QUOTE
Milan hailed "Kings of Europe" by Italian press
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's sporting press paid tribute to AC Milan after they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in Germany to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Wednesday's win, which meant Milan became the first team to beat Bayern in a European game at the Allianz Arena, sent the Italian club through to the last four, where it lines up alongside a trio of English sides, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Turin-based Tuttosport celebrated with a front-page headline in English: "Milan, only you" it read.
Milan were "Kings of Europe", said Corriere dello Sport, which hailed the club's unrivalled recent record in Europe.
Since 2003, Carlo Ancelotti's side have won the Champions League once, finished runners-up once, and twice more reached the semi-finals.
"Fly, Milan, fly," said La Gazzetta dello Sport, as it looked forward to the last-four tie against Manchester United, who thrashed Italy's other representative in the competition, AS Roma, 7-1 on Tuesday.
The paper was warm in its praise for English football, drawing a line under a week of recriminations in the English and Italian media over the violence that broke out between United fans and Italian police at Rome's Olympic Stadium.
English football, said the paper, had "learned how to turn its darkest moments into treasure, picking itself up after a tragedy and setting off towards a glittering future."Â
"At the moment there isn't a team in the world that plays football as brilliantly as Manchester United," added the paper.
Milan could draw hope, however, from their record of three wins from their previous three meetings with United in Europe's top club competition.
The Italians eliminated United in the semi-final stage of the 1957/58 and 1968/69 European Cups and the quarter-finals of the 2004/05 Champions League.
link
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's sporting press paid tribute to AC Milan after they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in Germany to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Wednesday's win, which meant Milan became the first team to beat Bayern in a European game at the Allianz Arena, sent the Italian club through to the last four, where it lines up alongside a trio of English sides, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Turin-based Tuttosport celebrated with a front-page headline in English: "Milan, only you" it read.
Milan were "Kings of Europe", said Corriere dello Sport, which hailed the club's unrivalled recent record in Europe.
Since 2003, Carlo Ancelotti's side have won the Champions League once, finished runners-up once, and twice more reached the semi-finals.
"Fly, Milan, fly," said La Gazzetta dello Sport, as it looked forward to the last-four tie against Manchester United, who thrashed Italy's other representative in the competition, AS Roma, 7-1 on Tuesday.
The paper was warm in its praise for English football, drawing a line under a week of recriminations in the English and Italian media over the violence that broke out between United fans and Italian police at Rome's Olympic Stadium.
English football, said the paper, had "learned how to turn its darkest moments into treasure, picking itself up after a tragedy and setting off towards a glittering future."Â
"At the moment there isn't a team in the world that plays football as brilliantly as Manchester United," added the paper.
Milan could draw hope, however, from their record of three wins from their previous three meetings with United in Europe's top club competition.
The Italians eliminated United in the semi-final stage of the 1957/58 and 1968/69 European Cups and the quarter-finals of the 2004/05 Champions League.
link
QUOTE
Euro win thrills Kaka
Kaka was glad to prove to the many Milan critics that the pessimism following the first leg match with Bayern was uncalled for.
The Rossoneri qualified for the Champions League semi-final by defeating the German outfit 4-2 on aggregate, despite being held to a 2-2 home draw last week.
“It was difficult before we went on to the pitch because many were pessimistic about our chances of progressing,†said Kaka.
“However, on the field everything changed and we managed to transform this pessimism into great football. Milan’s season has changed a lot,†added the Brazilian.
“On Tuesday, I had said that a lot of hard work was exactly what we needed and that is just the way it went.
“Now, we are two games away from another historic event. I tried to score and I am happy with my game, but the important thing is that Milan won.â€
The San Siro outfit will face Manchester United in the semi-final, with the first leg scheduled at Old Trafford on April 25.
“We must focus on the match and not think about the 7-1 score line with which they defeated Roma. We will need another great exploit to reach the Final.
“It won’t be me against Cristiano Ronaldo, but Manchester United versus Milan. They are a strong side and it will be a difficult game for both teams, but I think we can do it,†concluded Kaka.
Milan will be back in action in Serie A on Sunday when they travel to Messina, where they hope to win three precious points as they continue the race for the fourth place in the table.
channel4
Kaka was glad to prove to the many Milan critics that the pessimism following the first leg match with Bayern was uncalled for.
The Rossoneri qualified for the Champions League semi-final by defeating the German outfit 4-2 on aggregate, despite being held to a 2-2 home draw last week.
“It was difficult before we went on to the pitch because many were pessimistic about our chances of progressing,†said Kaka.
“However, on the field everything changed and we managed to transform this pessimism into great football. Milan’s season has changed a lot,†added the Brazilian.
“On Tuesday, I had said that a lot of hard work was exactly what we needed and that is just the way it went.
“Now, we are two games away from another historic event. I tried to score and I am happy with my game, but the important thing is that Milan won.â€
The San Siro outfit will face Manchester United in the semi-final, with the first leg scheduled at Old Trafford on April 25.
“We must focus on the match and not think about the 7-1 score line with which they defeated Roma. We will need another great exploit to reach the Final.
“It won’t be me against Cristiano Ronaldo, but Manchester United versus Milan. They are a strong side and it will be a difficult game for both teams, but I think we can do it,†concluded Kaka.
Milan will be back in action in Serie A on Sunday when they travel to Messina, where they hope to win three precious points as they continue the race for the fourth place in the table.
channel4
