[Jack Sparrow]

AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo is in doubt for the match with Catania on Sunday as his injury woes continue...


It has not been a good season for Andrea Pirlo or even AC Milan in general in terms of injuries.

Pirlo has spent a majority of the season off the pitch, only recently making his return to the line-up after being on the sidelines for over two months. The Italian international injured his tibia against Palermo, missing the midweek Coppa Italia clash with Lazio, and he is now in doubt to take on Catania on Sunday.

Meanwhile, coach Carlo Ancelotti has other selection headaches to deal with. Besides the usual absentees of Marco Borriello and Alessandro Nesta, Daniele Bonera and Filippo Inzaghi could also sit out against the Sicilian side.

Bonera is suffering from back pain and former Juventus striker Inzaghi has the flu, so both are a major doubt for the match at the San Siro, according to Calciomercato.

One positive note for Ancelotti is the goal Andrei Shevchenko scored in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday. The Ukrainian looks set to retain his place in the starting line-up ahead of Alexandre Pato, who himself may not be at full fitness.

goal.com

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This post has been edited by Jack Sparrow: Dec 5 2008, 06:34 AM

[amancik]

I have a feeling that Shevchenko might be the hero in this game.

[Ry4n]

goal.com

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Dam

[Zed.D]

Simply because, Milan wont risk balancing Serie A with UEFA cup. Hence, Milan are more devoted to Serie A.

Of course there will be dropped points, this is football, but Milan have the advantage as UEFA cup isn't exactly CL, Milan might get knocked out after the group stages, and frankly I wouldn't care as I would prefer Milan to concentrate solely on Serie A.

If having to compete in two difficult competitions is going to penalize Inter, I think it will cost them the CL, not the title race. what I mean is, in Serie A they mostly play smaller teams, "UEFA Cup/Intertoto level" teams or worse. there are only a handful of teams that can create real problems for this Inter. I don't see them getting into much troube beating these midtable/bottom table teams even if they are focusing on the CL. there aren't THAT many teams that we could rely on...

Milan might get knocked out after the group stages

Inter too. they have this habit of getting eliminated in the early stages. I know I wouldn't hold my breath for Inter to go all the way in the CL and in the meantime drop points in the league for us to take advantage of. we reached the top spot a few weeks ago and now we are 6 points off the top. we failed once at doing the easier thing, which is relying on ourselves, not others.

As for Juve, I don't think they can continue like this. lack of depth will punish them somewhere down the line where they will be left wondering whether to focus on the league or the CL.

With Inter, unfortunately, I don't see this happening. firstly because they have a great depth, which only ours compares to, and they might face a tough draw (Chelsea for example are almost certain to finish second in their group) and face an early exit from the CL.

This post has been edited by zdrossoneri: Dec 5 2008, 10:41 PM

[kurtsimonw]

Injuries are no excuse, we should be prepared.. but we aint half unlucky with not just the amount of players getting hurt, but who's getting hurt isn't helping.

[Astafjevs]

If there's one thing we can put our houses on, it's Inter to fail miserably in the Champions League.

[Tennie]

+1 cookie to Astafjevs for that one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif)

Anyway, to news about the game. Quite an impressive injury list according to Ancelotti's prematch interview. Bonera (thigh strain), Inzaghi (flu), and Pirlo (bruised tibia) are all out and Pato is a doubt (doesn't sound like he'll play either).

[Nova]

Long time since i've been home to watch this game , let's hope for a good result .

Season is still long from over , lazio can steal points from merda and we can do good business if we win against Catania. These are the points you must win , i think we lost 4th spot last year cause of the silly points we lost against the same silly teams.

So forza Milan !!

[dst]

If there's one thing we can put our houses on, it's Inter to fail miserably in the Champions League.

Spain won the Euro... anything can happen...

[Zed.D]

Spain won the Euro... anything can happen...

+1

[TriniKing_CE]

Ancelotti Wants To Disprove Milan 'Crisis' At Catania
Milan tactician Carlo Ancelotti is using the Sicilians as a litmus test.

Milan host Sicilians Catania this weekend, and the visitors have had a great season thus far: had they won at home to Lecce last week they would have entered the top four.

Milan's biggest problem is that their form has not been very good lately. They lost at home to Lazio in the Italian cup a few day ago, and they were beaten 3-1 at another Sicilian team, Palermo last weekend.

Prior to that they drew 2-2 at both Torino and Portsmouth in the League and UEFA Cup respectively. Ancelotti's side need a morale-boosting win this weekend, which will dispel rumours of a crisis looming at the Rossoneri. Walter Zenga will be aiming for a positive result away in the North of Italy.

Ancelotti commented at today's press conference, “The objective is to win and return to our title journey. Catania are a very unique side, and they are doing very well in this early part of the season. We need to cancel out this moment and with calm and motivation we must prepare for the next match after this game, which will be versus Juventus,” said the coach.

Speaking about the missing players that have added to the difficult moment of the team, Ancelotti said, “In the last few games we have had a problem with the players in our midfield, which has put extra workloads on Flamini, Emerson and Seedorf, punishing them in the process. Unfortunately Pirlo, Ambrosini and Gattuso have been out for various reasons, and in attack the loss of Borriello was even more telling than the lack of Nesta in defence.”

Ahead of tomorrow's game Ancelotti revealed, “Pato has not recuperated fully. Pirlo and Ambrosini are still unavailable. Seedorf needs to be evaluated, while Bonera won't make it and Inzaghi has the flu.”

Regarding his opposing coach at Catania, Walter Zenga, the Milan boss said, “Catania play a defensive but dangerous game, especially on the counter-attack. Zenga had courage to go and coach outside of Italy, and what he is accomplishing now with Catania is deserved.”

Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com

Ancelotti - Pre-game Match Conference -- GOAL.COM

[Astafjevs]

Spain won the Euro... anything can happen...

Shorter format with single knockout games. No home advantage for any team (not this year at least, as none of the hosts were contenders). The CL has two legged knockouts, where a bit of nous is required in terms of getting through.

[TriniKing_CE]

LET’S RETURN TO BE MILAN
12/6/2008 3:13:00 PM
In the clash against Catania, Carlo Ancelotti wants to find back his Milan: solid, balanced and with the right rhythm. Against the Sicilian side Pirlo, Ambrosini and Bonera will be missing – ANCELOTTI’S DECLARATIONS -

MILANELLO – On the eve of the clash against Catania, Carlo Ancelotti spoke during the press conference with the numerous journalists present at the sports centre of Carnago. The coach spoke about the game against the Sicilian side, Kaka and more:

THE CLASH AGAINST CATANIA
“We want to do well against a very dangerous team. We must do so for ourselves and also to prepare ourselves in the best possible way for the game against Juventus. Tomorrow’s game is a very important verification. Pato? He’s not recovered for tomorrow, just like Pirlo, Ambrosini and also Bonera. However, today for Pato we shall make a better evaluation on his conditions. Inzaghi? He has the fever and is not available. We must play a game at a time and the fact that Gattuso is carrying a yellow card cannot make us already think about the game against Juventus. Zenga? In this Catania side he brought grit and innovation. My rapport with Zenga? I always had a good rapport with him, we shared many adventures with the national team. I also scored against him in a derby game, but they disallowed it.”

KAKA’S POSITION
“With Kaka I speak ever day, I know his thought and I don’t see the uneasiness I read about on the newspapers. Kaka is not a double of this team, he holds the keys of the team like many players have. Milan continues to base itself on Kaka, I don’t see the problem. He’s producing less? He plays in a lower position and for this reason he’s scoring less. It’s a moment of thought, not of uneasiness. We try all together to do well for the team. I understand that the newspaper want to create a Kaka problem, a problem which does not exist. If we want to talk about his finishing, I continue to say that it only depends from his position. He does what I ask him to do and for this reason I’m absolutely satisfied about his season. Kaka is at 70%? I’m happy about this percentage.”

THE SQUAD’S MOMENT
“We must try to resume our path of 15 days ago. We lost rhythm with the midfielders and we must find it back. We received a good blow at Palermo, but I think that there is still time to recover. I must also say that certain missing players are being felt. In particular that of Borriello who in attack gives us movements and characteristics which are ideal for our game.”

DIDA’S PERFORMANCES
“Dida is doing very well and his competition with Abbiati is persisting. We have two great goalkeepers and I’m very satisfied with the performance of both. Even Abbiati has done very well and therefore still deserves his first team place.”

BECKHAM’S ARRIVAL
“He will not change anything from the tactical level. He’s a midfielder and therefore there will not be a problem his coexistence with Kaka and Ronaldinho. The 4-2-3-1 tactic? With these players I exclude it.”

NESTA’S CONDITION
“Right now I don’t have any new news about him, but I hope that he joins us in Dubai. I want to recover him in January and I also hope to play him.”

Ancelotti Declarations - AC Milan.COM

[TriniKing_CE]

Surely Sheva would get some much deserved time to play now!
Hope he takes this moment and makes the best of it... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif)

[Zed.D]

No Pippo, no Pato, no Borriello...

I think we will struggle [up front especially], not just because we have problems. Catania have been great this season.