[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

[A.X]

ancelotti should leave ,,, and we have to get a new coach wid new ideas and tactics .... look at barcelona frank rykard finished third and barca were qualified to the cl ... but when pep came all the things changed ... and as another example ... look at chelsea ... they changed their coach now they are winning whatever by 1 by 2 or by 3 goals they are getting the 3 pts they need .... milan losing against sampdoria now that's really bullsh*t .... heh ancelotti have to leave ... ok he won all the trophies wid the team ... now he can retire and look for other teams like roma the one he loves or south africa (the one he wants to coach in the world cup) and let a new coach get some new things to the spirit of the team ... and of course the team have to get new young players ... and maldini should retire (no disrespect ;he is a legend and now he has to finish his career and i think that's what he will do and thanks to him for what he did to milan and maybe aday he will coach ac milan) and pirlo have to wake up ... when he holds the ball .... he's like a drunk man just like he did against brazil .... and seedorf is old but still have skills .... beckham have to leave .... because ronnaldinho can play in his place ... or pato or seedorf or jankolovski... we need defender and not some fashion old midfielders... heh ... now don't take that as an insult or an offensive term but this is what i think about the situation we are in ..... peace ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)