A.C. MILAN: COMUNICATO UFFICIALE

05/05/2008

MILANO - L’A.C. Milan comunica di aver stipulato un contratto che legherà il calciatore francese Mathieu Flamini alla società rossonera dal 1′ luglio 2008 al 30 giugno 2012.

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He can win all the Scudettos he wants, but the club expects more. That’s why Mancini resigned:

Roberto Mancini has revealed he intends to quit Internazionale at the end of the season.

Speaking after Inter were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Liverpool, Mancini told reporters of his desire to move on in the summer.

The former Italy international has been in charge at Giuseppe Meazza since 2004 and has enjoyed success at the helm.

Inter are on course for a third consecutive Serie A title this season, but it will not be enough to tempt Mancini into staying.

Insisting his decision was not a knee-jerk reaction to losing to Liverpool, Mancini confirmed he does not intend to fulfil his contract.

Aside from Zanetti, that team looked like they were in a crisis. Rumors of infighting showed on 2 chances in front of goal where Julio Cruz and Zlatan Ibrahimovi? attempted difficult shots instead of squaring to an unmarked man. Zlatan, again, not showing up in the big games and Mancini took forever to bring on his subs. You can see why Roma feel they can catch Inter in the league tables, only 8 points behind now.

You won’t stay at a glamour club for long without winning in Europe. It’s what Madridistas are used to and what has saved Rafa Benitez at Liverpool and Carlo Ancelotti at AC Milan. But now with Inter, Real Madrid, and AC Milan out of the last 8, and with Rikjaard’s time looking short, it appears there will be a bidding war for Jose Mourinho’s services. And if Avram Grant doesn’t win something this year, Mourinho’s old job could be vacant as well.

England’s Big 4 are in Europe’s Elite 8 but out of the FA Cup’s Final 4. With the foreigners outnumbering the Englishmen, that sounds about right, don’t you think?

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This picture says it all:

Arsenal’s players run toward their Manager Arsene Wenger (R) after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final match between AC Milan and Arsenal at San Siro Stadium in Milan on March 4,2008. Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas scored six minutes from time and Emmanuel Adebayor added an injury-time second to knock defending champions AC Milan out of the Champions League as Arsenal won 2-0 at the San Siro. AFP PHOTO DAMIEN MEYER (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images)

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… or Sensational Cesc

AC MILAN 0 ARSENAL 2

Nice knowing you, Ancelotti. Mr. Mourinho … check your messages!

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• Kaka just broke Inter’s Samuel’s knee just from his skill on the ball. #
  
  
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• I wonder, how many penalties have Man Utd been awarded in the last 5 minutes of home games in which they didn’t have the lead? 80%? Must be #
• I think Rijkaard might soon be giving his parking space to Mourinho. #

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More thoughts:

El Classico: Ronaldinho is done. He might be headed the way of Denilson (not the one at Arsenal)
Milan Derby: Ancelotti is still winless in Milan. Pirlo’s free kick was a thing of beauty.

Premiership: David Bentley is the future of England. Cristiano Ronaldo is a baad maan!

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Arsenal survive the North London Derby on the strength of goals by Emannuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner. Dimitar Berbatov scored for Tottenham after the early “Baby Kanu” goal and won a penalty on King Kolo Toure that Robbie Keane lobbed safely into the outstretched arms of Manuel Almunia. Bendtner then made them pay and the Gunners held on to win 2-1. Tested time and time again, and beset by injuries in recent weeks, the Gunners seem to be showing the fortitude and resolve needed to win trophies. We’ll know more after the Pompy and Everton games, but this is looking like a solid effort.

And should the draw of AC Milan in the first round of the Champions League be deemed unfortunate, let that notion be dispelled by the inspired words from the Gunnerblog:

When Arsenal built the Emirates Stadium, it was for occasions such as these. On the 20th February 2008, Arsenal will host AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League. And on that night, there will not be an ounce of trepidation in my body. Not because of Milan’s shaky domestic form, nor our own impressive record at over-turning European giants.

But because this is exactly the kind of match that makes European football great. Only a coward wanted us to draw Porto today. The match with Milan is an opportunity for heroes to be made and for ninety minutes of football to become mythology.

In other words: BRING IT ON!!!

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The “Jose Mourinho to England” dream is dead. I’m guessing they didn’t like what he was selling (or more likely what he wanted to control). But apparently he won’t be without work for long:

The ex-Chelsea boss has been out of work since leaving Stamford Bridge by mutual consent in September.

Mourinho had been the favourite to replace the sacked Steve McClaren as manager of the English national team, however the Portuguese tactician is believed to have turned down the Football Association’s job offer.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport and a number of English tabloids, the reason for this rejection is AC Milan.

The Daily Express apparently have a hilarious take on the fact that Jose used England to generate interest from other clubs.

And it now looks like Fabio Capello is the next in line. He’s considered too old for club jobs and he’s had success, winning titles at every club he’s been with. And he was the one who motivated Beckham’s return to form with Real Madrid. TheDaily Express has a take on that too - warning that Fabio Cabbage will have eventually trouble with the media such as the picture on the left.

UPDATE: It’s Official - FABIO’S THE MAN

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