[KillerMax]

(IMG:http://d.imagehost.org/0412/uefa_cup_logo_06v.jpg)


(IMG:http://d.imagehost.org/0773/Milan3.gif) Milan vs Braga (IMG:http://d.imagehost.org/0492/Braga.png)

Group E:

CODE

Clubs        Pld   W    D    L    GF  GA   Pts
Braga         1    1    0    0    3    0    3
Milan         1    1    0    0    3    1    3
Wolfsburg     0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Heerenveen    1    0    0    1    1    3    0
Portsmouth    1    0    0    1    0    3    0

[Tennie]

Here's Carletto's pregame press conference (translation by the lovely folks at acmilan.com's english page):

MILANELLO - Here are the declarations made by Rossoneri coach Carlo Ancelotti during the press conference ahead of Milan-Braga:

ON SPORTING BRAGA
"Sporting Braga are a team we respect a lot. We saw them against Portsmouth and in the Portuguese league. They're a fast team, dynamic, they play at a high rhythm for the whole game. These are all characteristics we have to take into account.
Braga are a complete team, they run a lot and they have quality players."

ON THE FORMATION WHICH WILL PLAY TOMORROW
"Certainly we will rest some players ahead of Sunday's league game. Tomorrow's game won't be decisive because we still have two other games in this group, so we will be able to do turn-over.
We will certainly be without Zambrotta and Kaká, who will rest and won't be called up, while all the others will be called up and then we will decide which formation to use. Kaká has been away with the national team, he needs to work for a week so he gets more energy even though he is doing well.
Concerning the defence, Senderos and Kaladze will play in the middle, Antonini on the right, and Jankulovski on the left. Nesta and Pirlo remain unavailable.

The Uefa Cup is a competition we care about. We started the group well and a victory tomorrow could increase our chances of qualification, we want to try to win to get in a good position in the group, concerning the league, however, it's an entirely different matter."


ON THE LEAGUE
"The team is in a good moment now, from now on we want to keep the top position in the league, we can't relax.
We are happy to be on top of the table, the difficulties will come now because our objective was to be here 7 months from now, we can't do better than this, we can only do worse, now the preoccupations begin."

ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE SINGULAR PLAYERS
"Concerning the conditions of Nesta, we have decided to let him go away for a while to cure his back problem definitively. There has been some progress, in fact he was available for one game where he went on the bench, but then during training his problems reemerged.
Pirlo is starting to work with more intensity, I think that within the next fifteen days he should be available.
Ronaldinho? The facts say he is more decisive at San Siro than away from home, but I think that's because he's still trying to understand what Italian football is like. Tomorrow he will be available, at the moment I think he needs to play to find more consistency, but I'm not sure if he'll play from the start. I think he's on the right track to get back to his best condition, when he arrived his condition was precarious, he's been working a lot and he has already reached an acceptable condition. We have to be happy with what we've seen so far.
I'm sure Shevchenko will return, until now he hasn't had many chances, he's working very well, with effort and I think he will soon be a protagonist again, hopefully already tomorrow."

ON HIS SEVEN YEARS ON MILAN'S BENCH
"Today I thought about the first day I came to Milanello, a special day, I didn't think I would be here seven years later, after having experienced many great moments, with a lot of success. There's always been a harmony with the group, with the players who have arrived and those who have left, harmony with the club, a very sustained relationship which has consolidated with time.
The thing that impressed me was the moment when I came into the coach's room, it was a bit intimidating to sleep in the same place as Rocco, Sacchi, Capello.
This is not the moment to talk about the renewal of my contract which expires in a year and a half, if the will is there then at the right time it will be done, but at the moment there is no need to do that."

ON MEMORIES AGAINST PORTUGUESE TEAMS
"For me Benfica is the ultimate Portuguese team, I remember an important game in '83 with Eriksson and the '90 final again with Eriksson. Also Benfica had one of the best players ever, Eusebio, and there's also Rui Costa, who is now a manager there after having played there."

ON INTER'S RESULTS
"They are a very solid team, very efficient up front and with some unbalancedness behind. There can be periods with inconsistent results which can come because of the new coach's philosophy. Sunday against Udinese they have a difficult match, because they will meet an in-form side.
Mourinho? It's very difficult to make a difference as a coach in Italian football because the team of Italian coaches is very strong and well-prepared. He is a well-prepared person, but to make the difference you need time."