BETWEEN HIGHS AND LOWS
9/29/2009 3:33:00 PM
Ahead of the match against Zurich, Leonardo and Massimo Ambrosini gave a press conference. The themes: the solutions to the problems, the playing system, Milan's moment. - THE DECLARATIONS -
MILANELLO - Here are the first declarations made by coach Leonardo and Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini ahead of the match against Zurich, during this afternoon's press conference at Milanello:
LEONARDO:
On the moment: "We've had a season of highs and lows, against Zurich it will be an important match. Now there's the Champions League, it's an important match and we have to put in practice what we discuss. In the Champions League there's not need for much change, we need what our basic formation is."
On the solutions to the problems: "It's true that playing successive games isn't easy, we are 48 hours away from a game and 24 hours before another. We have to find solutions to face the next match without lingering in the past. Now there's the Champions League, it's an important match and we have to put in practice what we discuss.
I'm not worried, a coach is always under discussion, it's impossible for there not to be discussion. For me it's the least important thing.
The team's issue is general, it isn't physical, it's not true that we didn't run against Bari. We are a team built to play and to hurt, when we struggle to create attacking chances we suffer, we are looking for some alternatives for the system.
Our moves have to be faster, we have to get the ball further forward, if we manage to play in the opposition's half we create more. Against Bari that was the idea, but after ten minutes Bari found space and their playing style caused us problems."
On the playing system: "Certainties come from results, after Siena and Marseille we had many certainties. You can't just think about revolutionising things all the time. It's not a question of changing the playing style, because the players we have in the squad are suited to the 4-3-1-2, then during the match it's possible to look for alternatives. Alternatives are necessary, especially when things aren't going well. We are thinking about it, we're thinking about everything."
MASSIMO AMBROSINI
On the old guard: "Complaints are always caused by results, it's normal that when things don't go well, they are about the age of the players and the amount of time they've been here, but this for us is a motivation, we don't feel old, we don't feel arrived, we already showed it a few times this season. They said the same things about Juve a few years ago, and now they are doing very well. Ten years ago, important players of ours were severely criticised but then won everything."