Totally Different Story

Speaking at the pre-game press conference, Carlo Ancelotti has put Istanbul behind him. Paolo Maldini is proud to be captain for such a side and Ricky Kakà hope to write another page in the history books.

Carlo Ancelotti

It will not be easy, but I have no doubts we will give everything. All my decisions have been made. On a purely technical level perhaps Milan were stronger two years ago and for that side it was almost ‘normal’ to reach the Final. For today’s team it is extraordinary and we want to end this year on a high. We deserved this final more than any other side because we suffered like nobody else. We had points penalties and had to rush our pre-season training to prepare for the preliminary round. If we have the fortune to lift the trophy, then it will be absolutely and totally deserved. This has been the most difficult season in my time at Milan. We ran into problems we had never encountered before, but the great unity between myself, the team and club proved decisive. Steven Gerrard is charismatic, but you cannot base your match on one player. Liverpool, like Milan, have many other qualities. Our opponents are Liverpool, not Gerrard. I don’t see myself as the leader of the group, but rather a part of the group. We all come together to answer questions and solve problems. We have worked well and I hope it will be considered even better tomorrow. We never sought alibis or scapegoats, we just tried to resolve our problems together, so what we have been through makes us stronger for this final. We feel very strong in these days leading up to the match. It was here in Athens against AEK that we suffered three injuries, it was the most delicate moment. Being compared to Sacchi and Capello by Doctor Galliani is pleasing. We have all done well. Milan’s presence in this final shows the strength of Italian football and we do feel ourselves a very Italian side.

Paolo Maldini

I have never been crazy about looking at history, it difficult to find the comparison with Athens now and in 1994, there are great players, Kakà today, Savicevic then. The Golden Ball is not as important as the final in general. If I can say, no one deserves the Golden Ball more than Kakà. It will be an emotional final even if you manage it differently from when you were 18 or 19. The best image is fitting the cup in Manchester with the whole team behind me. The important thing to get there rather than not. Crouch can be difficult in the air but I want to get out there once again and experience the shiver of excitement you only get in games like this. To be doing this again at this level is something fantastic and I am proud to be captain of a team that is always at these levels.

Ricardo Kaka'

No team plays man-marking at this level. I think that it will be like this tomorrow. I had the chance to win the Champions League two years ago, hopefully I have a great game tomorrow and write my name in the history books. If we can repeat what we did in the first half against Manchester United then it will be difficult to face Milan. Thanks to the example of Maldini and Costacurta, there is always the desire to win. I requested not to play in the Copa America in the interests of the Brazilian national team as I have played every summer for the last three years.

Originally posted in: AC Milan Official Site

A Reflection Of Trojan War

AC Milan vs Liverpool
Athena, 24th of May 2007

For the ancient Greek, myths have been part of their life which past on through all generation. Although binded by their ancestor's story, they have always believed that those myths was the foundation of their civilization, thus help them became the center of ancient world. One of the most popular myth which last until now is the legend of Trojan war. Trojan war became an important myth because it is the most told story in the Greek history. Even until now there are still arguments to prove the story.
The war started because of the kidnapping of Princess Helena, the wife of the Spartan's king, Menelaus, by the the charming Prince of Trojan Kingdom from France. To the Greek, this war has a very deep meaning and they are always proud to remember it. The war shown the Greek's ability to combine both muscle and brain.
Under the brave warrior, Achilles, Greek who before was torn into many countries which were fighting and competing against each other, was united with one ultimate goal to destroy King Priam's fortress. With the help of Odysseus, Achilles has an honor mission that is to bring back the pride of Greek which was taken after the kidnapping of Princess Helena.
In the context of the duel between AC Milan against Liverpool in tonight's Champions League Final, Milan's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has experienced the price of a single carelessness. Like King Priam who let the Trojan horse entered his fortress, Ancelotti was arrogant and let Steven Gerrard torn apart his team's defense in the second half of 2005 final.
The effect was a total disaster. Just like the Trojan Palace which was destroyed and cancelled the honeymoon of Prince Paris and Princess Helena. Milanisti have to forget the glory of winning the Champions League trophy. Milan were careless, like Trojan who were partying with the presence of the Trojan horse, they were celebrating after they went 3-0 ahead in the first half.
The two mighty teams will again come face to face in this year's final. Maybe it is a coincidence, Rafa Benitez and Carlo Ancelotti will play in Greece, where the legend of Trojan horse came from. For the two side, Champions League trophy is the only silverware they can win this year, so they undoubtedly will do anything to win it. The trophy is like a pride they must defend, like Menelaus who was humiliated when his wife who was his pride, taken away from him. Liverpool and Milan surely won't let the pride of their season's lost.

Translated from: printed version of BaliPost, 23rd of May 2007