Convalesco

Today, the leaders of the premiership leaders are going to face Milan giants for the first in a champions league knock out stage. The stage is set for the biggest match of the first knock out round of UEFA Champions League.

As an AC Milan I hope that my team comes out of the Emirates stadium with a positive result. The fact that Kalac is going to play gives me more hope. Kalac proved to be a good goalkeeper in the time of need. The key of the game will be the midfield and the fitness of the teams. Both Arsenal and Milan have been waiting for this game. Both come from bad performances in the last FA Cup and campionato games. In my humble opinion, AC Milan has potentially the best midfield in the world. Pirlo is the best play maker you can find currently, Kaka is the best attacking midfielder in the world, while Seedorf is world class and if in good shape, can win games alone (he managed to win alone Bayern Munich last year), while the defensive midfielder Genaro Gattuso is one of the best 5 in the game. So, this four players, could crash anyone. However, the defence of Milan is old. Of course the champions league is no more than seven games until the final. These people have the experience to do it. However, the fact that they have won the tournament many times, twice this team, plus the fact that the average age is way too old is the main problem. Another issue is the attack. The young prodigy, Alexandre Pato, is not fit. He came back from an injury, he hasn’t play enough games with AC Milan, although he clearly showed impressive skills for his young age. Gilardino is more likely to start the game. Adebayor will be the main issue for Milan’s defence. The good news for AC Milan is that Van Persy and Rosicky are not fit. After losing Ronaldo, Milan has once again problems with the attackers. Inzaghi is not fit, he is not completely back from the injury. The news say that kaka is 100% ready though.

Milan’s luck is based largely on Pirlo’s and Kaka’s likes. If these two are going to be at the top, then Arsenal will have a hard night. Otherwise, Milan is doomed. If Wenger’s team takes the control of the game in the midfield, AC Milan is toasted. Arsenal could easily win 4-0 if you let them kill you. Flamini and Clichy will be guarding Kaka, while Fabregas is going to make the magic-man for Wengers team. Adebayor and Eduardo are going to give hard time to Nesta and Maldini which will probably face them with Kaladze and Cafu or Bonera on the right wing of the defence.

Apart from everything else, I hope for this game to be the one you expect from these two teams. Last year, the best games were played with Manchester United. This year, Arsenal is a similar thread. If Milan can repeat last years performance it has a big chance of going through. I would like to have Ronaldo, Kaka and Pato in the starting line up, but with Milan’s luck the last two years, we’re lucky to have Pato ready for the game. Let’s enjoy the game, may the Italian’s win!

AC Milan - 2006/07 European Champions.

7 Times UCL winners, 16 International Trophies.

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