GOODBYE, EUROPE

Milan does not go through and waves goodbye to the Champions League. After six magnificent years, the Rossoneri wave good bye to the great competition, six years in which they have always been at the highest levels, winning it twice.

MILAN – Arsenal goes through to the quarter finals of the Champions League. Milan leaves the competition after trying to beat a very good opponent. The game presented itself in the best way, with the support of an entire stadium: full with the fans chanting one song after another to support the team, already from the first minute. Carlo Ancelotti fields a formation similar to the one of the best occasions, with Seedorf and with Pato from the first minute next to Inzaghi. The return of Alessandro Nesta has given a further confidence boost in the defensive department; next to him Kaladze, on the sides Oddo and Maldini. In the middle of the pitch a wonderful Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini. Kaka also makes a return, maybe not in perfect conditions, but without too much space to move around with the ball.

In the first half Milan started out well. The first twenty minutes see the Rossoneri’s team attack, move the ball around, try solutions forward and even some shots on goal. Few, to be honest (only that of Kaka and Pato, with a light touch which did not surprise Almunia), but the rhythm was there. In the second part of the first half, the visitors took the measures and started to produce game. Also in this case, not many chances followed, but what made the difference was the ball circulation, the speed of movement and the same movement without the ball, which offered various solutions to the player with the ball. For the entire first half the attackers had a lot of difficult to have ball possession and therefore it was difficult for them to participate in the attacks. The first 45 minutes, overall, have been equal and the 0-0 was fair.

The second half proved decisive, especially in the final moments of the game. The tiredness, with the passing of the minutes, was felt and therefore the game felt it too. At times a bit slow and with various errors. Filippo Inzaghi tried to run all over the forward line, and tried to remain on the offside line, but was then exhausted and substituted by Gilardino. Also for the number 11, things did not go particularly well, but always tied to the problem of the ball circulation. For Kaka the spaces reduced further and consequently also the difficulties of Milan. In the moment in which the moves were alternating from one side to the other, in which the attacks were from one side to another, the Arsenal goal arrived. Minute number 84: ball lost in midfield, Fabregas steals it, finds space in the middle, raises his head, shoots…and the ball ends behind Kalac (decisive in various occasions). 8 minutes later and Milan pushes in the opponent’s end, but with a counter attack, the second goal of Arsenal arrives with Adebayor who scores from zero centimetres away following an assist by Walcott.

The Rossoneri’s adventure in Europe ends here. Now the anger and strength must be used in the league. Only through the Italian competition we can find the most important and fascinating one. Therefore, come on lads and thanks for what you have done in these six years.