Nerik

Ancelotti again: Ancelotti confirmed that Milan have no intention of letting Liverpool dictate how the game will be played. "Liverpool have excellent shooters, give little away and can easily put you out of the game. I have seen them on more than one occasion. Milan must play their own game knowing that it will be a complicated one, much more complicated than the game against Man U. We need to be precise when in possession and capable of operating in restricted space. The hope to play in the same manner as how we did against Man U is there. I already have the team I will play in mind. The only doubts are Maldini's fitness and who to play up front. Will Inzaghi come on later in the game? Depends on what type of game we want to play. Inzaghi is more of a finisher whereas Gilardino has more physical presence and is better in build up play. "

Excerpts from a Gazzetta Dello Sport interview with Pele: What about Milan in the Champs Lge final? Logically they are the favourites seeing how they have been improving with every game since meeting Bayern. It is their great chance to avenge themselves for what happened in Istanbul. What type of game will it be? Very different to the Man Utd game. Liverpool do not play entertaining, open, offensive football. They are physically very strong, have excellent cover and then launch counter-attacks led by Gerrard. Milan will need to hold their nerve. What will be the key to this game? I'd imagine the midfield battle between Mascherano and Gattuso. Milan are technically superior and in Kaka and Seedorf they have two players who can be the difference between two teams in a game. Seedorf quietly gives the team a lot of balance. He hides the ball, provides many assists. The two together could signify winning the Champs Lge.

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Amazing player. I too was 11 when we signed Barnes. Whenever he had the ball at his feet we looked capable of scoring. Best player I've seen in a Liverpool jersey. I only remember the latter stage of King Kenny's career so I cannot make a fair comparison.

He's Czech, he's great............!

To see Henry, Eto'o and Deco turn up for their medicals.

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Excerpt from an interview with Seedorf on Gazzetta Dello Sport Seedorf- The memory of the final lost to Liverpool two years ago does not linger much anymore. "Of course facing Liverpool once again is an added stimulus. I am however convinced that had we replayed that game 20 times we would have won every single time. Also, I would like to assure you that this time the game will not go to penalties.

In fact on Milan TV they were talking about how Liverpool haven't won a game since the Chelsea match, that we've conceded 3 goals in 2 games etc. The idiot presenter (Pellegatti) probably did not even see our line-ups etc. but he was on about how Liverpool are not in great form, that it will still be difficult for AC Milan, but that having beaten the best team in Europe in Man U they have nothing to fear in Liverpool who are less technically gifted and more similar to Bayern Munich in their style of play.

Below is a translation of part of Ancelotti's post-match interview today: Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke about Liverpool following his side's draw against Catania earlier today. "We know Liverpool well. With Gerrard in the middle they are less covered. However with him out wide and Xabi Alonso in the middle they have more cover. Of course I'd like to see the former formation utilised against us. I do not know what formation they played today but we know them very well. Similarly they too know us very well."

Tried looking up the AC Milan one I mentioned early. Could not find it but I found a 2007 version on You Tube in anticipation of this year's final. (Pacino speech in Italian obviously).

Good video indeed. Ironically AC Milan use that Pacino speech on their TV channel when they replay highlights of their 2003 final win.

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I think he will start 4-4-2 Reina Agger Carra Agger Riise Gerrard Alonso Masch Zenden Crouch Kuyt A mix of experience, solidity and physical strength. Milan are at their strongest in the first half. He can then unleash the likes of Bellamy and Pennant in the 2nd half if needed, when the Milan legs tire. I sure hope Milan play with Maldini and Nesta at CB. One is crocked the other not as good as before. They will struggle to deal with Kuyt and Crouch.

AC Milan fans are very very pissed off from what I am reading. They were favourites to sign this guy before Liverpool snuck in. The lad is very highly rated in Italy and was being watched by many of the top clubs.

Hard to choose a fave but if pressed I'd probably go for the one against Villa when he tricked Staunton. I love the commentary as he is doing all that as the commentator is not expecting him to shoot from out there. "............Liverpool really on soooooooooooooooooooooooooooong!!!!!!"

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9-10m would be worth it if you ask me. FFS we spent 14.2m on Cisse.

He does not want to see Liverpool achieve in 3yrs what Man U have achieved in their entire history.

Article in Italian can be found here: http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/...6/padelli.shtml ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Padelli: The Inter fan who keeps goal for the Reds Liverpool?s reserve keeper for the semi-final against Chelsea lets us in on Reina?s secrets and talks about the run up to the Athens final :?Milan are looking for revenge? We are not afraid.? MILAN, 7th May 2007 ? Daniele Padelli is a boyhood Inter fan. He has had an aversion towards AC Milan since his school days. In Athens, for the Champions League final, he will be an opponent of Inter?s so called ?cousins? seeing that since January he has formed part of Liverpool?s squad. REINA ? The semi-final against Chelsea was Padelli?s 4th appearance of the season on the Liverpool bench, ?I have not been lucky enough to play yet but I consider this experience as a unique opportunity? admits the 21yr old ex-Crotone no.1 " I train with incredible players like Gerrard and with coaches of the highest calibre. I am very happy over here and I?d love to stay for another year to keep on improving. In Athens, the Italian keeper who is represented by Silvano Martina (the agent of Buffon and another 10 or so more top keepers) could find himself in the list of 18 players called up for th game. He is competing for that slot with Jerzy Dudek, the hero of the 2005 final who has announced his departure from the Reds after being hardly utilized all season and who is now overcoming a recent injury. A place in the starting line-up? An impossible dream seeing that it is impossible to oust the Spanish keeper Reina. ?When I see Reina train I understand how certain things are achieved. He is a very good keeper but he works harder than anyone else and his intensity is out of the ordinary.? REVENGE ? Whilst awaiting his chance to get a taste of some match action Daniele Padelli has had the time to get aquainted with the Anfield faithful. ?The Kop imposes itself in a game. It is very vociferous and its influence is there to be seen, especially with the fans in such close proximity to the pitch. The penalty shoot-out win against Chelsea was an incredibly emotional experience, mostly due to the involvement of the fans. Now we cannot wait for the final. There is a bit of tension and Benitez has not yet spoken to us about the game. In the dressing room we are not talking much about a possible want for revenge on AC Milan?s part seeing what happened two years ago. Whoever makes it to such important finals does not need any issues to stimulate the wish to win. What is for sure is that the winner will be the team that is best prepared on the 23rd of May, but there is no doubting the fact that Milan and Liverpool are the two best teams in Europe. Antonino Morici

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Mourinho is being questioned too as his version of events of what went on in those 120mins at Anfield led the police to believe that he did not see the game.