian top flight has lost a great deal of its flair and appeal over the past decade.

The present day’s Serie A boasts names such as Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, along with rising young stars such as Sebastiano Giovinco, Mario Balotelli, Pato and Davide Santon.

The biggest of the bunch is, with all due respect to “royalties” such as icons Del Piero and Totti, Sweden international Ibrahimovic. The gangly Inter Milan forward is without a doubt one of the biggest reasons to Calcio’s popularity around the world.

Ibrahimovic’s sometimes otherworldly technical skills combined with his impressive stature and ability to single handedly decide games have made him one of the greatest players in the world and the biggest representative of Serie A.

After Inter Milan’s exit in the first knock out round to Manchester United, Ibrahimovic has refused to commit his future to the Nerazzurri.

The forward has clearly expressed his desire to leave the Italian fashion capital and despite the £80m price tag Inter president Massimo Moratti has slammed on his prized asset, Ibrahimovic has already been linked to a hoard of European top clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Ibrahimovic’s personal request was to join Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona who he deems play attractive and futuristic football. Although things seem to have come to a stall with the Blaugrana due to the price tag and the player’s wage demands, the summer is still far from over.

La Liga giants Real Madrid has been splurging big money on the transfer market and with the £60m deal for Kaká along with the record breaking £80m bid for Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo. W

ith the negotiations over David Villa breaking down there are reports that the capital club has rekindled their interest in Inter Milan’s Swedish superstar, Ibrahimovic–thus completing their dreamy trident.

With AC Milan’s Brazilian ace Ricardo Kaká already shipped off to La Liga land and city rivals Inter Milan facing a possible Zlatan Ibrahimovic exit, one starts to wonder what a departure of this grandeur could have on the Italian top flight as the other leagues would receive an even bigger attraction boost–not to mention the financial boost.

The duo has without a doubt been the poster names for Serie A during the past couple of seasons and while the loss of the first one already is a major blow for the league the popularity for Calcio could only decline if Ibrahimovic follows suit.

In spite of AC Milan releasing their brightest star and with it a big part of the club’s fire power and identity, owner Silvio Berlusconi has put his foot down as he simply refuses to have the club in debt. But just imagine the prestigious Derby della Madonnina without two of its biggest names while at the same time El Clasico gains another two major characters.

If Ibrahimovic’s potential departure would have a great impact on Serie A, there is no telling how big the blow could come to be on inter that has over the years showcased how overly reliant they are on their Swedish superstar’s good performance. On top of that he’s been absolutely pivotal in the past three season’s Scudetti triumphs.

The Swede has been the creative force and the fundamental part in a side that has looked void of ideas on one too many occasions leading the team to adopt a philosophy of passing the ball to Ibrahimovic and wait for the forward to wave his magic wand.

However, despite his unquestionable dominance in Serie A things haven’t passed as smoothly in the Champions League where Ibrahimovic has yet to leave his mark.

The Inter forward has his name to 25 of the 70 goals that the team scored during their domestic campaign—winning him the Capocannoniere crown—along with numerous assists. The second highest goalscorer in the club is young starlet Mario Balotelli boasting with eight goals.

Although the money received from a potential sale could spring Inter’s activity on the transfer market even further and even bring in a replacement, one has to question how long Moratti is willing to splurge out cash in order to clean up at his beloved club season after season.

While the departure of Serie A’s main representative is sure to result in the decline of Calcio popularity Italy coach Marcello Lippi added that there are some perks to be had. Instead of shipping in foreigners to attract the general public to the Italian top flight their departure could see the emergence of home grown talent that could come to represent the country’s league football.

That same philosophy could be implemented at Inter where Balotelli is sure to be given a wider berth in the absence of Ibrahimovic and thus learn to take more responsibilities and develop even further as a player.

Although there are some perks to be had with the departure of foreign superstars they sound more like positive hopefuls rather than real arguments.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is perhaps the player with most attraction force with Kaká only second to the Swede. In other words, this means that a possible exit would result in a negative outcome for Italian football in general.

The weakened Milan clubs would survive and so would a declining Serie A but the departure of the superstars will result in a league with less attractive force and provide another reason for that special quarter to continue on with their arguments.

Inter Milan's Davide Santon: A Legend in the Making

Marzia Hazra — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:19:23 -0400

18-year old Inter full back Davide Santon has quickly risen through the ranks and emerged as one of Italy’s brightest young prospects. The Inter starlet has already been dubbed the “new Paolo Maldini” who along with his speed, technique and calm composure boasts the qualities of that of a player well mature beyond his years.

“Il Bambino”, as Inter Milan tactician José Mourinho so affectionately calls him, is a product of the club’s youth academy. The Italian began as a winger and played a pivotal part in the club’s Primavera success in the season of 2007/2008.

That same year Primavera coach Vincenzo Esposito employed him as a left back during the club’s participation in the championship finals in Abruzzo. José Mourinho had seen enough and during that same summer decided to take the youngster to training with the rest of the senior squad.

Italy has a tradition of shipping off their rising stars on loan to other clubs in the lower divisions or the so called “minnows” to gain experience, but Mourinho surprised everybody when he decided not to give just Santon, but also his fellow Primavera player Mario Balotelli, the chance to prove themselves during the previous season.

Santon made his senior team debut on January 21 in the tricky Coppa Italia clash against, what has in recent years become a rather classic opponent, AS Roma. The 18-year old impressed greatly in his first real outing in the Inter shirt and earned the praise of both his coach and also captain Javier Zanetti after the game.

The left back earned the confidence of Mourinho to such as extent that he managed to pass regular full back Maxwell to the bench as his success story continued. Santon even went on to play a full 90 minutes in high profile clashes as took the left back position against local rivals AC Milan in the prestigious “Derby della Madonnina”.

On top of that Santon also played in both Champions League fixes against Manchester United where he came up against none other than 2008 Ballon D’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo—and managed to walk off the field with his head held high after yet another impressive outing.

There was little doubt that Inter in their possession had a player destined for greatness.

On March 31 2009 the youngster was called up to the Azzurrini by coach Pierluigi Casiraghi as they prepared to take on the Netherlands.

However, Santon didn’t really have time to leave his mark on the U-21 side before Marcello Lippi called him up the Gli Azzurri on June 6th to play in a friendly against Northern Ireland. Ahead of the youngster’s debut the former Juventus tactician had only positive words to say;

“I had said he was destined for great things and, now that I’ve seen him train and play up close, I can confirm I was right,” smiled the Italy Coach.

“Santon is a kid, but he has great character, is at ease with the ball and capable of placing himself within a tactical framework.”

Lippi fielded him on the right back position that evening where he did not only play a full 90 minutes but also excel beyond expectations. After the game an elated Lippi hailed the teenager;

"Santon was outstanding, he has intelligence to understand that he is a good player, and he has not wasted time in showing it,“ Lippi said to Rai Uno.

While players his senior will be taking part in the U-21 championship in Sweden the Inter starlet is set to help La Nazionale to another triumph in the summer’s Confederation’s Cup.

Santon already plays exceptionally well on the full back positions on either side but could probably impress even further if he was moved up the flanks as a winger – allowing him to have an even bigger impact on the game.

The Inter youth product has in the course of one year taken the almost unimaginable leap from playing the Inter Primavera team to representing Italy’s national side.

This story of success is only in its early stages and that Santon is headed for greatness is almost tantalisingly easy to predict. The defender possesses the kind of attitude and personality that could ultimately lead him to become another of Italy’s greats and I’m positive that we’re watching a legend in the making.

AC Milan Headed Toward Uncertain Future

Marzia Hazra — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:37:02 -0400

The past season was an end of an era in many ways for AC Milan.

Club legend and icon Paolo Maldini played his last game for the Rossoneri after spending a quarter of a century with the team—captaining the side for more than a decade along the way.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti left the bench after eight years in the Italian fashion capital and headed for London to take charge of the Blues.

Star player Ricardo Kaká was recently sold to Spanish titans Real Madrid in order to balance the sheets.

Next season will bring with it a new captain in Massimo Ambrosini, a new coach in former Milan midfielder Leonardo and most likely a handful of new additions from the summer’s mercato.

The transition will be anything but easy considering that the club has lost a large part of its identity as a result of the departure of the trio. Not only has a very big part of the past become history, but a large part of the present has been sacrificed in order to make way for the future.

So where is the club headed?

On the final day of the season, Carlo Ancelotti publicly stated that he and Milan would part ways.

Although the Milan tactician and owner Silvio Berlusconi didn’t see eye to eye on tactics during the past couple of seasons, they separated as good friends and many reports state the players were crying openly on that very emotional Sunday filled with goodbyes.

Former Milan midfielder Leonardo was quickly appointed new coach and judging by his vision, which includes a mix of the Brazilian team of 1982 and today’s Barcelona, the new era Milan is about to embark on does have the potential to be a successful one.

Leonardo wants to play entertaining, offensive, and attractive football with a lot of activity on the flanks. The formation will be set depending on the various players’ qualities as the Brazilian looks to balance the team in the best possible way.

Although some of the Rossoneri faithful initially were skeptical towards the appointment, Josep Guardiola’s success at Barcelona has in many ways opened the door for Leonardo to try out his own vision one on of Italy’s most storied clubs.

One also has to take into consideration that despite his little managerial experience he does know Milan through and through, after spending almost 12 years at the club.

Ricardo Kaká was one of the pillars in the team for six seasons, and in the playmaker, many saw a future legend and captain that would one day lead the team to incredible glory after the era of Paolo Maldini.

Had he been able to decide for himself which club he wanted to represent without financial factors being an issue, there is no doubt that he would have stayed on with Milan.

Instead of the Brazilian finishing his career at the San Siro with the captain’s armband on his arm, he was shipped away in order to solve the club’s financial troubles. Along with him he took a large part of Milan’s present.

Will they be able to fill the void of such a player and person?

A player is never bigger than the club, and the same goes for Kaká. Milan is a mighty club and will survive despite the fact that the club has never let a player of Kaká’s caliber go during Silvio Berlusconi’s reign.

There are, however, some perks in the deal as the money received from the sale can be used to strengthen the current squad. But, beware as this can quickly become a disadvantage if the money is not put to use wisely.

This point has partially been proven already considering that the club’s latest decisions have been all but encouraging. Before Kaká’s departure Milan let go of one of the world’s brightest prospects in Yoann Gourcuff.

The playmaker was never given a fair chance by Ancelotti, but with the tactician gone many thought the rising star would make a comeback in the Rossoneri shirt. Instead the fans watched as the club let go of a legend in the making.

By taking a quick look at the state of the club one can determine that there doesn’t seem to be a real plan for the upcoming season—let alone the future.

Much of next season will depend on what Leonardo is given to work with which goes on to raise the natural question: Will Milan once again go for a handful of low budget players in order to bring depth to the squad or will there be focus on bringing in a few champions to add the dynamic that is currently missing?

Time will tell what fate has in store for Milan. Vice president Adriano Galliani has been adamant in holding onto his players, but as we know nothing is set in stone.

Alexandre Pato is only one of a handful of players that have yet to decide where they’re playing in the upcoming season.

The Rossoneri fans are headed towards an uncertain future where their beloved Milan is yet to find their new identity.

How Kaká Was Sacrificed for the Greater Good

Marzia Hazra — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:48:29 -0400

Around midnight the re-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Perez did what many thought was impossible.

He finalized the €65 million switch which brought Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, or Kaká as he is more commonly known, to Real Madrid by making him the second most expensive player in history.

Back in January AC Milan was ready to sell their star player to Manchester City who tabled an astronomical bid of around the regions of €100 million. The club left the final decision down to Kaká, who later stated that he hadn’t even given the offer 30 seconds before turning it down.

The reason behind Milan’s lack of pressure for the move to go through was in some sense respect for the player. No offense to Manchester City, but they still have a long way to go before they’ll be able to fight with the Premier League top four. Instead, whispers of a summer move to Real Madrid began flourishing in the media.

During the January transfer window Kaká also pledged his love for the club and has continued to do so ever since. Just last Monday he gave an interview on the plane on his way to Brazil where he once again said he wants to continue winning titles with Milan.

The Brazilian ace has also stated on numerous occasions that he wants to end his career with the Rossoneri and perhaps one day captain the side he joined back in 2003 from San Paolo.

In the treacherous world of football where contracts and loyalty don’t mean a thing, Kaká represented quite the contrary. The love and loyalty the play maker has shown Milan during his six-year stint is a rare thing in the world of football, but unfortunately he had to part ways with the club he adored due to the financial aspects—not his own, but the club’s.

Vice president Adriano Galliani conceded that the reason behind the sale was solely due to economic reasons as the global economic crises is making itself felt at the club.

"The reasons for the departure of Kaka are solely economic. A great heart must confront the situation and make choices. Milan cannot go on losing 70 million euro a year,” Galliani said to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The club’s failure to reach the Champions League last season resulted in the Rossoneri losing out of around €40 million in revenues. With the club losing another €30 million each season for the past couple of years the debt is threatening to build up leaving the club in a strained economic position.

Owner Silvio Berlusconi has pumped money into the club on numerous occasions in order to pay off debts, but naturally this can’t go on forever. Despite what the patron has said in the media regarding his wishes to keep Kaká at the club they’ve seemed rather transparent seeing as he’s switched his view point on more than one occasion.

Kaká being the big man he is, one who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, went on to give his first press conference after the deal was official. After hearing the words it seems that he was forced away rather than going of his own accord as he stated:

“I wanted to stay on at Milan, but the global economic crisis has affected many clubs, especially those like Milan that run as a business. I spoke with the directors and we agreed that the transfer would be in everybody’s interests at this moment in time”, he told Jornal Nacional.

These are hardly the words the Real Madrid supporters want to hear from their long anticipated acquisition who then went on to talk about his future in the Spanish capital where he hopes to make history.

Legendary Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta also believes Kaká left the club for the greater good, despite his obvious wishes to stay on.

“It's a painful decision but Milan will find a great substitute. Kaka did not want to go away. He is an intelligent lad and he accepted his fate for the good of Milan, finding motivation in a new adventure,” Costacurta told Sky Italia.

Although his departure will leave many Rossoneri and Calcio fans in general in great despair the decision is understandable from the club’s point of view as well as the business side of the game.

Milan doesn’t usually let go of players of Kaká’s caliber, let alone players of such importance, but with the financial situation at the club getting more out of hand each year there really was no other choice. This way the club can shift focus to the rest of the squad as the directors are adamant about not letting go of any more of their players.

Milan will, however, never forget the six years that Kaká spent with them where he played integral parts in the club’s Scudetto, Champions League, and the World Club Cup triumphs. It was also in the Italian fashion capital where Kaká became the best footballer in the world by picking up the prestigious Ballon D’Or.

All we can do now is wish him the best of luck as he embarks on his new adventure.