[han2503]

Gattuso rallies ‘robbed’ Milan

Gennaro Gattuso has called on his Milan teammates to take back what was unfairly taken away from them in tonight’s Champions League clash.

The Rossoneri were ‘relegated’ from automatic entry into the group stages of the competition by the Calciopoli verdicts and were subsequently handed a tough test against Red Star Belgrade in the preliminaries.

“We have been deprived of something that we deserved and we must now fight to get it back,” said Italy’s World Cup hero.

“We were forced to interrupt our holidays and come back earlier to train for this match and we know that we are not as prepared as our opponents.

“We know of our present limits and will try to take advantage of our qualities, such as experience, technical skills and ball possession.”

A large crowd is expected at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza as over 42,000 tickets have been sold in the past few days.

“I am very proud of such a fact,” added Ringhio. “We will need all our supporters to cheer us on in this difficult match and I want to thank everyone starting from now.

“I know a lot is expected from me and the other world champions, but this does not worry me. I only want to work for my physical and mental well-being.”

Milan’s tenacious ball winner has admitted that he did consider leaving the Via Turati outfit after the 2005 Champions League Final loss to Liverpool, but does not consider that an option any more.

“I was not feeling well at the time and had decided that a change may do me good, but I then understood that the problem was not Milan, but myself,” he added.

“The club helped me a lot at the time and made me feel I was part of a family.”

The 28-year-old landed in Milan in 1999 after spells with Perugia, Glasgow Rangers and Salernitana.

He has won 41 caps for the Azzurri to date and was a symbol of the side which were crowned world champions during the summer.