Milan Have The Best Central Defenders In Europe - Silvio Berlusconi
The Rossoneri chief has lavished more praise on his players...

The outspoken owner of Milan, Silvio Berlusconi, has claimed that his side's new-look central defensive pairing is the best European football has to offer, however, he reserved judgement on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for the time being.

"Thiago Silva is very strong, and with the return of [Alessandro] Nesta [from injury], we have the best defensive pairing in Europe. Who can be sure that we will not go back to the levels of [Paolo] Maldini and [Franco] Baresi?" Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Goal.com Italia.

"Huntelaar? He is yet to find his position, we'll wait to make judgements."

One position that is set in stone is Berlusconi's continuing presence at Milanello, with the Rossoneri chief dismissing rumours that he will sell the club.

"They are just inventions, my inheritance will still be here after a hundred years," he boomed.

Anthony Wright, Goal.com

i think we're fine with our central defense ... thiago silva is very good ... and nesta is recovering ... but i think we need someone in place of zambrotta

i think we're fine with our central defense ... thiago silva is very good ... and nesta is recovering ... but i think we need someone in place of zambrotta

(And they're still both overrated).

We Know We're Inferior To Juventus And Inter - AC Milan Midfielder Gattuso

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso talked to Sky Sport 24 about a variety of different subjects including the controversy surrounding the war of words between Marcello Lippi and Jose Mourinho, along with his team's prospects a few days before the start of the season.

On the penalty-shootout victory in the Luigi Berlusconi Trophy against Juventus, he said, "We obtained a second victory, after the first one against Varese. What reassures us is the performance. I saw a well-organised team, which tried to play like it wanted. We have to restart from these things."

Asked what this Milan team need ahead of the start of the season, Gattuso said, "We need enthusiasm, we need to play like a team. We have lost important men, our captain Paolo Maldini has gone, we don't have Kaka, who often helped us win with his individual moves.

"I think now we have to find a way to play as a team, we need to suffer more and be careful not to concede goals.

"Are Milan far behind Inter and Juventus? I think that should be our strength, it shouldn't be a problem because we feel inferior. Our intention should be to demonstrate something, make some people change their minds. That's how we need to think."

On the Lippi-Mourinho debate, "I don't think Lippi said anything strange. He is the national team coach, and it's true that he has six or seven Juve players in his team, while the only Italian Inter player is [Marco] Materazzi. What he said is normal, and it's normal that Mourinho got mad. Lippi has to think about his own interests, it's normal. That's how I see it."

Asked what a successful season for Milan would be, he said, "We have to show we can play as a team, because I think we need our fans and if we show we play as a team, the fans will get closer to us. That should be our first objective. Then, if we have to win the league or the Champions League, we have to start with the intention of doing our best. We'll see where we have arrived in the end."

Finally, on Silvio Berlusconi's proposal to reduce player wages, 'Ringhio' commented, "I don't know, I thought it was excessive to talk about a 50% pay cut. When contracts are agreed on, it's always done with the people involved, it's not like we decided everything ourselves. Fifty per cent seems a bit excessive, that's a lot."