YUGOSLAV
Josip Broz TITO
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2002
- Messages
- 3,587
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Chicago, (Mostar)
- Fav. Players
- Baggio, Totti, Maldini, Canna, Olic, Barbarez, Šuker, Gatu, Buffon, Pirlo, Zambro & Nesta
Ancelotti blamed for Barca setback
Wednesday 3 November, 2004 (football Italia)
Milan’s defeat at the Nou Camp has brought back the criticism of their tactics from President Silvio Berlusconi and Andriy Shevchenko, while Jaap Stam requires surgery.
The Rossoneri were leading 1-0 through Shevchenko’s strike, but Barcelona pushed back and eventually won with a last-minute Ronaldinho goal. Some say the key was Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to field Kaka and Serginho in support of the lone centre-forward.
“President Berlusconi was watching the game on television and said it was unacceptable that Milan were playing with only one striker,” a close aide was quoted as saying in the press.
The patron – who is also Prime Minister of Italy and a multi-millionaire businessman – had already publicly ordered Ancelotti to field two forwards at all times over the last couple of years.
Ancelotti’s decision against Barca was dictated mainly by fitness worries, as Hernan Crespo and Jon Dahl Tomasson are struggling with injury, while Pippo Inzaghi did not even make the trip.
“Even if the tactical system was a different shape,” added Vice-President Adriano Galliani, “we were still playing with three attack-minded men upfront. I think that on Sunday against Roma we’ll go back to the more traditional two strikers.”
Shevchenko gave his analysis of the match after scoring his second in as many games against Barcelona.
“It’s a shame we were unable to win,” said the Balon d’Or candidate, “but in the second half Barca played great football and deserved this result. We could have done so much better, as after a while it became clear Barca didn’t know what else to do. We should have taken advantage at the time, but our mistake was thinking we could win it 1-0. You can’t try to defend against this side, but a few more piercing counter-attacks would have sunk them.”
Ancelotti himself revealed the reasoning behind this switch back to the 4-3-2-1, a system that had proved very successful in the early stages of Milan’s Champions’ League winning campaign of 2003.
“I had Serginho play slightly wider in order to stop Belletti bombing forward on that flank,” he explained. “It worked well for the first 30 minutes, but we weren’t aggressive enough in midfield and that’s where the game was lost.”
Nonetheless, the Rossoneri need just one point from their remaining two matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic to be sure of qualifying for the knockout stage after winning their first three encounters.
Meanwhile, there was more bad news for Milan, as this evening specialists have told Jaap Stam he could require surgery for a recurring tendon problem in his left ankle.
Wednesday 3 November, 2004 (football Italia)
Milan’s defeat at the Nou Camp has brought back the criticism of their tactics from President Silvio Berlusconi and Andriy Shevchenko, while Jaap Stam requires surgery.
The Rossoneri were leading 1-0 through Shevchenko’s strike, but Barcelona pushed back and eventually won with a last-minute Ronaldinho goal. Some say the key was Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to field Kaka and Serginho in support of the lone centre-forward.
“President Berlusconi was watching the game on television and said it was unacceptable that Milan were playing with only one striker,” a close aide was quoted as saying in the press.
The patron – who is also Prime Minister of Italy and a multi-millionaire businessman – had already publicly ordered Ancelotti to field two forwards at all times over the last couple of years.
Ancelotti’s decision against Barca was dictated mainly by fitness worries, as Hernan Crespo and Jon Dahl Tomasson are struggling with injury, while Pippo Inzaghi did not even make the trip.
“Even if the tactical system was a different shape,” added Vice-President Adriano Galliani, “we were still playing with three attack-minded men upfront. I think that on Sunday against Roma we’ll go back to the more traditional two strikers.”
Shevchenko gave his analysis of the match after scoring his second in as many games against Barcelona.
“It’s a shame we were unable to win,” said the Balon d’Or candidate, “but in the second half Barca played great football and deserved this result. We could have done so much better, as after a while it became clear Barca didn’t know what else to do. We should have taken advantage at the time, but our mistake was thinking we could win it 1-0. You can’t try to defend against this side, but a few more piercing counter-attacks would have sunk them.”
Ancelotti himself revealed the reasoning behind this switch back to the 4-3-2-1, a system that had proved very successful in the early stages of Milan’s Champions’ League winning campaign of 2003.
“I had Serginho play slightly wider in order to stop Belletti bombing forward on that flank,” he explained. “It worked well for the first 30 minutes, but we weren’t aggressive enough in midfield and that’s where the game was lost.”
Nonetheless, the Rossoneri need just one point from their remaining two matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic to be sure of qualifying for the knockout stage after winning their first three encounters.
Meanwhile, there was more bad news for Milan, as this evening specialists have told Jaap Stam he could require surgery for a recurring tendon problem in his left ankle.
We need creative midfielders who are quicker, mentally + physically, + def mids who are capable of contributing slightly more than committing fouls. 
Ancelotti wasn't the problem last night the players playd horribly and that was what went wrong. We are missing a lot of players due to fitness and injury so who else is he supposed to play. I like Silvio, but if wants to be the coach then he should just fire Ancelotti and take over - if not keep your mouth shut or at least address him behind closed doors. Tomasson and Crespo are both having problems and Serginho has been playing well, so I think he made the right decision on who to start. Fact is we looked slow and allowed them to attack all game. Our midfield did nothing to hold the ball or take any pressure of the defense at all. 
