Liverpool FC Forum

[LFC2007]

The following post was passed onto me by a Juventus supporter on this forum called "Juventino". I have editted it as he used a translation website to convert it from Italian to English, parts of it are still hard to understand! But it's a lot better than it was before.
As he is unable to post a new thread I have done it on his behalf.




ALL THE SECRETS OF MILAN


Hi again to all friends and fans of Liverpool!

Being Italian I know very well the essence of my Country's game and therefore your next adversary in the Ending of Champions League in Athens… AC Milan.

Two years ago you realized a Miracle in having recovered from 0-3 down to even the score to 3-3 and then going on and winning the game with every ounce of strength you had.

Since that match I began to have an enormous liking for you and for your team considering that you had defeated Milan, they are the most unpleasant team in the World and also the most conceited. I admire a lot also in the way in which your fans have an unbelievable connection to Liverpool.

Because of this I have decided to pass on my knowledge of Milan and the secrets of the Milan side to you so you can be as best prepared for the match on the 23rd in Athens.

The crucial question is: “How to beat Milan again?”

I must immediately say to you; this time around the task of beating Milan will be more difficult, they know your team well and still hold some of the feelings from Istanbul. 99% of the time you will never recover from 3-0 down, this time to be at such a deficit is almost irreversible. This time to fall behind by only 1-0 will be like a sentence to defeat because your opponent will be extremely organised and they will be as determined as ever not to concede and lose a second time to Liverpool.

But here I explain in detail everything:

Preparation for the Final

Milan has a structure of training and physical recovery called the "Milan Lab." It studies the physical condition of players in high detail. Carlos Ancelotti is able to know, thanks to the help of this technology, if it is better to play one player or another player. The "Milan Lab" are able to foresee in detail which players are at risk of injury; and it is also able to create a specific programme for a player who needs to recover by a preset date. Milan are currently doing tests that will simulate the required speed and tempo at which they require to be in their best form, they are training at 90% of their maximum speed to do this.

Physical condition

Currently, Milan are in the best physical condition in the world. All it takes is to look at the way in which they beat Manchester United, this is a sample of the way they can play and a sample of their excellent conditioning. Milan usually do it this way, their main objective is to plan to arrive in the final part of the season in the best condition ready for the latter stages of the Champions League. If you have watched Milan over the years you will have noticed that they are totally different from today in the later stages of the season; they were less motivated, didn't race as fast and press as well as they can. Then in this last month of January before the restart of Serie A, they undertook specific preparation to reach the month of May in the absolutely best condition possible. Practically all race as hares and they always arrive  first on the ball.


European mentality

From the moment Silvio Berlusconi becam the Milan President, Milan has always had as their first objective to win the Champions League or at least to arrive in Final. They have tried and had 4 victories in the last 20 years. Returning to the discourse of before, it is really for this that in the final moments of the season they always arrive in splendid form. Despite this being one of Milan's worst seasons, they have arrived in the final again.

Fortune

It is well-known in Italy, above all among the fans of the teams, that Milan in the Champions League has an impudent fortune. It is so that the arrival of Silvio Berlusconi; not by chance it is often said that all the students of Arrigo Sacchi (historical trainer of Milan between the years '80 and '90) has from his/her own part the famous one “culo of Sacks.” To make sense of this better: the teams that face Milan in the Champions League always have some bad fortune or players disqualified. This year Celtic could not line up their new purchase Pressley and other important players, in the return leg Bayern were without big players such as Schweinsteiger and Lahm, Manchester United also had a turn in fortune with a number of key injuries also. There would be also other cases to list over the past seasons, but the list would be too long.  Milan on the contrary almost never have bad fortune with first team players for a game of Champions League, if not it is older players such as Maldini that obviously are again at some advanced age. You must be careful with some of your players so as they are not injured for the 23rd. Besides the Milan succeeds often in also passing the turns thanks to the fact that the adversaries often take poles and crossroads while to the rossoneris 1 only draught is enough for door…(Don't ask me!)

Conceitedness/Complacency

The fans of Milan are sure they will win. Today I heard one say after the goal from Seedorf in Catania vs. Milan: “With this physical condition we will destroy Liverpool. Gerrard here is thing will touch you!”; or on the Juventus forum where I participate, one member has chosen the nickname '7 times champions'. Milan has always been this way. The same President Berlusconi always says that “ Milan will surely win.” Whenever there is an important game Milan always say things in the media like 'Milan will surely win'. You will often hear them say things like “they will command the game and not let the opponent see the ball.” Or “If Milan play the way they know how to the opponent have no hope"

Justice

As I think you will know, this summer here from us in Italy there has been the rechristened scandal “Calciopoli” that saw a lot of teams involved among which were my Juventus. It is in the opinion of everybody that Milan being involved in the Champions League is an injustice as they were part of this scandal. Milan had to go down to Seria B or simply be excluded from the European Cup. But this has not happened. The judges have given Milan a ridiculous punishment that we don't accept. It is also for this reason that we cannot see Milan lift the Champions league trophy to the sky.

What's been said in Italy?

At the same moment in which you eliminated Chelsea, in Italy they have not done anything else other than to sustain that Milan would have the opportunity to get revenge for Istanbul. The newspapers and the TVs are maintaining the hype of 2 years ago but with a slightly lower profile in comparison because they have never forgotten your history and the match two years ago,there is however enough complacency on the fact that in the end Milan will win. As practically all the English teams have, also Milan have their own private channel: "Milan Channel." They are always going on about th egreat event in Athens. They almost speak of your team and of your players as if they knew them to memory, surely furnishing a great help to Ancelotti. Also they are very confident he will succeed and take revenge for two years ago. They are well little here in Italy those that you/they think that you will succeed again to win against the Milan because the fact that owes again riaffrontarli in an Ending of Champions League seems as a sign of the favorable destiny to the rossoneris. Us fans of the Juventus, and also those of the Inter, are not very confident on you, not because we don't hold you a strong team, but really for the fact that will be hard to beat Milan twice. All of us would like gladly a gift on your behalf...

As to beating Milan:

It is highly probable that the Milan will line up him with the following formation:

Dida
Oddo Nesta Maldini Jankulovsky
(Kaladze)

Gattuso Pirlo Ambrosini

Kakà Seedorf
Inzaghi
(Gilardino)

Everybody regards Kakà as the number 1 danger. This is true, but you know that there is another fundamental player that is in a moment of exceptional form: Clarence Seedorf. It is through this him that they always pass the most important actions. It would be opportune that Gerrard watched him. Pay attention also to Inzaghi who is very good player to play on the counter attack, they will look to thread the ball through to him. Gattuso is the untiring worker of the team, Pirlo is a strong playmaker while Ambrosini is a fantastic with his head. Not by chance its number is 23 that he has been that of its idol Michael Jordan. Nesta is lately playing as perhaps he has never done from when he began his milan career. The only doubt is over Paolo Maldini who has a problem with his leg. If it didn't have to make Kaladze they will play that is as many strong.

But how should Liverpoool Approach it?

The ideal side would be this:

Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Riise
Gerrard Disguise Xabi Alonso Sissoko Zenden
Kuyt

Gerrard is in absolute my preferred player and if you make a turn on j1897.com you will realize you that it is also a belief of a lot of the other members. I have always sustained, I believe that he performs best in the centre but in this case it is better that he plays on the right. This because if it departed to the center it would suffer the doubling of imprinting of Pirlo and Gattuso that would prevent him all the costs to unsheathe his/her famous draught from out deadly area. Playing instead to the right could enjoy of greater liberty. Besides it is necessary that he keeps an eye on Seedorf. This last will have to be marked to man from they Disguise. And what to do for Kakà? Kakà is surely the better man of the Milan, probably the strongest player in the World. We return  2 years to the Ending in Istanbul: in the first half Kakà played a splendid game, he practically did what he wanted. Then however in the second half Benitez made a change that allowed Liverpool to win the Champions League: Hamaan entered and was assigned to mark Kaka. Result: Kakà didn't touch the ball anymore. The player that resembles Hamaan most in the Liverpool side and in physical structure now is Momo Sissoko. Whoever plays here will have to deal with Kaka from the very first kick. If Kaka is given space then there is nothing you can do. To absolutely avoid the attack Bellamy-Kuyt: both have marked little and against the exceptional defense of the Milan they would have well few hopes. The ideal is to start with Kuyt alone up top in ahead for then to insert Crouch to the place of Macherano in the case the things they had to put on badly. Xabi Alonso will have to manage the whole team and to dictate the times. I have noticed that you have recovered Kewell, however he has the defect to make mistakes/miss important games.

However you know that to beat Milan you will need more than the the tactical points I have written: you will need Heart. Nobody can beat Milan in Champions League without having an endless heart. You have the fortune to have him/it to us and to have an united team as nessun'altra. You will owe the to be humble more possible and not to release declarations as that recent of Gerrard on Gattuso, won't do otherwise anything else other than to load more still the Milan and to give them a motivation in more to beat you. Don't put you on the them same plain. Don't be conceited!
(I think what he's trying to say here is, we don't need to make arrogant statements like Gattuso has done, it will only give Milan more motivation, don't stoop to their level)

The Milan is sure whether to win on May 23… you have to prevent him from it and to succeed in capsizing once more the prognostications. Will you make her/it? Will you succeed in realizing a Miracle this time also?

All of us wish you can. On May 23, you won't believe it, it will be also my birthday. My dream is that you can make me a great gift.

Always remember you that the Miracles exist, and that in the kick there is never anything sure. Every game has its history.

Good luck boys!

I believe in you!

GO LIVERPOOL!!!

[Kharhaz]

Seedorf is a good player, and so is kaka but I honestly dont think this milan team is as good as they say. Its not a question of keeping kaka quiet its a question of keeping Gerrard quiet !
When we played milan a couple of years ago we didnt have the best team let alone squad yet we won it, this time we do have more options and quality. Milan sold shevchenko and there replacements? Gilardino? why is he a good player? if it wasnt for the footy manager game I wouldnt have a bloody clue ! No make no mistake milan are good, but we are better, and getting better every season.

[Marcus]

Is this a bitter Juventus fan or what... Dude, there is no such things like Secret's of Milan, it's just a football club, not an ancient pyramid or something. Anyways, I hope he has a happy birthday, I know my b-day on 27th May 2003 was my best.

[LFC2007]

I only posted this on behalf of a Juventus fan on this forum who couldn't open his own thread.

So, if you want to address him he is called "Juventino".

[*Juventino*]

I only posted this on behalf of a Juventus fan on this forum who couldn't open his own thread.

So, if you want to address him he is called "Juventino".

Thanks!

[grayghost]

If you play good  football on the wings milan will not be able to cope

[zarababe]

The bit about them being 'conceited' is clear - and this has been my 'beef' with that 'Kaka22' poster on this site - for me 'Meelan' are totally arrogant, disrespectful of Liverpool even though they should know better then to start that rubbish talk of theirs You earn respect by your conduct not just through your pedigree, something Chelsea's Abrahmovic is learning, after the disgaceful behaviour of his 'manager'

On neutral ground - with Rafa's tactical knowledge etc we will be prepared - Mancs lost cos they were overwhelmed and tactically naive, we won't be.

This will be an interesting game - at the back of the Milan players minds will be 2005, psychologically that will be there - for us once again there is nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

I can't wait just over a week to go - get in there red men

No Mercy

[Sabre]

Thanks to Juventino, excellent report -- Lo troviamo molto interessante, Grazie juventino.

Thanks to LFC2007 for adapting-bringing it.

The Italian culture is very familiar to me so the insight about how they feel about this game in Italy has been very familiar and expected aswell.

I'd like to read footie comments about this line-up, which I agree it might be possible to see against LFC.

Dida
Oddo Nesta Maldini Jankulovsky
(Kaladze)

Gattuso Pirlo Ambrosini

Kakà Seedorf
Inzaghi
(Gilardino)

Eeeerm. Seedorf, interesting and experienced player, Gatusso, the best holding mid without the ball, Pirlo, Kaka e Massimo Ambrossini.

Those of you who think in football it's utterly necessary to have width, what do you think of  that 5 midfielders playing together?

That bloody continental formation with just one clear striker with the Pipo Inzagui (a striker I respect, clever) upfront, is capable of suffocating almost anybody. Some could say that tactics are negative, but in my book a 3-0 in a semifinal of the CL puts that sentence in it's proper place.

Experienced midfield that, and no wingers. Another approach to football. Thoughts?

[monkey 20]

i thought exactly the same thing sabre...but wow did meelan prove me wrong against man utd! they played with very little midfield width...but they keep the ball and have their full backs over lapping which adds even more players to their attack! its very clever because they always have gattuso and another centre mid, either pirlo or ambrosini, to clean up if they break down! if we break quick and very wide, we can take them...but we need to be extremely careful and solid!!

[hunterz]

Im quite grateful for a Juventus fan to do so much for us and to support us instead of a club of his country..Thanks Juventino,we wont let you down,advance happy birthday!

[monkey 20]

yeh! happy birthday on the 23rd Juventino!!! hopefully we'll be celebrating with u!!!
wow, there must be some intense hatred towards meelan

[whylongball?]

Agree with the probable formation Milan would play. I think thats what i saw of them against Man U. And actually it surpasses my understanding if width against milan will help. Man U could do it somehow despite having best wingers.
Pls enlighten!

[The Bench]

Seems the gerrard quote that was dug up about gattusso, from stevies' book, over here seems to have been given legs in italia. Same press mentality, different country. Juventino makes some good points and that he wants us to be successful against them, can only think they're rivalry is similar to ours with the jokers up the east lancs. Love this MB, so many different views and how refreshing to hear thoughts from all over europe(esp. Sabre, not only refreshing but has well interesting points of view, always very well balanced. Cheers Sabre, you're a credit to these boards.)

[The Bench]

Thanks to Juventino, excellent report -- Lo troviamo molto interessante, Grazie juventino.

Thanks to LFC2007 for adapting-bringing it.

The Italian culture is very familiar to me so the insight about how they feel about this game in Italy has been very familiar and expected aswell.

I'd like to read footie comments about this line-up, which I agree it might be possible to see against LFC.

Dida
Oddo Nesta Maldini Jankulovsky
(Kaladze)

Gattuso Pirlo Ambrosini

Kakà Seedorf
Inzaghi
(Gilardino)

Eeeerm. Seedorf, interesting and experienced player, Gatusso, the best holding mid without the ball, Pirlo, Kaka e Massimo Ambrossini.

Those of you who think in football it's utterly necessary to have width, what do you think of  that 5 midfielders playing together?

That bloody continental formation with just one clear striker with the Pipo Inzagui (a striker I respect, clever) upfront, is capable of suffocating almost anybody. Some could say that tactics are negative, but in my book a 3-0 in a semifinal of the CL puts that sentence in it's proper place.

Experienced midfield that, and no wingers. Another approach to football. Thoughts?

Dida
Oddo Nesta Maldini Jankulovsky
(Kaladze)

Gattuso Pirlo Ambrosini

Kakà Seedorf
Inzaghi
(Gilardino)

Probably correct line up, but I have some thoughts over "Rino". Against the mancs at OT he was the reason kaka was so good and when he went off injured, thats when the scum got back in the game. In milan he was immense, but he really wants to be an english type player and most would let him. Scousers are different, he'll never out fight carra or SG and if he tries it on with any of the midfield we play, they'll either outfight him or, more probable, outplay him. Didi took the sting out of him in 2005 with the warning "celebrate in front of the liverpool fans again and I 'll break your jaw"(which even if not true, is still brilliant) Just think that for all the worry of their abilities, we need to concentrate on our strengths. Passion, belief, heart, all go a long way. When coupled with tactical genius and football ability, they go even further. Bring on the rossieneri, bring on athens. I can't wait.
And on a side note, think its set up for kewell to be the difference.

[The Manhattan Project]

OK basically this is the plan.

Carra, Aggar and Riise will be part of Strike Team Alpha, which will knock out AC Milan's shield generator.

Gerra, Sissa and Mascha will be part of Ultimate Squad Zero One, which will create a distraction for AC Milan's outer defences.

Croucha and Kuyta will be Red Squadron Cobra and will fly into AC Milan's interior power core using single person starfighters.

Reina will coordinate things from the flagship and unfortunately two men will have to be sacrificed.