Kaka’s spokesman may not be so sure, but Milan’s fitness staff are confident the Balon d’Or winner and Alexandre Pato will be ready to face Arsenal.

The presence of the two Brazilians in this Champions League clash was put in doubt by recent injury worries.

Pato turned his ankle on the turf during Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Fiorentina, while Kaka’s spokesman Diego Kotscho warns a knee problem has been dragging on for months and “he probably will not be fielded against Arsenal.”

However, a very different opinion has been proffered by MilanLab co-ordinator Jean Pierre Meersseman.

“Pato is much better today. Up until yesterday he was walking with the aid of crutches, but now he can walk without feeling any pain,” he told Milan Channel.

“We are confident of his recovery time. Up until yesterday we thought it would take two or three weeks, but now I think within a fortnight he can be recovered and ready for the match with Arsenal.”

There were fears Pato had damaged ligaments or even fractured his ankle when he caught his studs in the turf.

“Pato was certainly very frightened, as it was his first injury and came after scoring a fantastic goal the day before he was set to join the Brazilian national team. It was a physical blow and a psychological one.”

The race to play at the Emirates on February 20 is also on for Kaka, who has been struggling with a knee problem.

“Kaka will certainly be available against Arsenal, but he won’t be there with Siena,” confirmed Meersseman.

“This knee injury has been going on for almost two years and he always feels a little pain the day after a match. This is why we decided to take action so he can recover quicker in future.”

The Rossoneri face Siena this weekend without the suspended Alberto Gilardino, so there are precious few options left in attack.

“Ronaldo and Pippo Inzaghi will certainly be there against Siena. They looked good in training. We also scanned Gennaro Gattuso and he too should be ready for Arsenal.”

The professor revealed a curious particular about Gattuso’s hardman reputation,

“We need to protect Rino from himself, as he feels no pain and so pushed forward through everything. We need in-depth tests to see if there really is any damage or not.”


Channel4

No Kaka for Siena.. as expected. But good news overall.

Very good news. Aresenal... back off!!

Very good news indeed. All those alarmist articles on goal.com are...amusing, really. It's a pity the goal.com writers seem to rely on Tuttosport and Corriere for their news.

yeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss !!!!!!!

Hahaha, I like the last line ... Gattuso the Gladiator!
I've been reading comments about the Arsenal match, it seems that most people are expecting Arsenal to brush us aside with ease ... They really have no idea what's coming to them

great news...glad the injuries aren't as serious as previously thought!

So without Kaka' and Pato... we don't have pacey players in the team. Good.

Great news that Kaka' and Pato will be back in time for the Arsenal game !

Phew... :10ie I don't know how many candles you lit...but you better do that every week if we want to reach somewhere this season.

hahahaha rambo

Rambo pah...Rino is better.

When Rino has surgery anaesthesia is applied to the doctors.

Rino Gattuso sleeps with a night light. Not because Rino Gattuso is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Rino Gattuso.

Rino doesn't have normal white blood cells like you and I. His have a small black ring around them. This signifies that they are black belts in every form of martial arts and they roundhouse kick the **** out of viruses. That's why Rino Gattuso never gets ill or injured.




Gotta looove Chuck Norris.

PATO: "La caviglia sta meglio. Spero di recuperare per l'Arsenal. Farò di tutto per esserci."


"My ankle is better. I will try my utmost to recover and be ready for Arsenal"