THE TEAM'S MERIT
Milan CEO Adriano Galliani and coach Allegri are pleased with the team’s performance shown against Bari, as are the players themselves, as the Rossoneri returned to winning ways this evening.
(Merkel following hos goal against Bari)
MILAN - Here is what the interviewed Rossoneri had to say after Milan’s 3-0 win against Bari:
ADRIANO GALLIANI:“I’m pleased with the qualification for the next round, because the Italian Cup is a competition not to be taken lightly. Also the other teams have shown the same attitude. The first eight sides of the championship are in the quarterfinals, so we’ll see very interesting games in the next round. Thanks to the addition of the draw, the tournament has a new format this year. Milan have been drawn 7th and, like Inter, we’ll play away from the San Siro on Wednesday, when we’ll visit Sampdoria in Genoa.
Merkel? I’m glad, it’s been a while since we last saw Youth Team players score in official games of the first team, and now Merkel did it in the Italian Cup, soon after Strasser’s goal against Cagliari.
I’m sorry for Andrea, it’s a real shame. He felt pain in his recently injured leg, but this time it’s another muscle. Anyway, I’m not a doctor, but I know that Boateng’s recovery period will be longer than expected, so we need to grit our teeth.
The transfer market? Merkel and Strasser won’t move, because they’re important for the team. However, Oduamadi and Montelongo may go elsewhere. Those who played will definitely stay. We’ll see if any new players will arrive, but we won’t sign anyone if we find the price excessive.
As for the race for the league title, no one ever thought here that we’d already won it. We’re first and I believe it’s better to be in lead than sending messages from behind.
Cassano? Sooner or later he’ll break his duck. He’s doing well, he has good chemistry with Ibrahimovic and he’s been accepted by the team and the fans. Antonio has been a great reinforcement, I’m very satisfied with him.
Ibrahimovic? He’s always been decisive, even before he joined Milan. When I was in Barcelona I was sure he could bring something extra to the table. It’s not a surprise, he’s one of the best players in the world. Generally speaking, our whole attacking department is extraordinary.
Inzaghi? Maybe he’ll be able to play again even before the end of the season. He’s working on it, maybe we’ll see him on the field in early April.”
COACH ALLEGRI:“Tonight the team played a good game, I’m satisfied with both the players’ approach and the intensity of the game. We managed to control the midfield. The team responded well both from a mental and a physical points of view, while there’s not much to say about the technical aspect, seeing that the players in our squad have great quality.
The individuals? Oddo played again after a long while and I’m satisfied, because he did well, especially defensively.
As for Yepes, I had no doubts he would do well, because when he got the chance to play he always did well, playing focused and with great determination.
Merkel is a skilled player, he’s improving and he showed it tonight scoring a goal and giving an important assist.
Cassano did well, too. Obviously, it’s nothing new that he’s capable of great plays. He’s been training well with the team.
We have a lot of players missing in midfield, which makes squad rotation difficult, my hands are more or less tied. Under these circumstances our strength has to be the team, and it was this evening.
Our match on Sunday is not be taken lightly, because Cesena are a solid team. Ficcadenti’s side is dangerous when on the counter-attack, they made it difficult for Inter yesterday. We’ll need to be careful, also because tonight’s game took a lot out of us.
Our Italian Cup campaign will continue with the game against Sampdoria and hopefully we’ll win again, thus advancing to the semifinals.”
MASSIMO ODDO:“I’m delighted about having played again after a long time. Everyone wants to play all the time, but unfortunately in a team like Milan you can’t earn your place in the team by talking, but only by demonstrating your qualities on the pitch. I always try to be ready to show I deserve to play.
The match this evening was strange. Ventura’s team defends well, it’s difficult to find spaces against them. Both I and Antonini were ready to play more centrally. Milan did well in the first half, then after fifteen minutes into the second half the pace of the game began to lower and in the end we had to finish the game with ten men.
This evening we really wanted to do well, also because lately our results haven’t been excellent. We wanted to start a new unbeaten streak after a very successful autumn. We’re committed to do well in every game. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don’t, but we always do our best.”
IGNAZIO ABATE:“The Italian Cup is an important competition for us, we want to go all the way. We had a good game, playing well especially in the first half, but we managed the second half well, too.
Tonight we set the tone early, we need to play with this approach also in the championship.
We need to keep our nerve, because we’re first, we’re a great team and drawing two games is definitely not the end of the world.
Inter are a great side, we‘ve never thought they would be already out of the race for the title. Now they’re back in the thick of it, but we’re ready to stay on top right until the end.”
ALEXANDER MERKEL:"I’m pleased with the victory and also with my goal and assist. It was my first goal in the first team, I’m really glad. I’ve already played in this position with the Youth Team, so it wasn’t new at all. As for the third goal, I saw Robinho unmarked, I just had to give him the ball.
I thank the boss and my teammates, because they let me play and they believe in me. We’ll see what the future holds for me.”
ADRIANO GALLIANI:“I’m pleased with the qualification for the next round, because the Italian Cup is a competition not to be taken lightly. Also the other teams have shown the same attitude. The first eight sides of the championship are in the quarterfinals, so we’ll see very interesting games in the next round. Thanks to the addition of the draw, the tournament has a new format this year. Milan have been drawn 7th and, like Inter, we’ll play away from the San Siro on Wednesday, when we’ll visit Sampdoria in Genoa.
Merkel? I’m glad, it’s been a while since we last saw Youth Team players score in official games of the first team, and now Merkel did it in the Italian Cup, soon after Strasser’s goal against Cagliari.
I’m sorry for Andrea, it’s a real shame. He felt pain in his recently injured leg, but this time it’s another muscle. Anyway, I’m not a doctor, but I know that Boateng’s recovery period will be longer than expected, so we need to grit our teeth.
The transfer market? Merkel and Strasser won’t move, because they’re important for the team. However, Oduamadi and Montelongo may go elsewhere. Those who played will definitely stay. We’ll see if any new players will arrive, but we won’t sign anyone if we find the price excessive.
As for the race for the league title, no one ever thought here that we’d already won it. We’re first and I believe it’s better to be in lead than sending messages from behind.
Cassano? Sooner or later he’ll break his duck. He’s doing well, he has good chemistry with Ibrahimovic and he’s been accepted by the team and the fans. Antonio has been a great reinforcement, I’m very satisfied with him.
Ibrahimovic? He’s always been decisive, even before he joined Milan. When I was in Barcelona I was sure he could bring something extra to the table. It’s not a surprise, he’s one of the best players in the world. Generally speaking, our whole attacking department is extraordinary.
Inzaghi? Maybe he’ll be able to play again even before the end of the season. He’s working on it, maybe we’ll see him on the field in early April.”
COACH ALLEGRI:“Tonight the team played a good game, I’m satisfied with both the players’ approach and the intensity of the game. We managed to control the midfield. The team responded well both from a mental and a physical points of view, while there’s not much to say about the technical aspect, seeing that the players in our squad have great quality.
The individuals? Oddo played again after a long while and I’m satisfied, because he did well, especially defensively.
As for Yepes, I had no doubts he would do well, because when he got the chance to play he always did well, playing focused and with great determination.
Merkel is a skilled player, he’s improving and he showed it tonight scoring a goal and giving an important assist.
Cassano did well, too. Obviously, it’s nothing new that he’s capable of great plays. He’s been training well with the team.
We have a lot of players missing in midfield, which makes squad rotation difficult, my hands are more or less tied. Under these circumstances our strength has to be the team, and it was this evening.
Our match on Sunday is not be taken lightly, because Cesena are a solid team. Ficcadenti’s side is dangerous when on the counter-attack, they made it difficult for Inter yesterday. We’ll need to be careful, also because tonight’s game took a lot out of us.
Our Italian Cup campaign will continue with the game against Sampdoria and hopefully we’ll win again, thus advancing to the semifinals.”
MASSIMO ODDO:“I’m delighted about having played again after a long time. Everyone wants to play all the time, but unfortunately in a team like Milan you can’t earn your place in the team by talking, but only by demonstrating your qualities on the pitch. I always try to be ready to show I deserve to play.
The match this evening was strange. Ventura’s team defends well, it’s difficult to find spaces against them. Both I and Antonini were ready to play more centrally. Milan did well in the first half, then after fifteen minutes into the second half the pace of the game began to lower and in the end we had to finish the game with ten men.
This evening we really wanted to do well, also because lately our results haven’t been excellent. We wanted to start a new unbeaten streak after a very successful autumn. We’re committed to do well in every game. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don’t, but we always do our best.”
IGNAZIO ABATE:“The Italian Cup is an important competition for us, we want to go all the way. We had a good game, playing well especially in the first half, but we managed the second half well, too.
Tonight we set the tone early, we need to play with this approach also in the championship.
We need to keep our nerve, because we’re first, we’re a great team and drawing two games is definitely not the end of the world.
Inter are a great side, we‘ve never thought they would be already out of the race for the title. Now they’re back in the thick of it, but we’re ready to stay on top right until the end.”
ALEXANDER MERKEL:"I’m pleased with the victory and also with my goal and assist. It was my first goal in the first team, I’m really glad. I’ve already played in this position with the Youth Team, so it wasn’t new at all. As for the third goal, I saw Robinho unmarked, I just had to give him the ball.
I thank the boss and my teammates, because they let me play and they believe in me. We’ll see what the future holds for me.”
