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#4784
GALLIANI: ‘Continue onward and upward’
2/16/2006
MILAN – Chief executive Adriano Galliani spoke about the league on the edges of the press conference to introduce AC Milan’s new mascot: ‘We are hoping to take another three points on Saturday night in order to continue on the path that started after the game against Lazio, in which we played well even if we didn’t win. We hoped that what has happened would happen and now that it has we have six points that have taken us to second place. Now, we must look ahead to defend second place and to see what’s going to happen. Second place is important, but the championship is still long. The race right now is with Inter, but even Fiorentina and Roma aren’t far away. The situation in the league is always changing and we don’t know how it’s going to end. Certainly the 12 points from Juventus are an insurmountable barrier, but they are not due to any fault of our own because last year we were at the top of the table with 54 points along with the Bianconeri. Now, instead, they are ahead. They are the team with the most points in Europe. I am, therefore, happy with our 54 points. It’s a lot, but not enough for first place.’
GALLIANI: ‘No predictions for Bayern’
2/16/2006
MILAN - Adriano Galliani then commented on some of Milan’s individual players: ‘I expected Inzaghi to recover thanks to the desire and determination he showed this summer. I have always thought that one of our four places in the attack was reserved for him.’ Regarding Maldini’s absence from Tuesday’s game against Bayern, he said: ‘I am sorry for Paolo. He is a great champion. I hope that he recovers soon and then he can return. His absence, however, is not an excuse for anything. Just as Kaladze said, Milan have many Champions and we can win even without the captain.’ Continuing on the Champions League topic: ‘Milan and Bayern are two great teams. We will go there to win. My 20 years with Milan have taught me not to make any predictions. I do think though that there has already been a mistake in the draw for the final sixteen: with Chelsea-Barcellona, Milan-Bayern and Real Madrid-Arsenal three great teams will be eliminated and not make it to the quarter-finals.’
GALLIANI: ‘Champions League still our first objective’
2/16/2006
MILAN - Adriano Galliani concluded: ‘The Champions League is our first objective because we believe that being the champions of Europe is more important than being the champions of Italy. However, it’s not true that the league is only training for European confrontations. It is important to make it to first or second place in order to have a calm summer. Arriving in third or fourth place is dangerous at a psychological level. Serie A is important to allow access to the Champions League in the next year.’
GALLIANI: ‘My homework is to increase revenues’
2/16/2006
MILAN - Real Madrid have surpassed Manchester United’s proceeds with a total 276 million euros. Milan come in third and Inter fourth. Rossoneri chief executive Adriano Galliani commented like this: ‘My homework is to increase club revenues.’