VALLETTA (AFP) - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admits he is pessimistic about his team's chances of winning the Champions League.
Milan are six-time European champions and reached the final in 2005, but their confidence has been knocked by their eight-point penalty for match-fixing which has left them languishing in midtable in Serie A.
Ancelotti insisted a top-four finish in the league - which would clinch a place in the third qualifying round of next season's Champions League - was his team's main priority.
"We are looking at a fourth-place finish rather than the Champions League,", the Milan coach said as he team prepared to leave their Maltese winter break training ahead of Saturday's Berlusconi trophy match against Juventus.
"To get to the final of the Champions League is an almost impossible dream, while finishing fourth is more likely, although less exciting."
Milan face Celtic in the last 16 of the competition. The first leg takes place at Parkhead, Glasgow on February 20 before the Italians entertain the Scottish champions at the San Siro on March 7.
Were it not for their points handicap for their role in the Italian match-fixing scandal, Milan would now be fourth in Serie A.
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I'm confused ! 
So .. FIrst he says he wants the CL .. Now it is impossible
Well, it would be impossible if the team perform the way they did in the first part of the season !
So .. FIrst he says he wants the CL .. Now it is impossible
Well, it would be impossible if the team perform the way they did in the first part of the season !
QUOTE (Rossoneri7 @ Jan 5 2007, 04:34 PM)
I'm confused !
So .. FIrst he says he wants the CL .. Now it is impossible
So .. FIrst he says he wants the CL .. Now it is impossible
Yeah, strange. And I don't think it's that impossible like he claims.
you know i saw this comming , but i think we still have try and win it regardless , we will get champions league if we keep our recent form of just 2 games
This is complete BS! Carletto would never say something like this... Cmon people its yahoo sports, what do you expect 
I think it's better to keep people thinking we are still going through the rough patch even if we have improved, that way we will sneak up on our opponents and crush their @sses 
@han2503
True, True, but never forget about the pride that Milan possesses
True, True, but never forget about the pride that Milan possesses
QUOTE (HasanHasanly @ Jan 5 2007, 08:08 PM)
@han2503
True, True, but never forget about the pride that Milan possesses
True, True, but never forget about the pride that Milan possesses
Yes, but if you look through forums right now and read what people have been saying about Milan you'll understand why making people believe we are still playing bad would benefit us.
The Celtic fans are expecting a walk in the park at the moment, predicting a 3-0 win at parkhead.
I say it's better this way, Milan rarely get treated as underdogs (and I'm not saying anyone will consider us that against Celtic) but since it is Celtic we got even if we go through to the quarters everyone will still see us as light weight since it was Celtic we defeated not Chelsea or Barca
You know actually, im not really optimistic about the Celtic battle. Its going to be really really hard. Celtic fans and players have made it solid in their heads that Milan is beatable and that they should not miss their chance. That makes them stronger.
Milan on the other hand has to show that he has defeated and will slaughter teams like Celtic, Chelsea or Barca
Milan on the other hand has to show that he has defeated and will slaughter teams like Celtic, Chelsea or Barca
That over confidence is what will probably knock them out in the end (god willing )
Last season we where also going through a bit of a rough patch after the new year before the bayern game, and Bayern where so confident of knocking us out you could smell the arrogane coming all the way from Germany. Then look how that turned out with them being humiliated and crushed 4-1 in the San Siro. When the Bayern coach previous to the match had said something along the lines of "the more goals we score the more closer Milan will get to being knocked out"
)Last season we where also going through a bit of a rough patch after the new year before the bayern game, and Bayern where so confident of knocking us out you could smell the arrogane coming all the way from Germany. Then look how that turned out with them being humiliated and crushed 4-1 in the San Siro. When the Bayern coach previous to the match had said something along the lines of "the more goals we score the more closer Milan will get to being knocked out"
Do not confuse Bayern and Celtic.
Over confidence gives weak ones strength and takes it from others.
I think that the best example for that can be the Istanbul Final. Now i understand that overconfidence can affect teams like Milan in just 15 minutes, causing them to lose when they are winning 3-0.
But it can have completely different effect on weaker teams. Remember Bordeaux performance in this CL
Over confidence gives weak ones strength and takes it from others.
I think that the best example for that can be the Istanbul Final. Now i understand that overconfidence can affect teams like Milan in just 15 minutes, causing them to lose when they are winning 3-0.
But it can have completely different effect on weaker teams. Remember Bordeaux performance in this CL
QUOTE (HasanHasanly @ Jan 5 2007, 08:40 PM)
Do not confuse Bayern and Celtic.
Over confidence gives weak ones strength and takes it from others.
I think that the best example for that can be the Istanbul Final. Now i understand that overconfidence can affect teams like Milan in just 15 minutes, causing them to lose when they are winning 3-0.
But it can have completely different affect on weaker teams. Remember Bordeaux performance in this CL
Over confidence gives weak ones strength and takes it from others.
I think that the best example for that can be the Istanbul Final. Now i understand that overconfidence can affect teams like Milan in just 15 minutes, causing them to lose when they are winning 3-0.
But it can have completely different affect on weaker teams. Remember Bordeaux performance in this CL
Istanbul was never about over confidence. I mean sure there must have been a bit more confidence in our players then usual but that was just a strange night. And not because of some miracle comeback by Liverpool, that's just all bull
Watch the match again, the score should have been a 4-1 victory in our favour with Hyypia being sent off in the 50th minute for a last man challenge on Kaka when he was clean through, a goal that was scored when play should have been stopped because of the lines man having already put up the flag but no one noticing it and a Gerrard dive 
And on top of all that Sheva was denied a PERFECTLY legitamte goal for a non offside.But back to topic, I never thought once that Celtic will be a walk in the park and I don't think our players will either, they have learnth their lesson twice over now and I am sure they will play a good game. The fact that the Celtis fans are expecting a walk in the park however I think gives us the advantage
QUOTE
Ancelotti’s Final countdown
Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that reaching the Champions League Final will be a tough ask this term.
Although the Rossoneri have spent this week training in Malta ahead of tomorrow’s Trofeo Berlusconi test against Juventus, the Coach has other objectives on his mind.
“We are going to be fighting for fourth spot and the Champions League this season, even if I know that reaching the Final in Europe is almost an impossible task,†noted the tactician.
“Finishing in the top four is something we can obtain, although it is less motivating. We will have to play well to beat Celtic, but we have the advantage of playing away first.â€
Milan have had a difficult start to the season, but have the chance to start the New Year in style against the Old Lady of Italian football.
“This match comes after some good training here in Malta and I expect to see the results of our preparation on the pitch,†added Carletto.
“Facing Juventus is always stimulating and it’s a great opportunity to verify the fitness of the players such as Massimo Ambrosini, who is back after a long injury.
“The Bianconeri are a strong team despite what happened in the summer and I believe they would be competitive in Serie A.â€
Milan will be without some key players for the tie though. “Neither Kaka nor Kakha Kaladze will play, but will be available for the Serie A match with Reggina,†he continued.
“I am not worried about the final result, but about playing well and avoiding any injuries – it will not be a competitive match so it should be more entertaining.
“All our players are focused and prepared. This training break has been excellent for the squad,†concluded Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, striker Alberto Gilardino insists that he is happy at Milan, despite reports suggesting he might leave the San Siro.
“I am fine at Milan and there is nothing else to say,†said the world champion. “I only hope to score more in 2007, just as I used to do when I was at Parma.
“We really want to do well in the match with Juventus, they are missed in Serie A so tomorrow's game is one that we want to win.â€
Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that reaching the Champions League Final will be a tough ask this term.
Although the Rossoneri have spent this week training in Malta ahead of tomorrow’s Trofeo Berlusconi test against Juventus, the Coach has other objectives on his mind.
“We are going to be fighting for fourth spot and the Champions League this season, even if I know that reaching the Final in Europe is almost an impossible task,†noted the tactician.
“Finishing in the top four is something we can obtain, although it is less motivating. We will have to play well to beat Celtic, but we have the advantage of playing away first.â€
Milan have had a difficult start to the season, but have the chance to start the New Year in style against the Old Lady of Italian football.
“This match comes after some good training here in Malta and I expect to see the results of our preparation on the pitch,†added Carletto.
“Facing Juventus is always stimulating and it’s a great opportunity to verify the fitness of the players such as Massimo Ambrosini, who is back after a long injury.
“The Bianconeri are a strong team despite what happened in the summer and I believe they would be competitive in Serie A.â€
Milan will be without some key players for the tie though. “Neither Kaka nor Kakha Kaladze will play, but will be available for the Serie A match with Reggina,†he continued.
“I am not worried about the final result, but about playing well and avoiding any injuries – it will not be a competitive match so it should be more entertaining.
“All our players are focused and prepared. This training break has been excellent for the squad,†concluded Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, striker Alberto Gilardino insists that he is happy at Milan, despite reports suggesting he might leave the San Siro.
“I am fine at Milan and there is nothing else to say,†said the world champion. “I only hope to score more in 2007, just as I used to do when I was at Parma.
“We really want to do well in the match with Juventus, they are missed in Serie A so tomorrow's game is one that we want to win.â€
I think that is what Carlo meant to say, not what was said above, we Maltese get confused easily
(that was first reported by Maltese journalists)
The Istanbul Final happened only because for a moment there Milan thought that they were champions, and only one goal was enough to kick them off the track.
Well lets hope it turns out well for all of us, and lets see how we do tomorrow, and if Malta training was of any good.
Well lets hope it turns out well for all of us, and lets see how we do tomorrow, and if Malta training was of any good.
QUOTE (HasanHasanly @ Jan 5 2007, 08:51 PM)
The Istanbul Final happened only because for a moment there Milan thought that they were champions, and only one goal was enough to kick them off the track.
Well lets hope it turns out well for all of us, and lets see how we do tomorrow, and if Malta training was of any good.
Well lets hope it turns out well for all of us, and lets see how we do tomorrow, and if Malta training was of any good.
I will never be convinced that that is what happened, not after I saw the match again.
Against La Coruna, yes it was our fault for thinking we where already semi finalists wen we stepped out to play the second leg, but Istanbul is a whole nother story.
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 5 2007, 02:55 PM)
I will never be convinced that that is what happened, not after I saw the match again.
Against La Coruna, yes it was our fault for thinking we where already semi finalists wen we stepped out to play the second leg, but Istanbul is a whole nother story.
Against La Coruna, yes it was our fault for thinking we where already semi finalists wen we stepped out to play the second leg, but Istanbul is a whole nother story.
So what do you think happened?
Come on han, we cant just blame everything on bad luck, because we both know Liver sucked. I mean no team could have woken up from a 3-0 defeat.
QUOTE (pKillerMax @ Jan 5 2007, 08:56 PM)
So what do you think happened?
We got Universally SCREWED!!!!
QUOTE (HasanHasanly @ Jan 5 2007, 08:58 PM)
Come on han, we cant just blame everything on bad luck, because we both know Liver sucked. I mean no team could have woken up from a 3-0 defeat.
I never blamed it on bad luck
Milan controls games .. They slow down the pace of the game. From the first whistle we attacked Liverfool; to the extent, they wished they never reached the final !
But since Milan controls the pace of the game, it hit them right when they were trying to slow the game down. That is the only logical explanation to that night!
But since Milan controls the pace of the game, it hit them right when they were trying to slow the game down. That is the only logical explanation to that night!
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 5 2007, 03:00 PM)
We got Universally SCREWED!!!!
What does that mean?
QUOTE (Rossoneri7 @ Jan 5 2007, 09:02 PM)
Milan controls games .. They slow down the pace of the game. From the first whistle we attacked Liverfool; to the extent, they wished they never reached the final !
But since Milan controls the pace of the game, it hit them right when they were trying to slow the game down. That is the only logical explanation to that night!
But since Milan controls the pace of the game, it hit them right when they were trying to slow the game down. That is the only logical explanation to that night!
Never try to figure that night out with a footballing logic. Milan are masters at keeping the ball, especially when we are slowing the tempo down. It's not even logical that they hit us because of this reason.
QUOTE (pKillerMax @ Jan 5 2007, 09:04 PM)
What does that mean?
Right now I'm going to browse all over the net, try and find the second half of that match in high qulity, and upload it for you, and you'll see why we where screwed. I'll also find the clip of Sheva latching on to the Kaka through pass after running from an onside position to score our second goal
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 5 2007, 03:08 PM)
Right now I'm going to browse all over the net, try and find the second half of that match in high qulity, and upload it for you, and you'll see why we where screwed. I'll also find the clip of Sheva latching on to the Kaka through pass after running from an onside position to score our second goal
That would be great. I wanna see what you are talking about.
I only watched the game once when it was being broadcasted live. After that, I completely forgot that such thing ever happened. And I really mean this literally. Everytime anyone talks of Istanbul, My mind goes blank. But I think now I'm ready to watch the game again.
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 6 2007, 12:08 AM)
Never try to figure that night out with a footballing logic. Milan are masters at keeping the ball, especially when we are slowing the tempo down. It's not even logical that they hit us because of this reason.
It is logical .. Cuz we had a 3-0 lead, and it isn't like there is another game or a second .. It was a final, we had it in our hands, they hit us hard, cuz Benitez knew that's how we play ..
In anycase, what's done is done. It was ours !!! They didn't play football on that day ! We outclassed them and we were robbed !
But in all fairness, Benitez was the one who won them that trophy. He knew when to hit Milan.
Against Deportivo; we went into the game too confident and played the slow paced game, we lost.
Against Bayern; we attacked for the first minute, cuz we had ties in Germany, and got out with a 4-1.
It's just the type of football that Carlo applies.
QUOTE (pKillerMax @ Jan 5 2007, 09:20 PM)
That would be great. I wanna see what you are talking about.
I only watched the game once when it was being broadcasted live. After that, I completely forgot that such thing ever happened. And I really mean this literally. Everytime anyone talks of Istanbul, My mind goes blank. But I think now I'm ready to watch the game again.
I only watched the game once when it was being broadcasted live. After that, I completely forgot that such thing ever happened. And I really mean this literally. Everytime anyone talks of Istanbul, My mind goes blank. But I think now I'm ready to watch the game again.
I had only watched the match once also, when it was live, because I had never had it in me to watch it again, but Eurosport where showing previous classic CL games during the Christmas time and they where going to show it, so I decided to just face up to it and watch it again. But all I ended up with after watching it was anger at the way we lost it.
People market that game as the miracle comback staged by Gerrard and Liverpool but in Reality it was just a total sham
btw here is a preview of what you will see
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 5 2007, 08:46 PM)
Istanbul was never about over confidence. I mean sure there must have been a bit more confidence in our players then usual but that was just a strange night. And not because of some miracle comeback by Liverpool, that's just all bull Watch the match again, the score should have been a 4-1 victory in our favour with Hyypia being sent off in the 50th minute for a last man challenge on Kaka when he was clean through, a goal that was scored when play should have been stopped because of the lines man having already put up the flag but no one noticing it and a Gerrard dive And on top of all that Sheva was denied a PERFECTLY legitamte goal for a non offside.
Watch the match again, the score should have been a 4-1 victory in our favour with Hyypia being sent off in the 50th minute for a last man challenge on Kaka when he was clean through, a goal that was scored when play should have been stopped because of the lines man having already put up the flag but no one noticing it and a Gerrard dive And on top of all that Sheva was denied a PERFECTLY legitamte goal for a non offside.QUOTE (pKillerMax @ Jan 6 2007, 12:20 AM)
That would be great. I wanna see what you are talking about.
I only watched the game once when it was being broadcasted live. After that, I completely forgot that such thing ever happened. And I really mean this literally. Everytime anyone talks of Istanbul, My mind goes blank. But I think now I'm ready to watch the game again.
I only watched the game once when it was being broadcasted live. After that, I completely forgot that such thing ever happened. And I really mean this literally. Everytime anyone talks of Istanbul, My mind goes blank. But I think now I'm ready to watch the game again.
Dont be too sure .. Cuz I'm sure, u'll at least smash the monitor
QUOTE (Rossoneri7 @ Jan 5 2007, 09:20 PM)
It is logical .. Cuz we had a 3-0 lead, and it isn't like there is another game or a second .. It was a final, we had it in our hands, they hit us hard, cuz Benitez knew that's how we play ..
In anycase, what's done is done. It was ours !!! They didn't play football on that day ! We outclassed them and we were robbed !
But in all fairness, Benitez was the one who won them that trophy. He knew when to hit Milan.
Against Deportivo; we went into the game too confident and played the slow paced game, we lost.
Against Bayern; we attacked for the first minute, cuz we had ties in Germany, and got out with a 4-1.
It's just the type of football that Carlo applies.
In anycase, what's done is done. It was ours !!! They didn't play football on that day ! We outclassed them and we were robbed !
But in all fairness, Benitez was the one who won them that trophy. He knew when to hit Milan.
Against Deportivo; we went into the game too confident and played the slow paced game, we lost.
Against Bayern; we attacked for the first minute, cuz we had ties in Germany, and got out with a 4-1.
It's just the type of football that Carlo applies.
Deportivo was just a disgrace.
Getting back to Istanbul, first off Liverpool only played about six minutes of football and should have only got 1 legit goal out of it but instead got 2 other shameful ones. All Benitez did was reduce the threat that was Kaka since he was cutting Liverpool up like soft bread freash out of the oven all by himself.
That wasn't any sort of genius move on his part since even a person that understands zilch about football would have figured that one out. But still we hadn't already started our slow paced game when we came on in the second half, in fact we started attacking them on the off and Kaka was through one on one but was hacked down by Hyypia just outside the area (this is where he should have been sent off since he was clearly the last man) and Sheva almost scored that thunder free-kick which Dudeck miraculously saved.
Then Liverpool attacked for like 6 minutes and scored through Gerrard, they tried too keep it up, socred a goal that was scored when play should have been stopped and scored a penalty because of a dive.
Then the we started dominating the match again and then we started to miss glorious chance after chance.
Our slow passing game was never the issue since we never used it in that game, against Deportivo we came out thinking we had won it, same goes for when we played against PSV but got through because of that late goal.
Against Bayern we played like we can and we got the result that we can always get if we play like Milan should always play
QUOTE (Rossoneri7 @ Jan 5 2007, 09:30 PM)
Dont be too sure .. Cuz I'm sure, u'll at least smash the monitor
Believe me the urge does come, first I threw the remote when I saw the sheva goal being disallowed even though I knew it was ghoing to happen and when I saw his double miss at the end of extra time I picked up the chair and threw it a bit at the wall
, even though I knew it was coming also
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 5 2007, 03:35 PM)
Believe me the urge does come, first I threw the remote when I saw the sheva goal being disallowed even though I knew it was ghoing to happen and when I saw his double miss at the end of extra time I picked up the chair and threw it a bit at the wall , even though I knew it was coming also
, even though I knew it was coming also I throw the friggin remote just everytime I see Sheva in a Milan shirt...
han .. But that is how Carlo's tactics work .. He slows the game down; thats when u read on the possesion thing Milan 75% - Liverfool 25% .. Seeing as u'v seen that game, I don't know how u could have missed it .. Just compare how fast we moved the ball in the first half to the beginning of the second half.
QUOTE (pKillerMax @ Jan 5 2007, 09:38 PM)
I throw the friggin remote just everytime I see Sheva in a Milan shirt... Â
 Well at the moment when I see Sheva in the Milan shirt I just speak to him on the TV set like a crazy person and tell him that in 2006 he will be regarded as half a man and player, regarded as the EPL's biggest flop and playing for a team that practically has no history
QUOTE (Rossoneri7 @ Jan 5 2007, 09:39 PM)
han .. But that is how Carlo's tactics work .. He slows the game down; thats when u read on the possesion thing Milan 75% - Liverfool 25% .. Seeing as u'v seen that game, I don't know how u could have missed it .. Just compare how fast we moved the ball in the first half to the beginning of the second half.
I agree we did move the ball faster in the first half and where more effective, but still when we started the second half even though we held the breaks for a bit we where carving out the chances, Kaka's one on one and Sheva free-kick, when Liverpool started to attack more we kept losing the ball also. But them fighting a bit back was never cause by us slowing down the tempo, it would be impossible for a team to always be on top for the whole of 90 minutes, it rarely happens unless the team you're up against is beyond total sh!t and even then you find it hard to take control of the match for the entire time.
Against Bayern for example we slowed the game down after Kaka's goal which came in the 60th minuted, we switched to the Xmas tree but still kept control of the game and where still the team that where creating the better attacks.
Liverpool scored 1 legit goal and that just came out of just six minutes of pressing us not because we where slowing down the game, then it all just snowballed from then onwards.
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