[novfan]

Ancelotti stays defiant, ‘Winter break will do us good’

MILAN: AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to rule his side out of the Serie A title race after a 4-2 defeat at Juventus on Sunday.

Milan, who were without the injured Kaka, Mathieu Flamini and Gennaro Gattuso, are now nine points behind leaders Inter Milan and three behind second-placed Juve after 16 games.

The Rossoneri, only fifth last season, host faltering Udinese next weekend before a mid-season break when David Beckham joins on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.

“I think there will definitely be a reaction to this defeat.

“The winter break will be useful as we will get some players back,” former Juve boss Ancelotti told Sky.

“From a defensive point of view, we gave them too much. We started the game really well.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries and been without some important players.”

Brazilian-born striker Amauri, signed for €22.8mil (US$30.3mil) from Palermo in the close season having played for Chievo among others, grabbed two of Juve’s goals.

Juve coach Claudio Ranieri was thrilled with the 28-year-old, who is waiting for an Italian passport and may make himself available for Italy boss Marcello Lippi having never been called up by Brazil.

“I expected it as the club paid lots of money for him. Amauri arrived at the right time, he has gained experience around Italy and has matured before joining us. He is doing great things,” Ranieri beamed.

“We knew Milan would start strongly and we suffered a lot in the first 10 minutes but I had faith.” — Reuters

[Bluesummers]

David Beckham is not outstanding. Ronaldinho has to work harder, perhaps taking example by Paolo Maldini. Clarence Seedorf has the right mentality, as opposed to Yoann Gourcuff unlikely return in rossonero. Carlo Ancelotti spoke to former all-rossonero Vikash Dhorasoo, interviewer for the monthly magazine So Foot, now at newsstands with a special French on the Spice Boy, arrived at Milan "by coincidence".


TOP CLASS - "In the beginning - Ancelotti also specifies journalists Simon Capelli Welter and Javier Prieto Santos - had to train for only two months and was not planning to play it. Then, as is training, I had no choice." Beckham and Milan has a long history: "We tried to take two or four years ago, but it fades." Before training, Ancelotti not considered a top class player. Today he changed his mind: "I can say that it is a great player, but not outstanding, although I won with the performance and character." "In the field - the coach insists - Beckham sees more first of all. The vision of the game is better than the time in Manchester, has nothing to envy to Kakà. E 'slower but stronger tactically and technically. And then very intelligent and works hard. A real beast. "


DIVINING ROD - Unlike Ronaldinho, sticks to Ancelotti: "Players like him, all based on talent. I have trained many great players and the majority think that it makes a difference only with talent. It is not true. In modern football if you do not have a good physical condition and does not work in training is more difficult to shine in the game. " The example? Maldini: "Professional for 20 years, has never complained in training". Or Seedorf, "one of the most important players. An off-road. Play anywhere without losing performance." Regardless of the tactical scheme. Ancelotti prefers the Christmas tree, although Silvio Berlusconi claims the 4-4-2. "You know - cut short -, Berlusconi will say so many. Although, from a defensive point of view it is right. Del 4-4-2 but I am not convinced the offensive side." Despite the Milan team in the three Golden Balls, "We are not the Real Madrid of the Galacticos. Badiamo not to palmarès, but the usefulness for the team. I believe for example that Shevchenko will return as the golden age." Meanwhile, as a Seedorf becomes irreplaceable because in addition to the "quality" you "mentality of steel."


YOUNG - What's missing in Gourcuff, loaned to Bordeaux: "I do not know if it returns to Milan. Difficult but not impossible." Also blame the context: "At Milan we must demonstrate its value quickly and can not provide continuity for young people. It 'a shame, but it is. I understand that it is disappointed, but when I played too tended to want to prove his worth, individually and not for the team. E 'without a doubt a great player, but the mental was his main problem: it collapsed immediately. They say that looks like Zidane? The hope of becoming like him. " Ancelotti instead encourages Flamini: 'It is important for me, I wanted it. No one has the permanent position. Who does not play has to do better in training or be on the bench, because others are doing better. Flamini has played little, it is true, but the season is still long. "


FUTURE - And finally the coach of Milan, that among my colleagues in Europe appreciates most of all Guus Hiddink ( "something special") stuzzica Raymond Domenech, the coach France with the poisoned tooth sull'Italia ( "He speaks too much, do not listen"), looking to the future: "Train Italy? No, my dream is the Ivory Coast."

two words: mental handicap

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Mar 3 2009, 04:03 PM