A LOT OF DESIRE, A LOT OF PRIDE

“The strength of Milan of last year was the knowledge of its strength. We’re more or less the same of last year, therefore this is valid for this year too.”

MILANELLO – This is the press conference of Carlo Ancelotti and Massimo Ambrosini on the eve of the Champions League game between Milan and Benfica in program tomorrow night at San Siro at 8:45pm:
Carlo Ancelotti:
"The Champions League represents an important objective, this year we also have the World Club Cup which is equally important. When this competition starts we always feel something particular. We start as European Champions, trying to reach the objective which is that of arriving till the final.”

“Benfica is a team which has maintained its tradition like all Portuguese sides. It has excellent offensive qualities, we saw them during the qualification for the Champions League and the start of the Portuguese league. With regards to Rui Costa, he’s a great protagonist of the past years and we have a great memory of him and we have a lot of affection for him. He’s a player which despite his age still manages to play at these levels. I have a lot of respect for him and his professionalism proven by his great performances with Benfica.”

“With regards to the condition of the players, the only problem is tied to the condition of Pirlo. Yesterday he did not train and I don’t know if he will recover for tomorrow following the knock on his calf which he picked up with the national team. The others are all well. If Pirlo cannot play, I still have other solutions like Emerson and Brocchi.”

Does it scare you or motivate you to think that in the previous Champions League editions, whoever did well in the previous year he did not repeat himself in the following season, like Barcelona in the past edition?
Carlo Ancelotti: "To repeat oneself is difficult, especially in a competition like this one, where everyone must go the right way, especially in the period from March onwards. However it remains a motivation, not a worry.”
Massimo Ambrosini: "From our side, we face this competition without any fear, just with the desire to confirm ourselves. The entire team has a lot of desire and a lot of pride. In the past five years we have played three finals and these results fill us with a lot of pride and a lot of motivation.”

Milan found some difficulties at Siena. Tomorrow the same Milan of Siena will go on the pitch, or the European Champion one?

Carlo Ancelotti: "The European Champion one I hope! We know that the Italian league is like this. In Europe there are more advantages because the teams are of the first level. They give more trouble in defence and have a lot more open game. The risks will surely be there but we are convinced that tomorrow we will see a different Milan than the one against Siena.”

Dida’s mistakes are due to his shoulder problems?
Carlo Ancelotti: "I hope that Dida does well as he has done in these past years, even though he makes some mistakes, he still has my total trust. Mistakes are done by all goalkeepers. His should problem has been solved, he has not problem to train.”

At Siena, Milan’s attack seemed absent. What differences will there be in attack tomorrow?
Carlo Ancelotti: "There will be Kaka tomorrow, but nothing else new. Like I said in the past, the attack does not depend from the name or the number of attackers, but by the speed of the game.”

Massimo Ambrosini: "We have always said that the strength of Milan of last year was the knowledge of our strength. We are more or less the same of last year, therefore it is vald for this year too and this doesn’t mean underestimating our opponents at all.
With regards to tomorrow, the Portuguese midfielders like to play around, in the sense that they have a good ball possession. They are tactically good and make the ball possession a fundamental weapon. They also have a player like Rui Costa who we all know. I think it will be a spectacular game.”

It was said that it was fundamental to start well in the league…
Carlo Ancelotti: "It’s true, we did not start well, I think we lack two points. We found a lot of difficulty and in certain occasions we lacked the necessary times to recover the efforts done before, but we can’t afford to choose yet. We must start well in the Champions League and make points in the league. This year the Italian league is more balanced than last year, there will be many surprises like the win of Udinese yesterday in Turin. I think there are other teams which can create problems to the big teams.”

Milan is a team which in the single match can manage better the situation?

Carlo Ancelotti: "The squad is capable to manage everything. There can be players which at times are forced to remain out, like at Siena where others played for the first time.”