Players like Kaka, Zambro, Janku, Ambro and Gattuso should be given a rest so I would like to see us go out with this:



We have a 2 goal lead going into a game against a team like Zurich we can go there and get a draw if not a win easily with this team

I it would be nice seeing Darmian get some minutes in this one

How come a 26 year old Kaka is deserving of rest, but not a 30 year old Seedorf?

How come a 26 year old Kaka is deserving of rest, but not a 30 year old Seedorf?

Because [compared to Kaka] Seedorf is a BEAST physique-wise?

Na! Seedorf at best is 5'9 or 5'10 - no comparison to a well-built Kaka at 6'2 when it comes to overall strength. The fact that Kaka gets injured quite regularly is another story, altogether.

If Seedorf is a beast...what the hell is Gattusso?

The height's got nothing to do with strength. otherwise Peter Crouch would have been the strongest player on Earth Seedorf's calf is as thick as a 50yo tree! the same with his thigh. his arms are as strong as Arnold Schwarzenegger's, etc. he IS a beast!

He's just like a bull. Charges around the field with no real objective.

That's not too bad a thing as say a headless chicken (Brocchi) who runs around the field eyes closed.

I think every team needs a guy similar to Gattuso who's just going to close players down all the time and has the energu levels to keep it up for a whole game. I don't rate him as a player, but he's good at what he does.

Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti has named his squad for Thursday’s UEFA Cup first round second leg tie against FC Zurich.

The Rossoneri defeated Zurich 3-1 in the first leg at San Siro a fortnight ago, with Marek Jankulovski, Alexandre Pato and Marco Borriello grabbing the goals.

They will now look to finish off the job when they travel to Switzerland for the second leg on Thursday evening.

Ancelotti has named a 20-man squad for the game, although there are still a number of injury absentees.

Philippe Senderos, Andrea Pirlo, Pippo Inzaghi, Giuseppe Favalli and Borriello are all sidelined and have not been called.

However, all the other usual suspects are there, including Sunday night’s Milan derby hero Ronaldinho, as well as his Brazilian sidekicks Kaka and Pato.

Milan Squad

Abbiati, Dida, Kalac, Antonini, Bonera, Darmian, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Ruggeri, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Emerson, Flamini, Gattuso, Kakà, Pato, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho.

UEFA Cup Preview: FC Zurich-AC Milan
What: UEFA Cup, First Round, Second Leg
Who: FC Zurich vs. AC Milan
When: Thursday 2 October 20:15 (CET)
Where: Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich

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UEFA Cup Preview: FC Zurich-AC Milan
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More Of The Same

FC Zurich continue to play well domestically, having won their last four matches. During that time, they have scored sixteen goals while conceding just two. Most recently was their 3-0 home victory at the weekend over Neuchâtel Xamax FC.

Towering center-forward Eric Hassli opened the scoring in just the 2nd minute, and attacking midfielder Alexandre Alphonse added the second and third goals, in the 21st minute and then in the 90th minute.

This win puts Zurich just two points behind Swiss Super League leaders FC Basel through ten rounds. While they are aiming to do well in the UEFA Cup this season, they can also have a realistic expectation to challenge Basel for the title, and the Champions League place that comes with it.

Speaking of the UEFA Cup, Zurich arguably now face a more daunting task than they did in the first leg in Milan, which they lost 3-1. Milan are a better side than they were at the time, and are on cloud nine after winning the Milan derby. Zurich must carry over into the UEFA Cup their domestic form.

It is quite likely that the side will attack more at home, but they really cannot afford to give up a goal to Milan if they are to go through on the aggregate score.

Go In For The Kill

While Zurich were outmatched and got a good look at what Milan are capable of two weeks ago, they will not easily recognize the side they face on Thursday. Milan are now a much improved team, and the confidence and self-assuredness of the players seems to have gone through the roof.

In the Derby della Madonnina on Sunday, the Rossoneri were the better side, even if they kept the 1-0 score secure largely in part to Inter Milan’s inability to finish their attacking movements; but it wasn’t just that. Milan had the better of the chances, and each time they had possession in the final attacking third of the field, you almost got the sense they could have scored.

When Milan and Zurich first met, Milan were unsure of themselves following two losses in their first two matches of the season, against Genoa and Bologna of all teams. Now, Milan are brimming with confidence, and must feel that they can go all the way in the UEFA Cup, even if it is viewed by most in the Milan camp as a secondary goal.

When speaking this week, club vice-president Adriano Galliani said, “Our first objective remains the Scudetto and then the UEFA Cup, followed by the Coppa Italia.

“The coach and the players are well aware what the club wants and this is clear in everybody's minds.

“The UEFA Cup is different to the Champions League as there are 15 games to get to the final. Therefore it seems as if we are at the preliminary stages.”

Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti has warned his side, however, to not take their opponents lightly, saying, “We have to do well in these games. They seem easy on paper but the danger lies behind the corners.

“I will not make major changes to the team but we need to be careful because Zurich will play in a different way to how they played in the first leg. It will not be easy because they will try hard to overturn the result from the San Siro.”

So, while Milan are taking heed of the task at hand, it is certain that their European excursion is not the most important competition.

FORM GUIDE

Zurich

28/08 (UEFA Cup): Sturm Graz 1-1 Zurich (2-4 after penalties)

01/09 (Swiss Super League): Zurich 3-0 Bellinzona

14/09 (Swiss Super League): Vaduz 1-7 Zurich

18/09 (UEFA Cup): Milan 3-1 Zurich

28/09 (Swiss Super League): Zurich 3-0 Xamax



Milan

14/09 (Serie A): Genoa 2-0 Milan

18/09 (UEFA Cup): Milan 3-1 Zurich

21/09 (Serie A): Milan 4-1 Lazio

24/09 (Serie A): Reggina 1-2 Milan

28/09 (Serie A): Milan 1-0 Inter

TEAM NEWS

Zurich

The 4-2-3-1 formation has continued to work for manager Bernard Challandes, so he will put out a similar group to those who capitulated to Milan two weeks ago, hoping for a better result this time around.

Possible Formation (4-2-3-1): Leoni; Stahel, Barmettler, Tihinen, Stucki; Aegerter, Okonkwo; Nikci, Djuric, Alphonse; Hassli

Milan

Alessandro Nesta returned to training this week, but he was not included on the UEFA Cup roster at the beginning of the season. Philippe Senderos, Marco Borriello, Giuseppe Favalli, Filippo Inzaghi and Andrea Pirlo all have been left out of the squad for the trip to Zurich through injury.

Possible Formation (4-3-2-1): Dida; Antonini, Bonera, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Ambrosini, Seedorf, Flamini; Kakà, Ronaldinho; Shevchenko

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zurich

At nearly 6’4” tall, French striker Eric Hassli will be relied upon for aerial chances. Alexandre Alphonse scored twice at the weekend, and he must do better in this match than he did two weeks ago.

Milan

Kakà and Ronaldinho worked well together in the 1-0 win over the weekend in the Milan derby, maybe for the first time ever. It appears as though they are starting to gel and learn each other’s style. Andriy Shevchenko is likely to play from the start in this match, and he has also begun to regain form.

PREDICTION

Zurich will surely come out and perform better than they did in the first leg, but can they overcome the two-goal deficit they are facing? Keeping Milan off the scoresheet in this match will be quite difficult, and their defense is not accustomed to seeing attacking talent like Kakà and Ronaldinho. Zurich will put forward a valiant effort, but it will not be enough.

Zurich 1-1 Milan

Joel Whitehead

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Kaka...a sidekick...

MILAN: Dida; Zambrotta, Bonera, Kaladze, Antonini; Flamini, Emerson, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Shevchenko, Ronaldinho.


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This is disgusting! three DMs?? what's next? 4-5-1 against Cagliari??? this man never changes. for the first time in my life, I do hope we lose tonight in a humiliating way. a team that plays SOOOO DEFENSIVELY doesn't deserve to go further in an competition. I'm not sure I'm going to even watch this. smells like 90 minutes of boredom!!

No advertising of T shirts for us ?