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Gila and Alice Bregoli

MILAN: WORLD RECORD!

12/16/2007 2:25:00 PM

They defended the European pride and reached the absolute record of world cup wins (four). However, Milan broke another world record: that of the number of trophies won. They are 18, no other club like us! No one!

YOKOHAMA - The win in the Club World Cup is not only a great result for the team of Carlo Ancelotti. It's not just the crowning of a great 2007, which saw Milan win the Champions League at Athens, the European SuperCup at Montecarlo, and today, the Club World Cup in Japan. It's not just the European pride which imposes for the first time on the South American one since the change of the tournament formula (Liverpool and Barcelona both lost against San Paolo and Internacional de Porto Alegre). Between Milan and Boca there was at stake also a double record: that of intercontinental success and that of international trophies. A double record which was coloured in red and black.

Rossoneri and Argentineans, before this game, were both at 17 international wins: from now on, Milan is ahead of everyone, on the top of the world, higher than any other team.

A TRIUMPHANT STANDING!

MILAN: 18 Trophies
Boca: 17
Real Madrid and Independiente: 15
Al Ahly: 13
Ayax-Liverpool-Barcellona-San Paolo-Zamalek: 11
Juventus: 10

The head to head with the Argentineans therefore goes to the Milanisti. Hereunder is the palmares of the two teams who faced each other today at Yokohama:

THE 18 TROPHIES OF MILAN

4 Intercontinental Cups, 7 Champions League, 5 European SuperCups, 2 Cup Winners Cup

THE 17 TROPHIES OF BOCA

3 Intercontinental Cups, 6 Libertadores Cups, 2 Cope Sudamericane, 1 Supercopa Sudamericana, 1 Supercoppa Masters, 3 Recope Sudamericane, 1 Copa De Oro.

The game in the game was about the World Cup tournament of Japan. Milan is in the history books, Milan is the only club to have triumphed 4 times in the world: in 1969, in 1989, 1990 and in 2007!

Boca remains with three (1977, 2000, 2003), just like Real Madrid, the Brazilians of San Paolo and the Uruguay sides of Nacional and Penarol. The world record is of the Rossoneri, and therefore, let's re-build the 'intercontinental' mosaic, which from today has a new unforgettable piece:

IT'S OVER! MILAN ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS!

12/16/2007

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POINT OF ARRIVAL

12/7/2007 11:46:00 AM

At Yokohama there’s the entire Milan. And even though there will be many close games on their return back to Italy, it will be worth it. Maldini wants to close the circle and states again: “I play up till the 30th of June 2008.”

YOKOHAMA (Tokyo) – Punctual, at 11.30am, under the eyes of the FIFA delegate, here is Milan. Ready for the Media Conference at the “Yokohama Royal Park Hotel”, from left to right, Adriano Galliani, Carlo Ancelotti, Paolo Maldini, Alberto Gilardino and Kala Kaladze. Behind them the official logo: JAPAN 2007 – Fifa Club World Cup.

The first one to talk is Adriano Galliani, General Manager of Milan: “We’re here in Japan for the sixth time, it’s an extraordinary thing. From the coach, the ceremony, this press conference, we noticed that we are not playing the old intercontinental cup, but something else, something new. This is really the Club World Cup. Last night we were saying on the plane that from the many teams which play football in Europe, only one comes to Japan and we’re happy to represent our continenta. All of Milan know that for this sports season this is the main objective of our club. We shall do everything possible to win this cup.”

Then Carlo Ancelotti: “The expectations are very important and we have a precise objective: to win. There are very good teams taking part in this event, from all continents. It will not be easy, but we are convinced that we have the qualities to obtain the best.”

After the introductory greetings of Paolo Maldini (“This trophy is a point of arrival for any player.”), Alberto Gilardino (“I will try to give my contribution in this new experience for me”) and Kaladze (“We have arrived a bit early to prepare ourselves well, but it will not be easy”), the questions followed.

Paolo Maldini is asked if he intends on retiring just after the Club World Cup: “I have absolutely no intention of doing so. I signed until the 30th of June 2008 and that will be the end of my career. After five months of rehabilitation, it would be absurd to interrupt the season now that I’m fine. I want to enjoy until the end this season.” Paolo continued on the experiences, even the defeats, of his great career: “It’s true, I lost many finals, but to arrive to the finals you must win.  And anyway the defeat is part of the game. Now we’re here for the end of the two years of work, the end of a circle which started with our coach. With Milan, here in Japan, the times we lost, I left knowing that I could return. With the national team, in 2002, I knew that I would have not had other chances. You can easily compare…in any case the defeats are never easy to digest, especially in the last two Intercontinental Cups, where we lost against two teams which were within our reach, especially Velez.”

Then Paolo Maldini replied to a question about Ronaldo: “It seemed like his problem had passed, but instead after Lisbon he was very sad. We’re sorry for him on the human level, but also on the technical level, because it’s not easy for a champion like him. He is not happy, he is a great player, he always wants to play and instead has not been playing for a very long time.”

The technical themes for the Club World Cup are discussed by Carlo Ancelotti: “We have seen all the teams and tonight we shall watch the first game of the tournament. Urawa has more experience and individuality than the Iranian team. The Japanese team is the team which has most advantages because it plays at home and does not have jet lag. They also have a high level of technical abilities. On our return to Italy we know that we shall have to recover three games, but we also know that we want to do better at home to recover the points which separate us from the fourth place.”

Finally, Alberto Gilardino (“These games confirm to me that in the summer of 2005 I made the right choice, Milan”) and Kaladze: “In 2003 I did not play, I was on the bench, as I was coming from an injury. I was sorry to lose in the penalty shoot-out. Now I’m fine and I’m happy to be here with Milan.”

Meeting Milan.

Milan had to settle for a 1-1 draw away to Benfica on Matchday 5 as the Portuguese outfit came from behind to snatch a point. 

Alberto Gilardino spearheaded the Rossoneri attack against the Eagles, and believes the Champions League style of play better suits his game. 

Indeed, the striker has a better scoring rate in Europe.  “It is only normal that if you start the way I did this season, with two goals against Shakhtar," said Gilardino.  "You are able to play every other game with a more relaxed state of mind."  

Gilardino is now a far cry from the man who for so long was unable to get on the scoresheet in European games, and even looked confident when deployed up front on his own against Benfica. 

“It depends on the opponents, so the coach does well to choose the right tactical system for that situation.  The two strikers worked better in Cagliari and the one-forward system was more advisable here.”

Ronaldo's Return

One striker who has yet to get onto the pitch for Milan in this year's Champions League is Ronaldo.  The Brazilian did feature for the Rossoneri at the weekend in Serie A, but withdraw from Wednesday's Benfica game after pulling a muscle during the warm-up. 

Gilardino believes that having the former Real Madrid and Inter striker in the line-up might have made the difference against Benfica.  "When Ronaldo is beside you it creates more space and helps give the defenders something else to worry about,” he explained. 

Benfica Analysis

Nevertheless, Gilardino still managed to hold the fort on his own after Pippo Inzaghi was sidelined by illness.  "We played extremely good football for the first half-hour, then that [Benfica] goal from distance changed the game and we tried to sit back a little more and control the tempo.  "We attempted to move the ball around well, but the service didn’t always get to me,” he summarised. 

Club World Cup

Milan have now booked their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League, and as such the next international competition on Gilardino's mind is the Club World Cup in Tokyo in January.  “This is my first time at the Club World Cup and after winning the top trophy at international level I hope to also become world champion with Milan.”