POSITIVE START

There was a party atmosphere at Solbiate Arno for Milan's first outing of the season as the Rossoneri ran out 12-0 winners and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who looked sharp, socred twice.

(In the photo: Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action at Solbiatese)

MILAN - Milan enjoyed a positive start to their pre-season series of friendlies with a 12-0 against semi-professional side Solbiatese Arno Calcio at the stadio Felice Chinetti di Solbiate Arno. The goalscorers were Seedorf (3'), Viscomi (og, 4'), Cassano (5'), Valoti (11'), Flamini (13'), Ibrahimovic (29') and Ibrahimovic again (40') Paloschi (48'), Zambrotta (59'), Emanuelson (69'), Inzaghi (77'), Comi (84').

Coach Massimiliano Allegri pulled something of a surprise by starting Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassno although both players reacted well which is a positive sign ahead of the Italian Super Cup in Beijing on August 6th against Inter.

The Swede, in particular, looked sharp and scored twice in the first half as well as setting up three goals plus the final ball for the own goal and no doubt had benefited from the extra time off, having only come back to training on July 18th.

Allegri used his full ratio of players including youth players Valoti, De Sciglio, Fossati, Ferreira and Comi as well as new signing Taye Taiwo, who looks to have settled into the Milan style of play immediately.

There was a positive showing from Filippo Inzaghi who was returning from a long injury lay-off and the striker also found the back of the net. Overall, it was a good all-round display ahead of the Audi Cup on Tuesday, July 26th at Bayern Munich.

Here are the Milan line-ups from the match:

First half: Abbiati (Amelia), Antonini, Nesta, Oddo, Taiwo, Flamini, Van Bommel, Seedorf, Valoti, Ibrahimovic, Cassano.

Second half: Amelia (Roma), Abate, Bonera, Ferreira(De Sciglio), Zambrotta (Fossati), Gattuso, Ambrosini, Emanuelson, Boateng, Paloschi (Comi), Inzaghi.

KEEP IT GOING

Adriano Galliani, Massimiliano Allegri and Filippo Inzaghi talked about the match at the end of the friendly played in Solbiate Arno.

(IN THE PHOTO: Massimiliano Allegri and Adrinao Galliani on the bench during the friendly)

MILAN - At the end of today's friendly at Solbiate Arno, Adrinao Galliani, Massimiliano Allegri and Filippo Inzaghi who scored gave their thoughts on the game:

Adriano Galliani: "Milan is in really good shape and the team is 99% complete on the transfer market so we are relaxed. We have no plans to sign or sell a player. I can reassure the fans that Silvio Berlusconi loves Milan like he did from the first day. Nothing has changed and nothing will change. The separation of Fininvest lies neither in the sky or on earth. Yesterday there was a dinner with the President where he intended to set the budget for 2011. I think Pirlo could be replaced by the midfielders who are already in the squad. If someone arrives then it will be a midfielder. There are no negotiations for Montolivo as we do not want to disturb the Della Valle family. There are no negotiations for Hamsik and we have never asked for him. There will be a place for an non-European Union player but it will not be Ganso."

Massimiliano Allegri: "Ibra and Cassano needed a workout so I decided to start them together. They played well and were on top of the match. Being angry is normal for Ibra, it is part of his character, he has always given his best and and gets the same out of his team-mates. Taiwo has only been with us for nine days but we has been working hard and still does not speak good Italian, he will also adapt to Italian football. I will now work with the players I have available, the squad is full. Pirlo has gone so we have to replace him with a big name. El Shaarawy had inflammation of the patellar tendon in the knee. Cassano is a Milan player who has returned with great enthusiasm and desire."

Filippo Inzaghi: "People know what I have gone through with my knee and supported me. It will take time to see the usual Inzaghi again, but the knee is stable and today I played my first 45 minutes for eight months. The league title has brought enthusiasm and we must exploit that to the utmost to win the Super Cup against Inter. Paloschi is already a good player even if he is young, he will make his way, and I hope he will wear the number nine shirt because he will certainly wear it with honour."

Milan: No interest in Ganso, Montolivo

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has denied the club are set to sign Ganso or Riccardo Montolivo.

GettyImagesGanso: Could stay in Brazil until January

Santos midfielder Ganso has been expected to move to the San Siro all summer, personally declaring his desire to play for Milan. And after Fiorentina admitted defeat in their bid to hold on to Montolivo it was though he too would switch to the Serie A champions.

Galliani is adamant that the rumours will amount to nothing although new signings could be in the pipeline before the transfer window closes next month.

"There are no negotiations in place to sign Montolivo,'' Galliani told the club's official website. "Milan does have a vacant place for a non-European player but it's not Ganso.

"If another player was to arrive it would be a midfielder. However, I believe that [Andrea] Pirlo can be replaced by a player that we already have in our squad. Right now we are happy with what we have and the team is 99% complete.

"If a player was to arrive, one of our players would have to leave.''

The Rossoneri have not made a big splash in the transfer market this summer, with Philippe Mexes, Taye Taywo and Stephan El Shaarawy their only new additions. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has moved permanently from Barcelona but he was at the club last season.

STILL HUNGRY

19/07/2011

"Nothing has changed since last season. There is the same desire to win and the same determination. Now we must not give up and although we want to win the league title we want to win in Europe and continue to do so in Italy, this is also the message from the coach. We are always hungry for victory and playing at Milan it is normal for all players to always want to win."

MILAN - Gianluca Zambrotta spoke today during the Nutrilite-Milan press conference. Here are the main statements from the Rossoneri full-back:

ON NUTRILITE AND MILAN LAB: "Being 34 years I have had the chance to play in big teams in Barcelona and also I must say that I have never found a structure such as Nutrilite combined with Milan Lab, which follow the player from a to z for the recovery of any injury to the deficiencies in food and minerals such as iron, fruit and vegetables. I think it's a perfect match between Milan Lab and the Nutrilite and not only for me, but all my team-mates are happy with the work done so far."

ON NEXT SEASON: "Nothing has changed since last season. There is the same desire to win and the same determination. Now we must not give up and although we want to win the league title we want to win in Europe and continue to do so in Italy, this is also the message from the coach. We are always hungry for victory and playing at Milan it is normal for all players to always want to win. This is the mentality that we must have, a winning mentality is crucial.
"I must say that in the Champions League it will be even more difficult to win because Barcelona have been the strongest team in recent years and have expressed the best football over the last 20 years. We can play with everyone and with a little luck we can get to the quarters, then try to get further. It was strange that Barça could not win despite always having had an outstanding team. I think that is a stellar team from every point of view."

OTHER ANSWERS: "I think it's different playing for Barcelona and the national team. Messi plays in a scheme that is already clear where they play for him, while in Argentina it is a bit different. Brazil and Argentina are out. It can happen to any international side: Italy also went out in the first round in 2010. I had the misfortune of losing a championship in 2000 on the last day and on last day I started forgetting everything. We are used to having exceptional or disappointing seasons, but this is football.
"I always said those who played with me in those two years at Juventus won the Scudetto on the field and I can feel it is mine."
"Ibrahimovic and Cassano look in good shape, I saw them this morning, they worked hard and they want to start again and they weill. I saw them with the right spirit.
"For the derby in Beijing are working under Tognaccini at Milan Lab. They know what the best preparation should be and know how to handle such a delicate preparation. We have utmost confidence in their work.
"With the arrival of Taiwo there is more competition. Competition is not my problem, neither is it for any of the other Milan players. Competition is positive and it ensures that you are always motivated, one must always be ready." ( acmilan.com )

Ganso wants to join Milan - agent

AC Milan are leading the race to snap up Brazil international Ganso, according to the player's agent, as he moves closer to a deal with the Italian champions.

Ganso, 21, is rated as one of the top young players in the game and is keen to move on from Santos after being linked with a big money move to Europe.

Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Inter Milan have all been credited with interest, but Gaetano Paolillo expects his client to seal a summer switch to the red half of Milan after rejecting talk of a move to Paris.

"I don't know where this information of an offer from Paris Saint-Germain has come from. It is pure invention," Gaetano Paolillo told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are not interested in PSG's petrodollars. Ganso wants to play in Italy with AC Milan.

"He wants to play against the likes of Inter, Roma and Juventus and he is fascinated by the Italian league. In the next few weeks we will meet with Milan directors to see if the transfer can happen." ( soccernet.espn.go.com )