Jasper
Maldini tier
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2005
- Messages
- 47,247
- Reaction score
- 44
- Location
- Mt. Paektu
- Fav. Players
- 3; Marat Safin; Tiziano Crudeli; 2Pac; Christian Bale; Martin M??rsepp; Balotelli.
DERBY: WHAT AN EMOTION!
8/28/2009 6:33:00 PM
Today coach Leonardo held a long press conference in which he talked mainly about the derby, briefly touching on the subject of the Champions League draw.
MILANELLO - The start of the press conference, a few hours after the Montecarlo draw, could only have been about the destiny that pitted Milan against Kaká. Leonardo answered, but also emphasized that the most important and imminent appointment is the derby: "It will be a great emotion, against Real Madrid in the Champions League. We'll play against a team who have spent a lot, but we can't lose sight of the other teams: Marseille are growing and they're a team who can do well in the Champions League, then Zurich which is a team we know... Now, though, it's better to think about the derby."
Quickly closing the European topic it was time to talk about the next opponents, Inter: "It's a derby that comes very soon, I think it's the first time it's on the second matchday. The concentration doesn't change, because it's a special match in itself. We are confident about the match after what we've been doing recently. We've been working well, and now we face the team who have won in the last four years, so we can't lack motivation.
Victories are a consequence of many things. We are growing and you can see it on the pitch. I think that the way we are doing things now will bring good results. That should be our basis."
On the Nerazzurri formation Leonardo said: "Inter have more certainties, they're coming off years of supremacy in the league. They have based their success on the physical strength. In the last few years we have struggled in Italy and we are trying to restart with another type of football. When you think of a favorite it's normal to think about Inter. I don't think it's a 'poorer' derby, because the derby is the derby and also without Kaká and Ibra it remains a great match. The thing that worries me the most is the system they might play. They really have many possibilities to use their players how they want. They're an unpredictable team. From Zanetti to Santon, from Stankovic to Balotelli... in any case they're all players who may or may not play and play in different roles. I don't think our weak point are the full backs. Our playing system initially was supposed to be different, with three strikers and three midfielders. Then things changed for various reasons and we now have the system most suited to us. We must think about us and our own mechanisms."
The tactical part, in tomorrow's match, will be important and on that Leonardo said: "When Inter and Milan play against each other, aside from preceding results or the form or the arrival of a player, anything can happen. I don't say it to be diplomatic. I don't know how they might play, they have many solutions available. Then Mourinho also often changes during a match. He tries many solutions within the 90 minutes. They have many alternatives and the important thing is to know they could use them."
"If I said I haven't thought that tomorrow I could be 5 points clear I would lie. But it would still be early. In Italy consistency is too important, tomorrow is just one stop in a very long journey. In this aspect it becomes important to win without playing well in today's football.
Inter are changing their skin, also because until last year they had a player like Ibra who often allowed them to skip the midfield. Now they are changing this attitude. From our part I think Milan have always had the mentality of an elegant team, capable of playing the ball around and that should always be our philosophy."
After everything that's been written and said, it was inevitable to talk about the relationship with president Berlusconi: "With the president we talk about everything. He's often with us, if he's not here I talk to him on the phone. On Ronaldinho I can say he has tried all these roles, Pato has to grow as a first striker, but he can do it. I think the basis, in agreement with him, is that of two strikers. Then there are some matches and moments where you can try other solutions. If I'm here it's because everyone knows everything. I think it's normal to talk about what he thinks, because he's a public person. He says certain things thinking everyone is always at 100%, but then I make my own evaluations day by day. I've asked him to be as close as possible, because I think it's important. There's nothing new in what the president said, either about the various roles of the players or the new arrivals, and we've talked about it for hours on the phone. They are not new things, because both I and the team know the things that were said. I don't believe everything that's written in the papers, because I only trust what I hear with my own ears. His words on Kaká, concerning that he didn't invent football? I don't think they're true, because I know he has great esteem of him."
On his profession of coach, he said: "The most difficult part is to make choices, especially when you see the effort everyone puts in, and that they're doing well. The important thing, what I look for, is to have the right answers from the players. I try to establish sincerity in the relationships. Even though I know that sometimes I will not be understood. I think direct and sincere relationships are fundamental.
Organisation, attention, and concentration are the characteristics I want to see like at Siena. It was a positive match, but now we play at home, the derby, against our own public... we need something more.
The transfer market is over. We are past that, we must think about playing and doing well. Evaluate what the team can do now, with these elements."
"I want to add that I always have my doubts on everything. In each moment of the day I try to understand something from the people around me. There's always 90% certainties and 10% to change. It's also a way to grow."
"The initial reading of the league can change in time. We are talking about one matchday. Later it can happen that favorites are no longer in the race, while teams who aren't considered strong now can grow and become favorites."
The coach dedicated a separate chapter to Paolo Maldini, who will be in the stadium tomorrow in the dressing rooms: "We don't need to find a place for Maldini. He has a place when and wherever he wants. If I had him at my side I would be honored. He, like Baresi, can't not have a place in the club. They are Milan's history."
Before ending, Leonardo talked about three players in particular, Ronaldinho, Huntelaar, and Flamini: "Ronaldinho has trained well the whole week. Not just him, but the whole team. Both physically and tactically. Huntelaar was unable to play in Siena because of the suspension. He's a player with important technique, intelligent, linear, objective. He has incredible power and precision. Near the goal he is really strong.
Flamini has already played as a full back, he can do it again. He has physical and athletic characteristics that allow him to do it. Certainly, not on the whole wing. Today he's doing very well, he had a great preparation, a fine match at Siena and I'm very happy."
http://www.acmilan.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=89581
A hint?
8/28/2009 6:33:00 PM
Today coach Leonardo held a long press conference in which he talked mainly about the derby, briefly touching on the subject of the Champions League draw.
MILANELLO - The start of the press conference, a few hours after the Montecarlo draw, could only have been about the destiny that pitted Milan against Kaká. Leonardo answered, but also emphasized that the most important and imminent appointment is the derby: "It will be a great emotion, against Real Madrid in the Champions League. We'll play against a team who have spent a lot, but we can't lose sight of the other teams: Marseille are growing and they're a team who can do well in the Champions League, then Zurich which is a team we know... Now, though, it's better to think about the derby."
Quickly closing the European topic it was time to talk about the next opponents, Inter: "It's a derby that comes very soon, I think it's the first time it's on the second matchday. The concentration doesn't change, because it's a special match in itself. We are confident about the match after what we've been doing recently. We've been working well, and now we face the team who have won in the last four years, so we can't lack motivation.
Victories are a consequence of many things. We are growing and you can see it on the pitch. I think that the way we are doing things now will bring good results. That should be our basis."
On the Nerazzurri formation Leonardo said: "Inter have more certainties, they're coming off years of supremacy in the league. They have based their success on the physical strength. In the last few years we have struggled in Italy and we are trying to restart with another type of football. When you think of a favorite it's normal to think about Inter. I don't think it's a 'poorer' derby, because the derby is the derby and also without Kaká and Ibra it remains a great match. The thing that worries me the most is the system they might play. They really have many possibilities to use their players how they want. They're an unpredictable team. From Zanetti to Santon, from Stankovic to Balotelli... in any case they're all players who may or may not play and play in different roles. I don't think our weak point are the full backs. Our playing system initially was supposed to be different, with three strikers and three midfielders. Then things changed for various reasons and we now have the system most suited to us. We must think about us and our own mechanisms."
The tactical part, in tomorrow's match, will be important and on that Leonardo said: "When Inter and Milan play against each other, aside from preceding results or the form or the arrival of a player, anything can happen. I don't say it to be diplomatic. I don't know how they might play, they have many solutions available. Then Mourinho also often changes during a match. He tries many solutions within the 90 minutes. They have many alternatives and the important thing is to know they could use them."
"If I said I haven't thought that tomorrow I could be 5 points clear I would lie. But it would still be early. In Italy consistency is too important, tomorrow is just one stop in a very long journey. In this aspect it becomes important to win without playing well in today's football.
Inter are changing their skin, also because until last year they had a player like Ibra who often allowed them to skip the midfield. Now they are changing this attitude. From our part I think Milan have always had the mentality of an elegant team, capable of playing the ball around and that should always be our philosophy."
After everything that's been written and said, it was inevitable to talk about the relationship with president Berlusconi: "With the president we talk about everything. He's often with us, if he's not here I talk to him on the phone. On Ronaldinho I can say he has tried all these roles, Pato has to grow as a first striker, but he can do it. I think the basis, in agreement with him, is that of two strikers. Then there are some matches and moments where you can try other solutions. If I'm here it's because everyone knows everything. I think it's normal to talk about what he thinks, because he's a public person. He says certain things thinking everyone is always at 100%, but then I make my own evaluations day by day. I've asked him to be as close as possible, because I think it's important. There's nothing new in what the president said, either about the various roles of the players or the new arrivals, and we've talked about it for hours on the phone. They are not new things, because both I and the team know the things that were said. I don't believe everything that's written in the papers, because I only trust what I hear with my own ears. His words on Kaká, concerning that he didn't invent football? I don't think they're true, because I know he has great esteem of him."
On his profession of coach, he said: "The most difficult part is to make choices, especially when you see the effort everyone puts in, and that they're doing well. The important thing, what I look for, is to have the right answers from the players. I try to establish sincerity in the relationships. Even though I know that sometimes I will not be understood. I think direct and sincere relationships are fundamental.
Organisation, attention, and concentration are the characteristics I want to see like at Siena. It was a positive match, but now we play at home, the derby, against our own public... we need something more.
The transfer market is over. We are past that, we must think about playing and doing well. Evaluate what the team can do now, with these elements."
"I want to add that I always have my doubts on everything. In each moment of the day I try to understand something from the people around me. There's always 90% certainties and 10% to change. It's also a way to grow."
"The initial reading of the league can change in time. We are talking about one matchday. Later it can happen that favorites are no longer in the race, while teams who aren't considered strong now can grow and become favorites."
The coach dedicated a separate chapter to Paolo Maldini, who will be in the stadium tomorrow in the dressing rooms: "We don't need to find a place for Maldini. He has a place when and wherever he wants. If I had him at my side I would be honored. He, like Baresi, can't not have a place in the club. They are Milan's history."
Before ending, Leonardo talked about three players in particular, Ronaldinho, Huntelaar, and Flamini: "Ronaldinho has trained well the whole week. Not just him, but the whole team. Both physically and tactically. Huntelaar was unable to play in Siena because of the suspension. He's a player with important technique, intelligent, linear, objective. He has incredible power and precision. Near the goal he is really strong.
Flamini has already played as a full back, he can do it again. He has physical and athletic characteristics that allow him to do it. Certainly, not on the whole wing. Today he's doing very well, he had a great preparation, a fine match at Siena and I'm very happy."
http://www.acmilan.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=89581
A hint?