Champions League Matchday 7

41

I take your point about us taking advantage of teams at home when they decide to come out and attack us. I suppose Benfica being more adventurous after half time in Glasgow in the group stages would be such a case and we took them apart. Milan won’t do that and I imagine they’ll sit in more at Celtic Park and would be happy with a 0-0 like in 2004. Any result where you don’t concede an away goal is acceptable but equally with our away record and for psychological reasons you’d want to bring a lead to Italy.

I was looking at their squad in more detail there and it is sprinkled with class - Nesta, Pirlo, Kaka - but it is also riddled with veterans like Maldini, Cafu, Costacurta and a few others and we can definitely beat them at home. I have watched them a fair bit over the past few years, mainly in the CL I’ll admit, but they have scraped through some games where they had no right to and it was primarily due to their experience. PSV were the better side in their semi-final tie in 2004 yet they got a late goal to see them off. Last year Lyon thoroughly outplayed them and somehow they managed to find a way to win. These teams played against them with a high tempo - like Deportivo did either 3 or 4 years ago when they thumped them 4-0 in La Coruna and put them out - and took the attack to them. That’s what we need to do in Glasgow but we have the assurance of Lennon holding and the back 4 need to be disciplined. We then have goal threats out wide from Naka/Aiden/Shaun and variation up front with Jan’s height, Kenny’s pace and workrate and Magic prowling around. The more I think about it the happier I am.

As for Ancelloti he seems to have done a good job there. He is cautious enough and very much into the tactical side of things like you mentioned. I wouldn’t fear that he’d be too smart for us or anything though. There is also the chance he might be sacked before the game if their poor league run continues.

JF, where’s the places to go in Meeeeeelan?

42

Bandage - was browsing the official Celtic site there and it doesn’t look good for home tickets due to increased media and sponsor requirements.

43

Nah we’ll defo get tickets. There’s some amount of dicks with Celtic tickets. Like the lad who was on Sky Sports News the day of the ManU game saying it was a win/win for him as he supported both teams! Get fooked dickhead - we’ll get tickets from the likes of them.

44

Milan home tickets in the bag after much expense, time, effort and persistance. There was a lot of soul-searching along the way but we can relax now.

I have a little Steve Stone thinking about this game. Hopefully Sunday saw our return to form after idling a bit since the ManU game in November. I suppose it was understandable given that the League has been over since late October but what’s required now is for us to continue on like the 2nd half against Hearts for the next run of games so we’re going into the Milan game in form and with confidence.

Naka’s thoughts on Milan from some Japanese site:

About KAKA: physically strong and fast

Inzaghi: furbo malicia = clever but sly (used in positive meaning to praise a
footballer in Italy)

Dida: Personally I think he is the best (=most skilled) GK in the world

Gattuso: fierce fighter

Seedorf: physically strong. Hes got a steel body, so if you hit him right in his leg, youll easily get hurt. When I was in Reggina, I had once made a sliding tackle against him at the risk of getting a yellow card as somebody had to stop him. I knew I stomped on his ankle but it was I that got a sore in my legs.

Pirlo: has a good game reading ability and very good passing"

"Pirlo usually positions in front of the 4 backs and makes accurate middle passes with strategic estimate of situations, and can turn the tide with just one play. Pirlo is the one that virtually gets behind the wheel of the team of Milan. I personally think that we (Celtic) are inclined to have a disadvantage in fighting with a team that takes triple volante system (e.g. Hearts in SPL, Benfica and Milan in CL) --(volante is a defensive midfielder position referred to in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese) as they are always able to exploit their numerical advantage in the MF by possessing the ball freely when they are on the offense.
While their 3 volantes plus their sidebacks are on the attack (which is in total 5 men on the attack), we are always one men lesser than them to defense them. Right MF (e.g. Naka) and LMF (e.g. Aiden) have to take care of their sidebacks, which leaves other 2 MFs to take care of their 3 men, and such numerical disadvantage will become a chronic burden to our 4 backs. As to Milan, we are more disadvantaged because they take the diamond MF formation with KaKa in top of it (behind two strikers), which forces us to take care both of Pirlo (with that ball keeping and passing ability to pierce through the DF) and Kaka (with that finishing power to burst through the DF) at the same time under such numerical disadvantage. (: youve got to take care of the hot-line of Pirlo and Kaka) . They will easily leave us exposed in the MF with that formation.

Milan side makes it a rule that the 4 backs should entrust the ball to Pirlo anytime, and Pirlo has a good positional sense to get such ball freely from the backs. Every attack begins from Pirlo, so I personally think that we must make sure that Pirlo is always man-marked, never let him do the job, (and then we may have a chance.)"

45

For those feeling ambitious UEFA are taking ticket applications for the final from today.

46

"Pirlo usually positions in front of the 4 backs and makes accurate middle passes with strategic estimate of situations, and can turn the tide with just one play. Pirlo is the one that virtually gets behind the wheel of the team of Milan. I personally think that we (Celtic) are inclined to have a disadvantage in fighting with a team that takes triple volante system (e.g. Hearts in SPL, Benfica and Milan in CL) --(volante is a defensive midfielder position referred to in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese) as they are always able to exploit their numerical advantage in the MF by possessing the ball freely when they are on the offense.

While their 3 volantes plus their sidebacks are on the attack (which is in total 5 men on the attack), we are always one men lesser than them to defense them. Right MF (e.g. Naka) and LMF (e.g. Aiden) have to take care of their sidebacks, which leaves other 2 MFs to take care of their 3 men, and such numerical disadvantage will become a chronic burden to our 4 backs. As to Milan, we are more disadvantaged because they take the diamond MF formation with KaKa in top of it (behind two strikers), which forces us to take care both of Pirlo (with that ball keeping and passing ability to pierce through the DF) and Kaka (with that finishing power to burst through the DF) at the same time under such numerical disadvantage. (: youve got to take care of the hot-line of Pirlo and Kaka) . They will easily leave us exposed in the MF with that formation.

Milan side makes it a rule that the 4 backs should entrust the ball to Pirlo anytime, and Pirlo has a good positional sense to get such ball freely from the backs. Every attack begins from Pirlo, so I personally think that we must make sure that Pirlo is always man-marked, never let him do the job, (and then we may have a chance.)"

I hadn’t read that post before Bandage.

I was reading an article last week about a Colombian player by the name of Chicho Serna who played for Boca Juniors and retired recently which has a great description of the “volante” role:

“To play as a 5 you really have to know how to play football. To stand in the middle of the pitch and be ridiculed is the great challenge. It’s because all the play passes through that area, towards one side and the other. It’s the neurological centre of the pitch, where the feet and brain of the central midfielder organise the team. But it’s not just football for the 5. There’s also leadership, towards his teammates and his rivals. The 5 is captain, with or without the armband”

47

I wonder will Celtic be given a bye into the last 8 cos of the violence in Italy?

48

My Milan ticket just arrived in the post.

The emotional build up has now officially begun for this one.

49

Super. Reminds me I owe you a small fortune.

50

agree entirely. where was he on those cold afternoons against aberdeen etc!

51

;D ;D ;D You’ve been to more Aberdeen games than Celtic games.

52

Was watching the Daily Huddle and they were speculating that all Italian games will be postponed for the next 2 weeks so Milan might not have played in nearly a month before the first leg.

BBC are also reporting that games might be played behind closed doors for a period so San Siro could be ruled out.

53

Empty San Siro awaits Celtic
07/02/2007 - 14:03:54

Celtics Champions League clash in Milan next month is set to be played in an empty San Siro stadium.

The second leg of the last-16 clash against AC Milan is scheduled for March 7, however the prospect of supporters from either club being allowed to attend diminished today.

Both AC Milan and Inter could play the remainder of this seasons home games -domestic and European behind closed doors should the government stand by a safety rules proposal.

The decisions come in the wake of crowd unrest at Catania last Friday which led to the death of police officer Filippo Raciti and left numerous others injured.

The Italian authorities plan to ban spectators from stadia not considered to have met required security standards, and the San Siro is among them.

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said: If the authorities confirm their decision is final, we will have to play behind closed doors.

Galliani believes the required work cannot be completed until the start of next season.

They certainly will not be finished before October, said Galliani.

The San Siro is one of the biggest stadia and the work will not be finished before the end of the season.

AC Milan and Inter have done everything possible, but there is nothing we can do to speed up the process.

It is understood that only five stadia in Serie A currently meet the required standard the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Artemio Franchi in Siena, the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, Renzo Barbera in Palermo, Sampdorias Luigi Ferraris and Messinas San Filippo.

The Italian government will tomorrow announce details of the security measures football clubs must adopt.

Italian football commissioner Luca Prandelli has confirmed that those rules implemented by the government will take effect immediately and stadia that meet the safety guidelines in the future will have their supporter bans lifted.

The security problem is the number one priority, said Pancalli.

Watching the football comes later. I obviously speak about safety for everyone, from officers, to fans, executives, referees, coaches and players.

54

CELTIC statement:

FOLLOWING speculation regarding Celtics forthcoming UEFA Champions League tie with AC Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday, March 7, Celtic Football Club have released the following statement.

The Club has been in regular contact with both AC Milan and UEFA, and we are awaiting final confirmation with regards to our forthcoming match in Milan, which we expect tomorrow. Clearly there is no benefit in speculating further at this moment.

We will inform our supporters as soon as we have definitive information from the relevant authorities.

55

It’s looking more and more likely that Milan will either be behind closed doors or at a neutral venue.

56

From the official Celtic site:

Celtic await resolution
Newsroom Staff

THE club are still awaiting confirmation from UEFA and the relevant authorities in Italy as to the outcome of negotiations regarding Celtics forthcoming UEFA Champions League tie with AC Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday, March 7.

Celtic Football Club have released a further statement.

"Unfortunately, the situation in Milan is still unresolved. We have been informed that discussions between UEFA, AC Milan and the football authorities in Italy are currently ongoing.

Celtic Football Club is fully aware of the frustrations which Celtic supporters will be experiencing and is doing all it can to ensure that the situation is clarified as soon as possible."

57

Relatively good news. Statement from UEFA website:

UEFA statement on Italian matches
Friday, 9 February 2007
e-mailPrint

UEFA has issued a statement with regard to European matches in Italy, in the wake of recent events and decisions taken in that country.

UEFA/FIGC meeting
The statement by European football’s governing body follows a meeting between UEFA President Michel Platini and representatives of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, and reads as follows:

UEFA President Michel Platini today met a delegation from the Italian Football Federation, including the FIGC extraordinary commissioner Luca Pancalli.

Pancalli presented the latest information and facts concerning the situation regarding the playing of matches behind closed doors in Italian stadia to the UEFA President and the UEFA Executive Committee. This follows the announcement earlier this week by Italian Interior Minister, Giuliano Amato, in which he said that “only those stadiums that meet the security norms will reopen to the fans - the other stadiums will be used to play in but without fans until they meet guidelines”.

Of the four European club competition matches scheduled to take place in Italy, the situation is now as follows:

UEFA Champions League
For the two UEFA Champions League games that are to be staged at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan - FC Internazionale Milan versus Valencia CF on 21 February, and the second-leg tie between AC Milan and Celtic FC on 7 March - there is a possibility that these could go ahead in Milan depending on work to be done at the stadium. Further information on these two matches is expected early next week after further evaluation of the stadium.

58

A couple of other things struck me when watching Celtic on Saturday with the Milan game in mind.

He gave Miller his first start in ages. I think he might be an option away from home with his pace in behind and with Milan having a lot of veterans at the back. It was a shame, however, that he was rubbish.

It was also the 2nd game in a row that Gravesen came off the bench in an advanced midfield position in a 4-4-1-1 formation. My worry was that if Celtic went in playing 4-4-2 with Lenny and Tommy G we might not see a sniff of the ball with Pirlo sitting deep in their diamond midfield, Gattuso and Seedorf in front of him and then Kaka at the apex of it. I must say I quite like the idea of Tommy G playing in Pirlo’s face, actually hounding the fook and not allowing him any time on the ball to launch attacks.

It may seem to be a bit too defensive minded but I quite like the look of this team for the home tie:

Boruc;
Wilson; Caldwell/O’Dea; McManus; Naylor;
Nakamura; Sno; Lennon; McGeady;
Gravesen;
Vennegoor of Hesselink;

The Beat to come off the bench in the 2nd half.

59

I see the logic in it - not sure yet though I need to give it more thought. Gravesen in that role would be far better than Jarosik (the next most obvious candidate) in terms of both harrassing Pirlo and getting up in support of Vennegoor of Hesselink.

It would leave a big onus on McGeady to get forward as well. I think the one limitation is on Naka’s side of the park. Naka is a smashing passer of the ball but he badly needs a runner to be picking out. Gravesen can fulfill that role but it’s not his natural style.

60

San Siro is poised to host Celtic

Celtic’s Champions League tie against AC Milan is almost certain to go ahead at the San Siro Stadium after new security measures were implemented.
The Italian club hosted Livorno in Serie A with a reduced capacity.

And Uefa spokesman William Gaillard told BBC Sport: "They were trying the new turnstiles.

“What happened yesterday was a good dress rehearsal and I anticipate there will be a normal capacity for the game between AC Milan and Celtic.”

Doubt arose over the venue for the 7 March fixture after new measures were introduced in Italian football following the death of a policeman during a game in Sicily.

Football in the country was suspended and there was a possibility that the game against Celtic could be played behind closed doors or moved to a neutral venue.

Uefa president Michel Platini held talks with the Italian Football Federation on Friday and further discussions will be held this week.

Meanwhile, domestic fixtures resumed at the weekend, with Milan hosting Livorno in front of a reduced capacity.

“It was played in front of season ticket holders because they were trying the new turnstiles,” said Gaillard.

Some new turnstiles have been installed and more will be in place by the time Celtic visit.

“Things went well, the turnstiles are installed and, at this stage, we cannot anticipate that the game will be moved to another location,” added Gaillard.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani had criticised the decision to close the San Siro.

“We have done everything we could do,” Galliani told the Milan club website.

"It’s obvious we want to play at the San Siro with open doors and, as far as the Champions League is concerned, I spoke to Platini and we are free to play at home, maybe behind closed doors, or away.

"I think it’s fundamentally unjust to close a stadium like the San Siro on which we have already spent 20m euros for works which are never-ending.

“We have done everything the law has asked us to do and have no reason to feel bad.”

Galliani also said that Newcastle and Geneva had already offered to stage the Celtic match.

Scotland play Italy in Bari on 28 March and that stadium also fails to measure up to the new standards imposed by the Italian government.

But Gaillard expected that new safety measures would also be in place there in time for that match.

New security measures include a ban on the block sale of tickets to away fans, a beefing-up of stadium bans for those involved in violence at grounds and a ban on financial or working relationships between clubs and fan associations.

And clubs unable to meet the safety standards will not be allowed to admit the public.