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Ancelotti: Hammering can be healthy
Sunday 30 November, 2008
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Carlo Ancelotti believes their thrashing in Sicily can be “healthy” for Milan, who had recently lost some of their intensity.
“We certainly didn't help, as we suffered under Palermo's tempo and aggression. It wasn't our intention to play this way, as we should've been tighter around the final third,” he said of their timid display.
“The whole team didn't mark tightly all over the field and that gave Palermo even more opportunity to pass the ball around.”
The 3-1 loss is their first in all competition since the 2-0 at Genoa on September 14, followed by 12 wins and four draws.
“It is a heavy defeat, as it comes at an important time of the campaign, but this team has put together a good number of results.
“I won't say this defeat is necessarily healthy, but we had lost a little intensity and so this can give us the kick we need to resume with renewed passion.”
“It wasn't our night. There is no need to analyse other elements. We played too slowly and were not attentive enough, that is all.”
Kaka was suspended and Gennaro Gattuso injured, so this changed the balance of the side in midfield.
“We were unable to emerge from Palermo's aggressive pressing because we were too slow and timid in our build-up.”
The Rossoneri did fight back in the closing 10 minutes after Ronaldinho's spot-kick and had several chances to close the gap.
“The reaction came out at the end because Palermo lowered the tempo when they went 3-0 up,” insisted Ancelotti.
“These things can happen, more so to us than other teams, because with our characteristics we have to play good football in order to win the game. If we don't take the initiative, we're in trouble.”
Alexandre Pato limped off in the first half after a knock to the ribs when he earned the penalty, which Marco Amelia saved from Ronaldinho.
“Pato did very well in the tasks he was required to undertake. What we failed with tonight was playing down the flanks with the full-backs. They stayed back a lot tonight and that allowed Palermo to pin us back.”
Sunday 30 November, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carlo Ancelotti believes their thrashing in Sicily can be “healthy” for Milan, who had recently lost some of their intensity.
“We certainly didn't help, as we suffered under Palermo's tempo and aggression. It wasn't our intention to play this way, as we should've been tighter around the final third,” he said of their timid display.
“The whole team didn't mark tightly all over the field and that gave Palermo even more opportunity to pass the ball around.”
The 3-1 loss is their first in all competition since the 2-0 at Genoa on September 14, followed by 12 wins and four draws.
“It is a heavy defeat, as it comes at an important time of the campaign, but this team has put together a good number of results.
“I won't say this defeat is necessarily healthy, but we had lost a little intensity and so this can give us the kick we need to resume with renewed passion.”
“It wasn't our night. There is no need to analyse other elements. We played too slowly and were not attentive enough, that is all.”
Kaka was suspended and Gennaro Gattuso injured, so this changed the balance of the side in midfield.
“We were unable to emerge from Palermo's aggressive pressing because we were too slow and timid in our build-up.”
The Rossoneri did fight back in the closing 10 minutes after Ronaldinho's spot-kick and had several chances to close the gap.
“The reaction came out at the end because Palermo lowered the tempo when they went 3-0 up,” insisted Ancelotti.
“These things can happen, more so to us than other teams, because with our characteristics we have to play good football in order to win the game. If we don't take the initiative, we're in trouble.”
Alexandre Pato limped off in the first half after a knock to the ribs when he earned the penalty, which Marco Amelia saved from Ronaldinho.
“Pato did very well in the tasks he was required to undertake. What we failed with tonight was playing down the flanks with the full-backs. They stayed back a lot tonight and that allowed Palermo to pin us back.”
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Zambro on 'painful defeat'
Monday 1 December, 2008
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Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta admits his disappointment at losing to Palermo and is looking ahead to Wednesday's Coppa Italia date.
Serie A's second-placed side were unexpectedly beaten 3-1 by mid-table Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera and were left to rue a missed penalty from Ronaldinho.
It was a hugely disappointing result for the Rossoneri, who have fallen six points behind city rivals Inter.
“It's a shame to lose, especially in this way and that does hurt,” Zambrotta lamented in his post-match interview.
“If Ronaldinho's penalty had gone in, things may have turned out very differently.
“We are conceding too many goals at the moment and that's not good - we need to be more focused.
“However, we are still in second place and now we can think about our Coppa Italia game against Lazio on Wednesday evening.
“This season is a long road and there's no need to get fatalistic.”
Monday 1 December, 2008
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Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta admits his disappointment at losing to Palermo and is looking ahead to Wednesday's Coppa Italia date.
Serie A's second-placed side were unexpectedly beaten 3-1 by mid-table Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera and were left to rue a missed penalty from Ronaldinho.
It was a hugely disappointing result for the Rossoneri, who have fallen six points behind city rivals Inter.
“It's a shame to lose, especially in this way and that does hurt,” Zambrotta lamented in his post-match interview.
“If Ronaldinho's penalty had gone in, things may have turned out very differently.
“We are conceding too many goals at the moment and that's not good - we need to be more focused.
“However, we are still in second place and now we can think about our Coppa Italia game against Lazio on Wednesday evening.
“This season is a long road and there's no need to get fatalistic.”
The good thing is that we'll learn our lessons, sooner or later!
