[gourcuff20]

Gourcuff has important debut. Milan have made a great signing. I think he is going to be next Zidane

This post has been edited by gourcuff20: Sep 14 2006, 07:32 AM

[Zed.D]

yeah! his style is much like Zizou's. great signing.

[amancik]

Yoann Gourcuff ... really good debut for him ... he's got a lot more in his locker ... I can't wait to see it

[arivanjj]

Kaka has praised Gourcuff

Kaka has praised Yoann Gourcuff after the French youngster made a scoring start to his Milan career.

The French starlet netted against AEK Athens on Wednesday, when Milan dominated the Greeks 3-0 in their opening Group H match at the San Siro.

“Gourcuff is talented and intelligent – tonight we really enjoyed ourselves out there,” said Kaka (pictured) after the match.

“With these kind of players we can start a new cycle, this is exactly the attitude we need if we want this to be a great season,” continued the Brazilian international, who was also on target after converting a penalty.

“The arrival of these new players is very important for us, the Champions League is a special tournament for every one of us, but this year the championship is also interesting and the eight-point deduction is stimulating.

“AEK had a few chances before we scored the first goal, but we are all feeling well and are slowly finding our best physical condition – I trust we can do well.”

New signing Ricardo Oliveira was handed his first start for the Rossoneri after Carlo Ancelotti decided to leave Alberto Gilardino on the bench and the striker repaid the Coach for his trust.

“This is a high-quality squad, it’s nice to play with teammates like this,” said the former Betis man.

“It’s hard to lose when you have players like Kaka on your side, and the final result could have been even more severe,” added Oliveira, who was substituted for Clarence Seedorf in the closing stages.

“We won a very important match, as this wasn’t an easy game. Our physical conditions can only improve.

“But I will be on top form by the end of the week, and this year I can play well and score many goals.”

Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani was radiant after the win and dismissed rumours suggesting Gilardino’s disappointment for not being part of the match.

“We played an excellent game, we couldn’t have started better,” said the club official to Sky Italia.

“Gilardino will play on Sunday, this is all planned. We have 24 good players on our side so the Coach is forced to choose every time, but our men know when their turn will come.

“We have an intense schedule ahead of us, with a match every three days, so everyone will have a chance to play. If we concentrate I think we can do very well.”

The Rossoneri now lead Group H, after the match between Anderlecht and Lille ended with a 1-1 draw.

[han2503]

Carlo praises youngster


Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his much-changed line-up after their 3-0 win over AEK Athens, especially young Frenchman Yoann Gourcuff.

Gourcouff grabbed the second goal of the game after Filippo Inzaghi had put them ahead and before Kaka's penalty sealed the win.

Ancelotti made several changes for the match and said it was good to see strength in depth in his squad - especially with the well-though-of Frenchman Gourcouff.

"It was an important victory," said Ancelotti. "It confirmed for me the reliability of all the players at my disposal."

"It is great to see a player of his age (Gourcouff) play with such authority and confidence, he was an excellent signing by the club.

"It was a surprise for me. He made a really good impression tonight.

"He was a superb signing and we're all very happy."

AEK's Spanish coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer declined to criticise his side for their display, saying that they were faced with a tough task in Milan.

"Against a team like Milan, with all their experience and their famous ability to keep possession it is not just about what you can do.

"I didn't think we coped badly. At this level you have to remember the quality of opposition you are up against."

Sky.com

[han2503]

(IMG:http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/ap_photo/20060913/all/l2119481.jpg)

btw only Gourcuff, Oliveira, Shevchenko, Van Basten, Gullit, Weah and Bierhoff, managed to score on their debut with Milan, Oliveira is still unproven but we all know how all the others turned out (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[misha]

Another article about him (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Milan's Gourcuff makes instant impression


MILAN, Sept 14 (Reuters) - He wasn't the big-name signing AC Milan fans had hoped for, but France Under-21 midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has made an instant impression with his scoring debut in the Champions League against AEK Athens.

It was not only his firm header from a Kaka cross in Wednesday's 3-0 victory that won him plaudits. Throughout the game he played with a grace and intelligence rare for a player of his age.

Signed from Rennes during the close-season, the 20-year-old almost appeared a twin for Brazilian Kaka who operated alongside him in the attacking line-up adopted by coach Carlo Ancelotti.


It is not only their appearance and style that make such a comparison fair -- Kaka also arrived at Milan with little fanfare and straight away showed the qualities that had made the mouths of Milan's scouts water.

But Italian media, typically, have thrown bigger names at Gourcuff -- his compatriots Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane, both flair midfielders who spent the best years of their careers in Italy.

Milan are taking a little more care with their words however.

Pier Silvio Berlusconi, son of Milan owner Silvio, was asked by reporters on Thursday for his impression of Gourcuff's San Siro showing.

"If he goes on like that then we can say we have found another strong first teamer. He showed straight away that he has great character, physical strength and quality.
"He covered a lot of ground which counts for a lot in today's game. I was moved by seeing him in the dressing room -- he still has a timid reverence when he speaks with people like Paolo Maldini and Clarence Seedorf."

Coach Ancelotti noted above all Gourcuff's attitude towards his first European performance.

"It is great to see a player of his age play with such authority and confidence, he was an excellent signing by the club," he said.

The player himself took a modest line on his opening night at the San Siro.


"I am very happy, scoring in the Champions League was fantastic and a real satisfaction. I did well and I had an excellent understanding with Kaka," he said.

"I hope to get some more chances to play and show what I can do.".

link

[GULLIVER]

tooo much praises for him. Hope he won't put our expectiations down.

[GULLIVER]

And by the way. Mike. When are you going to update the official sqaud on milanfan.com?

[han2503]

(IMG:http://www.gazzetta.it/PrimaPagina/view.jpg)

[X-Offender]

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[Guest_fresh_prince7_*]

Incredible debut from the french youngster.

Great finish with the header.

Some great control on the chest before putting gattuso through and also that cross to pippo.

Hopefully he can perform under italian conditions, hope he starts against parma.

The next 'zidane' might not be too far from the truth.

Looks like another incredible cheap signing by the milan management, just like kaka' (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .

[han2503]

Gourcuff hailed as new star
'Petit Zidane' makes big impact in AC Milan win

AC Milan's new French signing Yoann Gourcuff has been hailed as the most exciting new prospect Italy has seen in years .

The 20-year-old, signed from Stade Rennes this summer, made the pulses of jaded journalists quicken with an outstanding debut in Milan's 3-0 win over AEK Athens in the Champions League Wednesday night .

"Zidane or Platini? Make any comparison you want. It's too early to say, but one thing is sure, he's conquered San Siro," said a headline in La Gazzetta dello Sport .

Yoann, The Style and Simplicity Of A World-Class Player was the headline on a feature article which likened Gourcuff's impact to that of Brazil superstar Kaka' at the same age three years ago and enthused: "The personality of the predestined combined with the athletic exuberance of a 20-year-old. A string of wonderful touches united by the same style that often marks out the world-class player: trying the simple things, or rather, making the things you try look simple" .

Gourcuff's performance, in which he scored a goal and made some superb linkage play with Kaka', was "the most dazzling part" of Milan's display, La Gazzetta said .

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Thursday: "I have to admit I didn't know him very well but I must say he was a great buy. He showed great personality and character". "Yoann has fine skills and is sure to show what he's worth," Ancelotti added of the 'petit Zidane' who joined Milan for an undisclosed sum in June .

Kaka, whose penalty clinched the win after Pippo Inzaghi's early goal and who provided the cross for Gourcuff to head in, expects great things from his new team-mate .

"If he can keep on the way he is developing, then he will be very strong indeed," Kaka said .

"We have got to be careful, though, not to put him under too much pressure" .

Gourcuff said Thursday he had found "an excellent understanding" with the Brazil international .

Piersilvio Berlusconi, son of Milan President Silvio, underlined Gourcuff's humility: "He was so shy in the dressing room, like a kid. It was like he didn't dare look Ancelotti in the eye" .

Gourcuff and Kaka' could be the soul of Milan's midfield for the next few years. Earlier this year, Kaka' extended his contract with Milan until 2011. According to sources close to Rennes, that is also the length of Gourcuff's contract .

Wednesday's win put Milan clear in Group H as the other sides, Anderlecht and Lille, drew 1-1 .

The other two Italian teams in the Champions League, Roma and Inter Milan, won 2-0 and lost 1-0 Tuesday .

ANSA

[Jack Sparrow]

Yipeee....so is this our answer to Lionel Messi? dst aka Carlo?

[dst]

I’m like Zizou, says Gourcuff
Friday 15 September, 2006

Milan’s Yoann Gourcuff says he’s flattered to have been compared with Kaka, but insists he feels technically more similar to Zinedine Zidane.

The French youngster, nicknamed ‘Petit Zidane’, is the talk of the town after his Champions League heroics against AEK Athens and he’s happy to have been given the opportunity to reveal himself.

“I have to thank Coach Carlo Ancelotti for giving me a spot in the starting line-up on Wednesday, it was a risk for him in such an important match and I am glad I repaid his trust with a goal,” said the 20-year-old.

“It’s an honour for me to hear that I am being compared to Kaka and Zidane, but I admit I feel that I play more like the latter as Kaka is much faster than me,” continued the former Rennes man.

“I think Zidane is a great example as an athlete and as a person, with the exception of the World Cup Final episode. I just met him a few times, but was too shy to speak to him.”

The midfielder, who still had a year left on his previous contract with Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, landed in Milan in the summer after signing a contract until June 30, 2011.

“I chose Milan for its history and what they represent in Europe and I am very glad about my move,” he underlined.

“I am getting along well with my teammates, all of them, but I know that I need to keep my feet on the ground.

“There are so many high-quality players and it won’t be easy to find place on the team,” continued Gourcuff.

“I will keep on working hard in order to always be prepared if Ancelotti decides that it’s time for me to play.”


Football Italia