Tag: football

AC Milan have been enjoying a remarkable turnaround in fortunes since the start of the season. The club finished outside the top six last season in a very disappointing campaign. This led to the sacking of Clarence Seedorf and former striker Filippo Inzaghi was appointed in his place. The team started in brilliant fashion by winning the opening two matches. Even though their form has dipped in recent weeks, it has still been enough to keep them in contention for a top three finish. This will be enough to see them return to the Champions League next season.

AC Milan have been enjoying a remarkable turnaround in fortunes since the start of the season. The club finished outside the top six last season in a very disappointing campaign. This led to the sacking of Clarence Seedorf and former striker Filippo Inzaghi was appointed in his place. The team started in brilliant fashion by winning the opening two matches. Even though their form has dipped in recent weeks, it has still been enough to keep them in contention for a top three finish. This will be enough to see them return to the Champions League next season.
One of the reasons for this much improved form has been midfielder Keisuke Honda. The former CSKA Moscow man came to the club in January. However, he struggled heavily during his first six months at the San Siro, which led to rumours about a much earlier departure in the summer. Inzaghi has persisted with the Japanese and he has been rewarded with four goals. One has been from the penalty spot and this tally already puts him amongst one of the top scorers in Italian Serie A this season. Inzaghi has said that he is extremely happy with the performances of Honda, which could only improve as the season progresses.
“I said in America this summer that Honda had an incredible desire to prove himself, he works so hard and is always early to training. I am glad for him, as he deserves the applause of our fans. I thought that by changing system and opening up the field we could create more opportunities. It was a good response from the squad and I expected that, as I saw them work hard throughout the week. We almost conceded the equaliser on the counter from a corner, which would’ve been terrible,” said Inzaghi after the recent 2-0 win over Chievo.

AC Milan recently signed former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez on a free transfer after the Spanish club decided to let the 32-year-old choose a club of this destination. Lopez was a former Real Madrid youth team product before going on to make his name at the likes of Villarreal and Sevilla. He returned to the Santiago Bernebeu in the 2013 season in order to act as a replacement for the injured Iker Casillas. His impressive form between the sticks made then manager Jose Mourinho make him as the first choice in the place of Casillas, who is considered as a club legend.

AC Milan recently signed former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez on a free transfer after the Spanish club decided to let the 32-year-old choose a club of this destination. Lopez was a former Real Madrid youth team product before going on to make his name at the likes of Villarreal and Sevilla. He returned to the Santiago Bernebeu in the 2013 season in order to act as a replacement for the injured Iker Casillas. His impressive form between the sticks made then manager Jose Mourinho make him as the first choice in the place of Casillas, who is considered as a club legend.
Even under Carlo Ancelotti last summer, Lopez continued to be the first choice for the Spanish club during the league campaign. Casillas was preferred as the main goalkeeper during the Champions League matches. Lopez may have failed to lead the club to league success, but he lifted the Champions League that also turned out to be the 10th European cup for the prestigious club. Despite all the positivity, Lopez surprised everyone by completing a free move to AC Milan in the summer. Ancelotti has spoken about the departure and he says that Lopez moved to the San Siro in search of stability.
Madrid have signed World Cup 2014 star Keylor Navas as his replacement. “In Madrid he was competing for a place with Casillas; he has decided to take on a new challenge, a different style of football in a different league. He’s a quality keeper, hard-working and dedicated. He wanted more stability which is why he left Madrid. I’m curious to see how he [Morata] gets on in Italy. I know him well and he needs to play regularly because he is still young,” said Ancelotti. Casillas has been the preferred first choice at Madrid this season.

AC Milan wants to buy Pepe Reina, the shot stopper of Liverpool, but, they might not be able to secure that deal due to money issues.

Reina had featured for Napoli in the Italian top tier in the previous season and had been reasonably successful there. The Blues management wanted to have him on a permanent basis this summer, but, they had to change their mind eventually because of the transfer fee of 4 million Pounds demanded by Liverpool and the huge weekly salary of Reina.

AC Milan wants to buy Pepe Reina, the shot stopper of Liverpool, but, they might not be able to secure that deal due to money issues.

Reina had featured for Napoli in the Italian top tier in the previous season and had been reasonably successful there. The Blues management wanted to have him on a permanent basis this summer, but, they had to change their mind eventually because of the transfer fee of 4 million Pounds demanded by Liverpool and the huge weekly salary of Reina.

AC Milan is also not likely to pay Reina such a big weekly salary and thus, it doesn’t seem that the 31-year old Spaniard would make his way to San Siro.

Milan, whose financial condition is not that strong at the moment, is trying to sign players only on loan this summer.
They might make one or two low-priced permanent signings as well, but, mostly, they are looking to borrow the players for the time being. They are also willing to offload one of their biggest superstars Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli had been linked to a move to Anfield after being praised by the Reds boss Brendan Rodgers ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Milan and Liverpool, but, in one of his recent interviews, Rodgers made it clear that he was not in the race to buy the Italian striker.

Speaking in that interview, Rodgers said, “Let me clarify that Mario won’t be a Liverpool player this season. Yes, I applauded him the other day and that’s because he is a terrific footballer, an exceptional talent, but, if you applaud a player, it doesn’t mean you are planning to buy that guy.”

Liverpool had beaten Milan by a profound margin of 2-0 in that friendly match.

Andrea Poli, the Italian playmaker, has said that Filippo Inzaghi would help the Rossoneri become a real force in Europe and all over the world.

Inzaghi has recently been given the charge of AC Milan after the sacking of Clarence Seedorf.

The 40-year Old had been the manager of the youth side of Milan since the last couple of years and he had done a good job there. Being impressed by that, the Milan board decided to get him involved with the senior team.

Andrea Poli, the Italian playmaker, has said that Filippo Inzaghi would help the Rossoneri become a real force in Europe and all over the world.

Inzaghi has recently been given the charge of AC Milan after the sacking of Clarence Seedorf.

The 40-year Old had been the manager of the youth side of Milan since the last couple of years and he had done a good job there. Being impressed by that, the Milan board decided to get him involved with the senior team.

A lot of Milan players have already expressed their happiness on Inzaghi’s appointment and yesterday, Poli also got included in that list.

Speaking to the reporters, the youngster said, “Inzaghi’s record with the youth team is pretty good. I have been told that he’s a fantastic bloke and very energetic. I am looking forward to work with him. It’s important that we, the players, give him full support. Only then, we will be able to get our team rebuilt.”

“I have no idea about his coaching style to be honest. So, I can’t comment on that. I have just heard a few things about him. That’s it. But, what he has done with the junior team, it suggests that he has got good managerial skills.”

AC Milan had struggled a lot in the previous Serie A. They changed their manager in the middle of their campaign, but, despite that, they found it hard to win regularly and at the end, they finished at the 8th position with 57 points.

They want to start on fresh terms now and that’s why, they handed axe to Clarence Seedorf only after a brief stint. They would be hoping that Inzaghi takes them on the right path and helps them regain their lost glory.