[timothy]

AMBITION: RETURNING TO AZZURRI

"The away game at Siena will not be as easy as people think. It's a difficult pitch and we won't be able to train together until Friday." - DANIELE BONERA'S DECLARATIONS -

MILANELLO - Here are the declarations made to Milan Channel's microphones by Daniele Bonera before Milan's second training session at Milanello.

At the end of the week Milan have an important league match to play...
"Yes, the away game at Siena will not be as easy as might be thought. It's a difficult pitch and also many national players will be coming back from their respective teams only on Thursday and Friday. The preparation for the match is not easy, but those who have remained are preparing it with great dedication."

Do you think the coach will make a lot of changes?
"Ancelotti knows how to handle the situation. Also last year when we seemed in difficulty, the coach managed to evaluate which players needed to rest and make the right choices. That way we obtained great results, we were asked to reach fourth place and win the Champions League, which is what happened. Our coach knows very well what he has to do."

What can you tell us about your friend Alberto Gilardino?
"In Kiev Alberto played a decent match. The team played with people who had been playing less, but they showed they were ready at the right moment, including Alberto. He played very well and has to continue doing what he's been doing so far. People are focusing a lot on the fact he hasn't found the goal yet, but also against Fiorentina he played a decent game, sacrificing himself a lot and for that he should be appreciated."

In the past few days you've had the chance to watch the Italian National team train at Milanello, have you thought about the possibility of going back to wear the Azzurri shirt?

"That's something I always hope for, I think I can be a part of the National team. I think the season I had last year allows me to hope to come back to the National team, and I hope to repeat myself this season too."

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TRANSPARENT RELATIONSHIP

"I have a lot of faith in Milan Lab and Milan's doctors. The relationship is always very sincere and transparent. I hope to be able to get back to doing what I like best." - RONALDO'S DECLARATIONS -

MILANELLO - Here are the declarations made by Ronaldo exclusively to Milan Channel at the end of the day at the Milanello sporting center.

Ronie, first of all welcome back even though you were gone for a short while, but it's a pleasure to see you here and it's a pleasure to know you are already starting to work to get back on the pitch soon.
"Yes, thanks. This visit to Brazil was important, to have another important opinion from a person I trust very much, without taking anything away from previous opinions. We cleared a few things up, so now we are on the right road to recovery."

Do you have an idea of when you might come back?
"No, absolutely not, because muscular injuries are always very difficult to evaluate. I think now we will do the right things to get back to playing as quickly as possible."

Many things have been said and clearly the fans have read many things. Is there anything you'd like to say to clear up how things have gone in reality?
"From our side, we always try to do things transparently, so as not to put our work in doubt. All we want is to be given the tranquility to recover from the injury in the time that is necessary. Unfortunately this injury came up, we made some mistakes, but now everything has been discovered. Now we are working in the right direction and hope to get back as soon as possible."

Saturday Milan play at Siena. Is there a bit of melancholy or nostalgia as it was against them you started scoring for Milan, and now you won't play?
"Yes, anyway we are at the start of the season, I'm sure I will have time to recover and come back on the pitch to score lots of goals. I scored my first goal against Siena, now it's up to the lads to do well and bring home the three points."

So the good relationship with Milan continues?
"Certainly, certainly. I have a lot of confidence in MilanLab and in Milan's doctors. The relationship is always very transparent, very sincere, so it's very positive."

Your story isn't finished?
"My story has begun, I have been at Milan for a short while and unfortunately these injuries can happen to players and can keep us away from the pitch, but I hope to get back to doing what I like most as soon as possible."

[AeroIceman]

Just a friendly update on one of your players: Kaka
In an international friendly between Brasil and Mexico, Kaka scored a goal, the second of Brasil's 3.
First half; Kaka had no freedom from the Mexican defenders so he did not do much of anything.
His lone oppurtunity came from a beautiful pass to him inside the box. Alone against the golkeeper; golkeeper blocks his shot.

Second half:
Kaka does absolutely nothing, until he scores. He was substituted out with a standing ovation!!!

Final score Bra3-Mex1 on a beautiful and very tight game.

[timothy]

FROM TODAY PRE-SALES FOR MILAN-BENFICA

MILAN - Today, at the Banca Intesa offices Ac Milan's authorised sales for tickets to the Champions League match Milan-Benfica which will be played at San Siro on Tuesday 18 September. The fans will also be able to buy the mini-subscriptions for all of Milan's home group stage games against Benfica, Celtic and Shakhtar.

I am happy that i have my ticket

[timothy]

KAKÁ AND THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

MILAN - He's won the Champions League as top scorer and is ready to launch a new assault on the major European teams again. Ricky Kaká spoke on uefa.com's official website about the new competition about to start.

[timothy]

SIENA-MILAN: OFFICIAL LINEUP

SIENA: Eleftheropoulos; Rossettini, Portanova, Loria; Grimi; Jarolim, Vergassola, Galloppa; De Ceglie, Maccarone, Bucchi.
MILAN: Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Kaladze, Favalli; Gattuso, Emerson, Brocchi; Gourcuff, Seedorf; Gilardino.

[timothy]

IT'S FINISHED: SIENA-MILAN 1-1

SIENA - The match between Siena and Milan, on the third matchday of Serie A, finished in a draw. It was Alessandro Nesta, in injury time, who was able to net the equaliser after Massimo Maccarone's first-half goal. In the final moments of the match Clarence Seedorf hit the crossbar.

[timothy]

LET'S LOOK FORWARD

"We started the game well, creating many chances and nearly scoring. Now, let's look ahead." Seedorf was disappointed after hitting the crossbar. - THE ROSSONERI'S DECLARATIONS –

SIENA - Here are the declarations given by the Rossoneri after Siena-Milan (1-1):

Yoann Gourcuff:
"I'm not confident enough yet to be able to play here the way I do for the French national team, but slowly I am moving with more freedom when I'm close to the goal, and I am able to take more risks in the offensive moves.
I am disappointed because this draw is not a good result. The Coach told us that we had to start well in the league because having a position in the league gives more serenity and self-confidence to the group. Too bad, if we had scored quickly it would have gone very differently."

Alessandro Nesta:
"It was an unlucky match. Siena had one shot and scored one goal. It was just an episode, we would have deserved to win.
The game was very uneven, it was a bit of a confused game. I did not celebrate my goal very fanatically, too bad Clarence's free kick hit the crossbar, unfortunately it went like that.
Now let's hope to start well in the Champions League again and show a great Milan side."

Cristian Brocchi:
"Sandro's goal was decisive, strongly desired by the whole team. At the start we had many chances, then unfortunately they scored which changed our attitude. In the second half we reacted, perhaps Nesta's goal arrived too late to overturn the result and try to win.
We did not manage to react properly after Siena's goal, perhaps we were a bit naive in failing to react immediately.
The Coach has our same ideas in interpreting the matches: again, after their goal we should have restarted again as in the beginning of the match. In the second half, however, Milan took command of the match and if the goal had come only 10 minutes earlier, perhaps we would be commenting on a different result."

Emerson:
"I know I can do better, my feelings are good, I feel I am missing a bit of rhythm, but I'm happy to have been able to stay on the pitch almost the whole game. The Coach did everything to make me get to my best condition, I'm just disappointed about the draw, it's a shame.
My first feelings as a Milan player are of satisfaction and happiness to have returned to playing in the league after a difficult period. Even though I am no longer a kid, I still have value: I want to show I can do more, to be able to help the team. Perhaps with a little more confidence and strength in my legs I will also be able to try shots from outside the area, but if I'm not in top shape I can't do that, I hope to try it next week."

Clarence Seedorf:
"Siena came on the pitch to defend, not to win. We started the game well and throughout the 90 minutes they only went forward on counterattacks. In any case the draw is fine even if we could have won: at the start we had many good moves and almost scored. In the first fifteen minutes Milan pushed forward more. But we have to be calm, we showed character to find the equaliser. The league is long, now we have to work hard and not lose any more points. It would have been nice if my free kick would have gone in instead of hitting the crossbar. Now we go forward and look ahead because already on Tuesday we have a difficult match."

[timothy]

MILAN-BENFICA: RILEY TO REFEREE

MILAN - Uefa have assigned the referees for Tuesday's Champions League matches. Milan-Benfica will be led by Mike Riley from England.

[timothy]

SUBSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN 2007-2008: OVER 39.000 TICKETS SOLD!

MILAN - The last update regarding the sales of season tickets for Milan's 2007-2008 season reads as follows: as of midnight yesterday 41.674 season tickets have been sold for an income of 13,060,785.00 euros. With regards to the mini-subscriptions to the Champions League, the season tickets sold are 19.073 for a partial income of 1.037.846,00 euros.

[timothy]

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: MILAN-BENFICA PRE-SALES

MILAN - Aside from the 19.073 mini-subscriptions, the rossoneri fans have also bought 3.852 single tickets for the opening match of the Champions League at San Siro against Benfica. The total partial data for the match is: 22.925 tickets sold, with an income of 446.927,00 euros.

[timothy]

MILAN-BENFICA: THE CALLED-UP PLAYERS

MILANELLO - This is the list of 20 called-up players by Carlo Ancelotti for the Champions League in program tomorrow night against Benfica:

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac;
DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Nesta, Oddo, Simic;
MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Emerson, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf;
ATTACKERS: Gilardino, Inzaghi.

[timothy]

OVER 24000 SUBSCRIBERS

With 24 hours before the end of the sale of the mini-subscriptions for the Champions League, the tickets sold are 24,066. The total amount is of 365.160,00 Euros. The Rossoneri need all of the support of the public, as a new Champions League is starting

[timothy]

BERLUSCONI: 'We want everything'

MILAN - The Champions League starts again and President Berlusconi wants to motivate his Milan. These are some of the declarations he gave to the 'La Gazzetta dello Sport': "Ihope tha tonight's game is the first step toward another final, where I would like to meet a great team like Real Madrid or Barcelona. We always aim for the highest target in every competition. And this, therefore, is valid also for the league."

[timothy]

BERLUSCONI: 'Gilardino has a fixed spot in Milan's future'

On Gilardino: 'I called him to make him feel better and make him understand that we are all with him. Gilardino has been unlucky lately, but he should not feel down because he has great qualities and fixed spot in Milan's future.' On Kaka: 'I think that Kaka must not prove anything, but these games will be the chance to distance himself from the rivals for the Golden Ball'. On Dida: 'He's a great campion, a bit of bad luck like the one at Siena can happen to everyone.' On Ronaldo: 'Let's give him the time to recover and you will see that Ronaldo will be the extra man, like I always thought.' At the end of the interview the President confirmed his presence at San Siro.