AC Milan's Daniele Bonera: Our position in Serie A now better reflects our quality

The defender feels the Rossoneri are on the right track again after a sluggish start and is eagerly anticipating this weekend's game against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico

AC Milan defender Daniele Bonera has voiced his opinion that the reigning Italian champions are closer to where they belong after moving up to fifth position in Serie A following three consecutive wins.
 
The 30-year-old is pleased to see his side in the top half of the league table again after wins over Palermo, Lecce and Parma.

And he says he and his team-mates are now looking forward to attempting to extend their winning streak in this weekend's away game versus Roma.

"The league table is now a better reflection of our quality. It simply wasn’t right that we sat in the lower half of the table," Bonera is quoted as saying on the Milan website. "Now we have to stay focused because the game against Roma will be tough.

"I think Roma are still looking for their identity and we’re going there with lots of motivation."

Bonera realises that it will not be an easy game, though, as Roma will be keen to secure a positive result after their defeat in midweek.

He added: "However, they’ll be determined to put in a good performance, especially after the loss against Genoa on Wednesday evening. It’s always tough at the Stadio Olimpico."

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AC Milan’s Mario Yepes thrilled with winner in seven-goal thriller against Lecce & hails side's mental strength

The Colombian centre-back is jubilant after scoring vital goal at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare for the Rossoneri but admits that their opponents made it “tough” for them

AC Milan defender Mario Yepes believes that his side’s 4-3 comeback victory over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday was due to their “personality”.
The Rossoneri were 3-0 down at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare after just 37 minutes, but bounced back strongly in the second period, thanks largely to a 14-minute hat-trick from half-time substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Yepes himself scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute as Milan emerged victorious in their third successive competitive fixture, and was overjoyed with the dramatic victory in Lecce.
"I’m very happy," the Colombian centre-back told Milan’s official website. “It’s my first goal for the club.
“We couldn’t have imagined a game this tough. We did well because we managed to turn the result around from a 3-0 loss to a win.
“We showed personality and the ability to react. We got three important points."
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are currently seventh in the league standings with 11 points from seven matches, four behind leaders Udinese. They welcome Parma to San Siro on Wednesday in their next Serie A game.

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AC Milan 2-0 BATE Borisov: Ibrahimovic & Boateng ease Italian giants to comfortable Group H Victory

The home team took all three points at San Siro with a dominating display against the Belarusian side, as they forgot their Serie A woes to equal Barcelona on points in the table

The home side missed a host of chances but still emerged the victors courtesy of two great goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin Prince Boateng.

The Italian champions started the match brightly, putting the visitors under heavy pressure early in the game, and in the fourth minute Alberto Aquilani was handed a great chance to open the scoring but the midfielder's close-range effort sailed just over the bar.
Then moments later and Ibrahimovic tried one from just past the halfway line but like Aquilani before him, the giant Swede’s drive flew over the top of the goal.
The hosts were still controlling the game with Aquilani looking particularly lively, as the Italy international saw one effort crash off the post before forcing Aleksandr Gutor into a good save with a drive from the right side of the box.
Just after the half hour mark and against the run of play, the away side should have taken the lead, when a lack of concentration from Mark van Bommel gifted Renan Bressan a great opportunity to open the scoring, but the Brazilian was denied by a great save from Christian Abbiati.


Ten minutes before the break, Milan took a deserved lead through a great finish from Ibrahimovic. A dangerous cross from Ignazio Abate wasn’t cleared properly, which left the Sweden international with space to drive the ball past Gutor from the just inside the area.
The second half began and the home side were still dominating the game, creating a host of chances before Ibrahimovic missed a good opportunity to get his second of the night, instead blazing his effort into the stands.
With 20 minutes to go Milan doubled their advantage with a thunderbolt from Boateng, as the Ghana international controlled the ball beautifully after an Aquilani corner before unleashing a ferocious drive from the edge of the box that left Gutor with no chance.
Following tonight's victory Milan will now travel to Belarus in November, knowing a win would all but seal their qualification to the knockout stages while BATE will be looking for their first win of the campaign.

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AC Milan & Italy's Antonio Cassano: I will quit football in three years

The experienced striker revealed he will not keep playing much longer and thanked Cesare Prandelli for his loyal support

AC Milan and Italy striker Antonio Cassano claims he has plans to put an end to his career after the 2014 World Cup.
 
The 29-year-old attacker netted twice for his country in their comfortable 3-0 victory against Northern Ireland in the last Euro 2012 qualifier.

Cassano played an important part in Italy's Group C victory, as he netted six goals and finished as the country's top scorer during the qualifying campaign.

The former Roma and Sampdoria star confessed he is happy that the spotlight is on him after being a target of the media in recent years.

"I am happy to receive such compliments, it was about time," he told Rai Sport. "After 13 years in which I was criticised, a few nice words every now and then feel good.

"I feel fine, now I want to continue in the Italy team. Three years, I want to have three great seasons. Then I can stop. I think I will play football for only that time, have a good Euro 2012 finals and a good World Cup, then at the age of 33 call it a day so I can enjoy my family.

"After the 2014 World Cup? That is my idea, I want to leave when the time is right. "

Cassano then expressed gratitude to Italy coach Cesare Prandelli for his suport.

"I have to thank Prandelli, he gave me a helping hand when I had everyone against me. I am thankful to him," he said.

"When I retire, you can have fun with Mario Balotelli. He is another good character for you." 

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic will stay with AC Milan, says Massimiliano Allegri

The Italian has played down comments made by the Swedish international that hinted at an early retirement from football, and is confident of retaining his services

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is confident that Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to continue playing for his team and is still hungry to win more titles.
Allegri was speaking in the wake of the 30-year-old striker’s revelation last week that he was “starting to get old” and that “playing football has become more and more of a routine job” for him.
Ibrahimovic’s statements have since sparked rumours that he could be the subject of a bid from Spanish giants Real Madrid during the January transfer window, but Allegri is confident that he will retain the services of the Sweden international.
"Sometimes words can be misinterpreted," the Italian is quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I don't believe that Ibrahimovic is tired because the season has only just started.
"He and everyone else at Milan want to return to get results like last season. I am convinced that Zlatan wants to remain at Milan and return to win with this club."
Ibrahimovic was instrumental in Milan’s first Serie A triumph since 2004 last season and has a contract with the club that lasts until June 2015.

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AC Milan's Massimiliano Allegri: October will be a very important month

The 44-year-old coach has played down the team's disappointing start to the Serie A season and reassured fans that nervousness will not affect the players in the next match

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri believes there is time for his side to recover from their disappointing start to the campaign.

The Serie A champions have so far failed to impress in the league this season, currently sitting in 15th place after picking up just five points from as many games.
 
The international break has given Allegri some time to assess the team's current form as they trail the top of the table by six points already.

But the 44-year-old is confident the team will be able to climb up the table, telling Milan Channel: "From Wednesday we will have all players here and we will prepare for this important month in Serie A and in the Champions League.

"We collected few points in these five games, so we have to move forward and evaluate all the positive and negative aspects of this start to the season.

"The league will resume with us having some players back and with the calmness that will allow us to play with just the right tension, but without much nervousness.

"Milan have not lost our value because of the defeats to Juventus and Napoli. Of course we would like to have more points, but the season is long and we will have plenty of time to recover."

The San Siro outfit welcome Palermo on Friday, hosting BATE four days later in the Champions League.

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