SIGNS OF GROWTH
7/31/2009 10:40:00 AM
The victory didn't arrive, but positive indications did. Leonardo commented on the match against Boca Juniors, which was decided on penalties, with satisfaction: 'I saw a Milan with character. Now let's regain our strengths.'
(On the photo, Leonardo in Munich)
MILAN - Against Boca Juniors, in the third place final of the Audi Cup, Milan's defeat came on penalties. Compared to the match against Bayern Munich the progress was evident: Milan play well and go in front thanks Thiago Silva's nice goal, after a move on the Gattuso-Borriello axis. The Rossoneri formation maintains the lead almost until the end, but three minutes before the end they concede the equaliser, scored by Viatri.
It's the goal that leads to penalties: the decisive error, after those of Pirlo and Insua (his penalty is saved by Storari), is by Pato, whose penalty is stopped by Abbondanzieri.
Leonardo commented positively on the match's proceedings: 'Tonight I saw a Milan with character. The lads had already made me know today they wanted to redeem themselves and not leave anything to chance in this match. It was important to finish in the best possible way. For once our opponents had to chase the game. Too bad about the goal we conceded at the end. But I saw a good reaction and now we'll try to regain our strengths in the next few days.'
'Thiago Silva wants to learn and is growing a lot. I think he can do well in our defence. The fact he has scored two goals in this tournament shows he also has offensive qualities, particularly on dead ball situations.'
Alexandre Pato explains: 'I'm sad about the penalty I missed and also for the goal that could've closed the match. Honestly I must say I have not trained much so far, I only did three trainings and only one with the team. We need to work a lot, Milan must grow and my intention is to be more and more helpful to this group.'
This is what Marco Storari said, after making a good save during the match and another on Insua's penalty: 'I'm happy with how things are going. I'm also partially surprised because the club are giving me a great opportunity. I came here due to Abbiati's injury, and now after Nelson's problem, I am in the first two along with Kalac. The club knows my objectives and so does my agent. There are four of us, it's right that there is a hierarchy, and at the moment I'm not sure where I stand. Obviously I don't hope to be the fourth choice.'
On the match against Inter, Storari explained: 'It's early to talk about my playing with Inter, but since it's on the second matchday anything can happen.'
Here are the match stats
MILAN: Storari; Oddo (46' Zambrotta), Thiago Silva, Onyewu, Antonini; Abate (76' Jankulovski), Gattuso (65' Flamini), Pirlo, Ambrosini (46' Pirlo); Ronaldinho (81' Zigoni), Borriello, Pato
BOCA JUNIORS: Abbondanzieri; Gunino, Paletta, Sauro, Krupoviesa (50' Monzon); Chavez (46' Battaglia), Forlin (46' Insua), Marino (46' Medel Soto), Gaitan (62' Riquelme); Mouche (73' Palermo), Viatri
GOALSCORERS: Thiago Silva (M) 27'; Viatri (B) 86'
PENALTIES: Palermo (B) goal; Ronaldinho (M) goal; Riquelme (B) goal; Pirlo (M) saved; Insua (B) saved; Jankulovski (M) goal; Paletta (B) goal; Thiago Silva (M) goal; Viatri (B) goal; Pato (M) saved.
REFEREE: Peter Sippel (Ger)
BOOKED: Abate (M) 45'