[timothy]

GOOD ONLY IN THE SECOND HALF

Carlo Ancelotti is very satisfied about the victory against Genoa but can't say the same thing about the team's first half. According to the coach, Milan were once again predictable for a large part of the match.

MILAN - Satisfied with the positive signals seen after the defeat in Bergamo, Carlo Ancelotti commented as follows on Milan-Genoa:

"We played a poor first half, we were very slow and predictable. Fortunately we played with a different rhythm in the second half, we played with more spontaneity and we managed to unblock the match. But there were also some very strange refereeing decisions. I think there were two clear hand balls against us, they were so evident you don't really need a replay."

Wednesday night we will have to be very careful and evaluate the recovery of some of our players, there could be some necessary rotation. Today Gilardino was ready to come in, then we broke the deadlock and we maintained the same attitude and could count on players who are very quick and good on the counterattack."

I had seen Pato at a youth World Cup and he impressed me very much, fortunately then he came to us and we are very happy to have him. Today he showed he can also play as a lone striker."

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IMPORTANT VICTORY

"It was very important to win today. Slowly but surely we are getting important points and we are getting closer to our objective, which is fourth place."

- THE WORDS OF THE ROSSONERI -

MILAN - Here are the declarations of the rossoneri after Milan-Genoa 2-0:

KAKA':

"It was very important to win today, and we did. Slowly but surely we are getting important points and we are getting closer to our objective, which is fourth place. In the second half we managed to break the deadlock and from then on everything was easier. When we play at San Siro we always try to take the lead as soon as possible. In first half however, it was a tough, difficult match, we studied our opponents and we took off after scoring the first goal in the second half. Also today I received a few knocks, but by now I'm used to it and I don't complain. Us strikers only ask the referees to protect us, but sometimes it can happen they don't notice some of the meaner fouls.
The balance of 2008 so far is positive, because we have won three games out of four, things are going better and now getting three points away to Reggina would be crucial.
Pato? He is integrating himself within the team and he's starting to learn more about Italian football, today he was very important and scored a splendid brace.
Ronaldo has only suffered from a bit of tiredness because of the many matches we are playing every three days and the traveling, but despite that he is integrating himself with the team again and is recovering from his injury. He'll be back soon."

MASSIMO ODDO:

"Today I came on the pitch and had the opportunity to find more spaces which allowed me to get towards the by-line and send in some dangerous crosses, but we always have to be careful and maintain our balance. Also today I got a few knocks, but these are part of the game and you give exactly what you get. I don't think this was a mean match, and I think the referee handled it well. There were a few fouls, but also the referees can make some mistakes, it's normal. I think that from now on, we have to try and be more cynical and take better advantage of the chances we get.
Personally, I think this was one of my best performances of the season, I found the right spaces. At other times it happens that there is little space to play and you are forced to look for different solutions. You always have to be good to understand the match and try to find the most appropriate solutions. Sometimes teams tend to close themselves up and force us to play on the wings. When we manage to be quick it's easier to find your way to the goal, while when you are more predictable it's tough to find space."

PATO:

"I'm very happy about these two goals, especially because they helped us win the game.
I feel very happy and emotional about Milan's victory. In the first half I missed a chance and during the break my team mates calmed me down."

CLARENCE SEEDORF:

"We are very comfortable with each other because we have a good chemistry within the squad. I'm especially happy for Pato and his brace. I've always said he is a young player, he should be protected by the club, by the coach and by us team mates so he can always be serene and do what he does best on the pitch. He's an intelligent lad, but I repeat, he's very young. When you are only eighteen, you still need to learn a lot, and I'm not just talking about football but about life. Being one of the best players in the world could lead to being surrounded by some wrong people, that's why we need to protect him.
Even though the referees can make mistakes, it's always a pleasure to see that Milan are always correct and elegant and if you have to protest it's better to do it when you win rather than when you lose because in that case it might be seen as trying to find an alibi."

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VIAREGGIO TOURNAMENT: KICK-OFF

MILAN - Today the first game between Genoa and Tottenham. Tomorrow is Milan's debut. It's now on the verge of starting the 60th edition of the world youth tournament of Viareggio. The Rossoneri's team plays tomorrow at 3pm on the "G.Bui" pitch at San Giuliano Terme (Pisa), against the young Macedonian side of Belasica Strumica. Milan will play in Group 3 which also includes Malaysian Indian and Cesena.

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ARSENAL: THE NEXT GAMES

MILAN - Here are all the commitments of Arsenal before the game of the Champions League against Milan on the 20th of February 2008: Tuesday 29th January 2008 Arsenal-Newcastle, 8.45pm, Premier League; Saturday 2nd February Manchester City-Arsenal, 1.45pm, Premier League; Monday 11th February Arsenal-Blackburn Rovers; Saturday 16th February, new FA Cup round.

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REGGINA-MILAN: DE MARCO TO REF

MILAN - Andrea De Marco, from the CAN section of Chiavari, has been designated as the director of the game for Wednesday night's match between Reggin and Milan scheduled at the "Granillo" stadium at 8.30pm. Referee De Marco will be assisted by Felice Strocchia and Sandro Rossomando. Fourth official will be Roland Herberg.

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FA CUP: MANCHESTER UNITED-ARSENAL

MILAN - Arsenal will meet Manchester United in the eighth finals of the FA Cup. The draw was kinder to Chelsea, who found Barnsley and Huddersfield Town respectively. Eighth finals: Bristol Rovers-Southampton; Cardiff City-Wolverhampton Wanderers; Sheffield United-Middlesbrough; Liverpool-Barnsley; Manchester United-Arsenal; Preston North End-Portsmouth; Coventry City-West Bromwich Albion; Chelsea-Huddersfield Town.

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GIANNI BRERA AWARD: MILAN IS PRESENT!

MILAN - At the Gianni Brera award - Sportsman of the year 2007 - Milan was awarded for the success obtained in the last months on the international scene. Ariedo Braida collected the award. Also Leonardo was present for the Rossoneri's club. The Gianni Brera award arrived in its seventh edition and in the previous winners there was already a Rossoneri's trace considering that Paolo Maldini was the sportsman of the year for 2002.

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OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

MILAN - A.C. Milan announces that it has loaned out, with a buy out option, the footballer Leandro Grimi to the sporting clube de Portugal.

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IT'S HIM AGAIN!!

After winning the Golden Ball, Fifa World Player and 14 other awards, Kaka also wins the AIC Football Oscar for best foreign player and best overall player...

MILANELLO - The incredible sequence of awards that have concentrated on the figure of Kaka during the solar year 2007, with important repurcussions at the start of 2008, continues:

Ricardo Kakà won the Oscar as best overall player and the Oscar as best foreign player of the past season. "I won everything with Milan and all the individual awards that I could have won,' said Kaka. "I want to double all that I have won so far. Now there are the Olympics, Brazil has never won the gold medal in football and I will do everything I can to play." The other declarations of Kaka during the Gala of the AIC Football Oscars 2007. "Milan is improving, we are already better than last year. For a place in the Champions LEague, the race will be between us, Fiorentina and Juventus." On Pato: "He's serence, despite the pressure", on Ronaldo and Gila: "He's very important for us, this year we will need him even more, he will be of great help, just like Gilardino, who was decisive at Udine. The league is still long, there are many games and we shall need everybody's help. Whom I prefer? I'm fine with everyone, Gila, Pippo, Ronie, Pato. I search for the understanding with everyone."

Before these latest tributes, Ricky had obtained the following awards:

- January 21, 2008: Giocatore dell'Anno 2007 per il Quotidiano sportivo croato "SN"

- January 18, 2008: Miglior Fantasista 2007 per IFFHS

- January 17, 2008: Miglior Trequartista nel Team of the Year 2007 di UEFA.COM

- December 17, 2007: KAKA' FIFA World Player 2007

- December 16, 2007: KAKA' MVP in the World Cup Final between Boca and Milan: his team wins and he scores one goal and gives two assists

- December 13, 2007: KAKA' Best player of the year according to the reads of the prestigious weekly magazine WORLD SOCCER: over 50% of the votes for him

- December 2, 2007: PARIS, KAKA' is the Golden Ball 2007

- November 19, 2007: Football OSCARS A.I.C., Kakà nominated as best foreign player of 2007, the award will be handed out on the 28th of January

- October 5, 2007: KAKA' Best footballer of the season according to Fifpro, the world association of professional footballers

- August 30, 2007: MONTECARLO, Award Uefa: KAKA' best player of the Champions League 2006-2007

- August 24, 2007: KAKA' Best footballer in Europe according to a survey of SKY amongst its viewers

- June 6, 2007: KAKA' best player in the world according to the votes on the FIFA official website, fifa.com: 48.61% of the votes

- June 1, 2007: KAKA' Best player in the world according the German weekly magazine KICKER: 48.8% of the votes

- May 26, 2007: KAKA' Best player of the season according the readers of the Uefa official website, uefa.com: over 100,000 votes for him

- May 23, 2007: KAKA' Top-goalscorer with 10 goals in the Champions League 2006-2007

- May 15, 2007: KAKA' San Siro Gentleman 2007 Award

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CARLO ANCELOTTI'S CALLED-UP PLAYERS

MILANELLO - 19 players have been called-up by Carlo Ancelotti for the away game at Reggio Calabria:

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Fiori, Kalac
DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Kaladze, Nesta, Oddo, Simic
MIDFIELDERS: Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf
ATTACKERS: Kakà, Gilardino, Pato

[timothy]

STRENGTH AND TENACITY

The Milan coach is thinking about a very determined Milan side tomorrow evening at Reggio Calabria. Confirmed, without any problem, the trust in Gilardino. Maldini? He sacrifices himself like a real captain.

MILANELLO - "Reggina will close down a lot, and will have a prudent attitude, so it will be tough. It will be a type of game similar to those already faced before. At Bergamo, Reggina gave its best when it went behind. Brienza is helping this team. Milan," continued Carlo Ancelotti during the press conference, "Starts its games calmly and with tranquillity, and has no physical problems. In the second half, just like against Genoa, we play with particular intensity. At Reggio we want to do well, to prepare ourselves in the optimal condition for Sunday's game. It will not be easy, but we know that the moment is very important especially for the very delicate game on Sunday. We want to prepare ourselves in the best conditions, standings and results. The referees? Collina yesterday was very clear in explaining that there is the game on the pitch and then the game of the video cameras. We cannot condemn a referee, and I agree with him, for a mistake that only the video camera can see. On Couto's episode, there was an important acknowledgement of Collina, that is that there was no penalty. On Milan-Genoa I can say two things: either that he did not see or that he wanted to throw against Milan. It's clear what I think: he did not see and I spoke about it even with the referee Rocchi."

The other topics: "The formation which we will field at Reggio will play with a lot of determination, strength and tenacity. Dida is available and if he's available, he can play. Roma's ball boy? I don't think it's irregular. If it's irregular, it cannot be done. If it's not irregular, then Roma was good to act cunningly. Tomorrow? We play with three attackers, as usual. The injured players? I think that all of them, Ronaldo, Inzaghi, Jankulovksi and Serginho can be available for Sunday. Maldini will remain at home to work to avoid to play two games in three days. Maldini had a professional behavious on Sunday. I know that for him it's a sacrifice to play on the left hand side, but he does it with enthusiasm and will, proving to be a real captain and putting the team ahead of him. Gilardino? He was angry for the simple fact that he came in the last two minutes. However, he had already played on Wednesday and I opted for a different use. I wanted to play a game with players who run forward and these are the characteristics of Kaka and Pato. I can understand that he does not like to come in two minutes from the end, but even this can be useful, like that of breaking the opponent's game. I didn't feel bad for his attitude. I know Gilardino well, I have no problem with him at all. I think that Gilardino is doing well since his arrival here, he scored many goals and he will score many more. We have trust in him, we must grow all together, no one can think that he cannot grow anymore. The two real attackers can play depending on the game we want to play. If you want to use the target man in attack, Gilardino is better at this thanks to his presence and strength in the air. Nesta could rest, but it is not certain. We have few players, just 19 players. Instead of Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson and Gourcuff have a chance of playing from the start."

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MILAN WIN GIANNI BRERA AWARD: PRESIDENT BERLUSCONI'S SALUTE

MILAN - Yesterday night the Gianni Brera Award 2007 ceremony took place, during which Milan were rewarded for their international successes, and President Silvio Berlusconi sent in the following message: "You can imagine how happy I would be to be there with you, to celebrate our Milan, and if you allow me, my Milan, which once again raised itself to the highest summit of football, becoming the most title-winning club in the world. To those titles we can add - and for that I thank you - the award named after Gianni Brera, the man who gave us the nicest pages of the history of the most beautiful sport in the world. Again thanks from all my heart."

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REGGINA: CALLED UP PLAYERS

REGGIO CALABRIA - Reggina coach Ulivieri, at the end of today's training, called up 19 players for tomorrow's match against Milan: Campagnolo, Novakovic, Alvarez, Cirillo, Cherubin, Lanzaro, Modesto, Aronica, Cozza, Tognozzi, Barreto, Missiroli, Cascione, Tullberg, Stuani, Ceravolo, Pettinari, Vigiani, Montiel. Hallfredsson, Joelson, Amoruso, Valdez and Stadsgaard haven't been called up and worked on their own.

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ULIVIERI: "I want a determined Reggina"

REGGIO CALABRIA - Here's what coach Renzo Ulivieri said ahead of the match against Milan: "Cozza will be back and will be on the pitch from the first minute, on the other positions I will decide tomorrow before the game. It will have to be a determined Reggina side capable of limiting their opponents, we cannot afford to play adventurously against Milan."

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MILAN AND DOLCE&GABBANA: 'GOLDEN' PARTNERSHIP

MILAN - A story born from passion between two worldwide known brands consolidated itself with a Golden seal.

Dolce & Gabbana and A.C.Milan have the pleasure to announce the new “Gold Sponsor” deal which will see the Dolce & Gabbana brand ever more present alongside the Milan brand until 2010.

After three years of exciting collaboration, Dolce & Gabbana will continue to wear the Milan style, signing as before the uniforms of the Team and the entire Club.

The details of the Partnership will be the subject of the press conference which Dolce & Gabbana and A.C. Milan will hold on the first days of February at the Dolce & Gabbana stand in Via Goldoni 10.