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This summer, Gennaro Gattuso decided to lower his salary to help Napoli recruit Victor Osimhen.

On Saturday, the striker scored his first Serie A goal & immediately went to see Gattuso to celebrate his goal with him and thank him for his gesture 👏😍

Gattuso, what a man 👏❤️ https://t.co/OLY7TXqT0o
 
🎙️Gattuso on his errors at Milan:" I slammed my teeth at Milan, and in recent years I got an idea on turnover, You have to make right choices without changing 9 or 10 players. We (Napoli) won't change too much in Europa League matches." https://t.co/fnMCOJvn3n
 
Çalhanoğlu has reportedly recovered and is set to start against Roma, Rebić could return against Sparta Prague
 
Milan have started the season in the best way possible: eight wins out of eight in all competitions. They have now gone 21 games unbeaten and the players continue to do very well in both phases of the game.

The Rossoneri have already scored 19 goals, while conceding six, and Stefano Pioli is surely delighted with his team’s performances. As highlighted by MilanNews.it, the top goalscorer standings are already looking very interesting.


Brahim Diaz, thanks to the 2-0 goal against Celtic, has increased his tally to two goals, equalling Rafael Leao’s stats. Rade Krunic and JP Hauge scored their first goal of the season and not only: it was also the first time the scored for Milan.

However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hakan Calhanoglu are at the top of the standings. The Swede missed four games due to COVID-19 but has still racked up five goals, while the Turk missed the game against Celtic due to an injury.

5 goals: Ibrahimovic (Shamrock, Bologna (2), Inter (2))

4 goals: Calhanoglu (Shamrock, Bodo/Glimt (2), Rio Ave)

2 goals: Diaz (Crotone, Celtic), Leao (Spezia (2))

1 goal: Colombo (Bodo/Glimt), Hauge (Celtic), Kessie (Crotone), Krunic (Celtic), Saelemaekers (Rio Ave), Theo Hernandez (Spezia).
 
On Monday evening, Milan will take on Roma in the 5th round of Serie A, hoping to secure yet another win. This time, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Simon Kjaer will be on the same side, unlike the encounter back in 2012.

On that occasion – March 24, 2012 – they were opponents and Ibrahimovic beat the centre-back in what then became a famous duel. At 1-1, the Swede lobbed it over the goalkeeper and then was left to deal with Kjaer.


He won – quite easily on should add – the duel and headed in the decisive 2-1 goal. Now they are on the same side and will be looking to defeat Roma. Take a look at the famous duel in the video below (3:19)
 
Stefano Pioli's press conference before the match against AS Roma:

About Roma:

Every match is important. We've had a good start to the season and we need to continue. Tomorrow we will face a strong team which won 5 matches in the last 6 away games. In summer they made some important reinforcements like Kumbulla and Pedro. Roma is an ambitious team, but we are also ambitious. It will be an open match.

About the season:

We are only at the beginning of our path. We need to prepare well for the next match to pass this difficult exam. Due to the demanding opponents, we will have to play at a high level technically. Each match can be a turning point for us. We have to do our best. Then we will be able to evaluate our actions. We have to think about our path and treat each match as the final. Tomorrow's game will be important, also for the position in the table.

About the Dzeko-Ibrahimović rivalry:

Ibra and Rebić have different characteristics. Zlatan gives us many solutions. Ibra and Dzeko are very good directors on the offensive. Tomorrow we'll have to cut Dzeko on the pitch.

About rotation:

It is important to increase competitiveness and use young and strong players. Introducing players who improve the team level is important. The ability to use 5 substitutions during the match gives us many possibilities. Every player on a team is important, whether he comes from the beginning or during the match.

About injuries:

So far we have done well despite the absence of important players. Calhanoglu and Rebić are feeling better and better. Rebić will not be available tomorrow. We will make an evaluation in a few days. Hakan still has 2 training sessions through him, but it's hard to expect his presence in tomorrow's game.

What can be improved in the team game?

We can improve in many ways. We understand each other better on the pitch. Each meeting is special and a lot can happen during the match. We must constantly develop.

Is the team getting more mature?

I have many young but mature players at my disposal. Their behavior proves their maturity. We have many strong personalities in our team, such as Romagnoli, Kjaer and Donnarumma. We are aware of our skills. Our strength is to maintain an appropriate mental balance. Whatever our situation, we only have to think about our work. I asked the team to give even more. It's nice that expectations have increased for us.

Exactly 5 years ago Donnarumma made his Serie A debut. Are you worried about his future?

Before that, he was just my opponent and I could only appreciate his technical skills. As his coach, I met a player who is mentally older than his age. He is always ready to play and shows great availability. Gigio is constantly developing and trying to take care of every detail. He still has a lot to do. I am pleased with his approach. I'm not worried about his future. I'm calm. I know the club is working on this.

About Tonali:

He had a difficult start against Celtic, but then he did better and better. He is constantly trying to get back to his best disposition. Sandro needs some time. He is a strong and mature player. I am sure that Sandro can realistically fight for the starting line-up.

About Celtic:

On the score of 2-0, we gave up a little and lost concentration. Something like this should not have happened. We have to play our ball regardless of the circumstances and the outcome. It's not easy to dominate your opponent in every game. In the second half, Celtic started to play differently which made us very difficult. We managed to score a third goal thanks to a quick recovery. A strong team can maintain an advantage throughout the match. We must control the course of the match as long as possible. We haven't really achieved anything yet. We have to think about our work and the next meeting.

About Krunić:

I think Krunić can play in many midfield positions, including as a trequartista. Any player in this position, whether it's Hakan, Krunić or Diaz, has to work hard and know how to attack as Ibra moves between zones. Krunić has such qualities. I am happy with his last goal because we used such situations during training.

The series of 21 games without a defeat is certainly no coincidence. Can the team raise the bar?

Yes. We are a team that has been working together for less than a year. We can develop in many ways. It is important not to stop at the positive aspects, but to focus on the negative ones. We have to take care of every detail and be aware that each ball can be decisive.

Should Milan be thinking about more than just the Champions League?

Our goal is to beat all the teams that were higher than us in the table last season. Last season, we only lost a few points to the Top 4. Now we have to think about improving our game and beating AS Roma and Atalanta this year. Our closest opponent is Roma and we only have to think about this match. I always try to put up the best possible squad based on our disposition and the conditions of our opponents.
 
📰CM: Brahim Diaz settled well: scored 2 goals so far and adapted to Pioli's game. The player surprised everyone at Milan, so much that the management is starting to think about fixing a meeting with Real Madrid to discuss his future: a possible buy-option.
 
Match facts (via FIF):

➤ After a streak of four consecutive defeats, Milan have won three of their last five Serie A matches against Roma (D1 L1), including a win in the most recent encounter, in June 2020.

➤ Milan have won 75 of 170 Serie A matches against Roma, a record for the Rossoneri against a single club in the Italian top flight.

➤ Milan have won their last two home Serie A games against Roma; the last time the Rossoneri won three consecutive matches against the Giallorossi at San Siro was back in 1996, under Fabio Capello.

➤ Milan remain the only side with a 100% record in Serie A this season – only three times in their history have the Rossoneri won their opening five matches in a Serie A season, doing so most recently in 1992/93.

➤ No team has won more matches than Milan across the top five European leagues since football restarted post lockdown (13, alongside Real Madrid). The Rossoneri have also played the most games in this period (16) without ever losing.

➤ Roma have won only one of their last eight away Serie A games played in Lombardy (D4 L3), a 3-0 victory against Brescia last July.

➤ Milan have scored the opening goal in all four of their Serie A matches this season, whilst Roma have conceded the first goal of the match only once, in their most recent game against Benevento.

➤ Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 2+ goals in the most Serie A matches (four) since football restarted post lockdown, also doing so in each of his last two appearances in the competition. In addition, the Milan striker has netted a brace in each of his last two matches against Roma in Serie A.

➤ Pedro has scored in each of his last two Serie A games; the last time he found the net in more consecutive league matches was in 2011 with Barcelona – Pedro could become the first Spanish player to score in three consecutive Serie A appearances for Roma in the three points for a win era.

➤ Roma’s Jordan Veretout has scored five goals in his last six league appearances, with four coming from the penalty spot. However, none of these goals have come away from home.
 
 

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Kessie to the BBC: "Milan a second skin, never thought of leaving"

Franck Kessie spoke to BBC Sport Africa. Here are the words of the Rossoneri midfielder.

On the importance within the group: " At 23 I am already a veteran of the group and I have to set an example for the youngest. Wearing the Milan shirt is an honor but it is also a great responsibility and we all work every day with commitment and perseverance to bring Milan back to where it deserves.

"On the closeness of the fans:" The affection of the fans towards the team is incredible: before the derby thousands of fans accompanied us from the hotel up to the stadium riding their mopeds. This demonstration of love gave us a fundamental boost to win against Inter ”.

On the possibility in the past of leaving Milan: “I never thought about leaving Milan, and no one from the club has ever asked me. Wearing this shirt, which I now consider like a second skin, is a pride for me and for my whole family.
” About what happened in the team after the lockdown: We had the opportunity to switch off and rest. We did an excellent job at a distance and then, when we went back to training at Milanello, we changed our pace ”.

On Pioli's merits: " The Coach is very good at managing the group and we all feel important. He explained what I had to do, at first it wasn't easy but then I managed to put him at ease on the field. Milan all over the world: "Everyone in Africa knows Milan for its history. The first golden ball won by an African footballer was George Weah with AC Milan and this contributed a lot to bringing all football fans closer to the Rossoneri colors"

On seasonal goals: "We do not set limits. We must continue on this path and work as we are doing. We have great enthusiasm and the right spirit that we will have to maintain and nurture until the end of the season ”.
 
Rafael Leão (21) 🇵🇹 vs Roma

• 72 minutes played
• 30 touches
• 83% pass accuracy
• 2 key passes, 2 big chances created
• 💯 dribble success 3/3
• 6 ground duels won

🅰️🅰️

#MilanRoma #SerieA https://t.co/ZbjYvnPi0F
 
Icardi spent seven years with Milan's rivals Inter but left in the summer to sign a four-year deal with PSG after scoring 20 goals in 34 games during a successful loan spell last season.

According to AS, the Argentine, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, is a target for Stefano Pioli's side and the Milan manager could be helped by the forward's wife, and agent, Wanda Nara.

Nara, who has worked as a football agent, television presenter and model, is said to want her children to grow up in Italy and the family are already familiar with the city of Milan due to her husband's association with Inter.

Milan are currently top of Serie A despite having played a game less than their rivals with four wins from four matches.

The club reportedly believe they have a chance of challenging for their first Scudetto in 10 years and think Icardi could form a devastating partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The veteran striker already has five goals this season and is the figurehead among a relatively young but talented squad.

Icardi joined PSG in a £52million deal in May after falling out with the Inter board and manager Antonio Conte made it clear he was not part of his future plans.

The forward was a prolific finisher during his time at Inter with his tally of 29 goals in the 2017-2018 season earning him the footballer of the year award.

However, returning to the San Siro with the red half of Milan would not go down well with his old supporters.
 
Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2020.

vs. Cagliari ⚽️
vs. Torino ⚽️
vs. Inter ⚽️🅰️
vs. Genoa ⚽️
vs. Lazio ⚽️🅰️
vs. Juve ⚽️🅰️
vs. Bologna 🅰️
vs. Sassuolo ⚽️⚽️
vs. Sampdoria ⚽️⚽️🅰️
vs. Cagliari ⚽️
vs. Shamrock ⚽️
vs. Bologna ⚽️⚽️
vs. Inter ⚽️⚽️
vs. Roma ⚽️⚽️

🦁🔴⚫

[Via @ActualiteMilan] https://t.co/FhKsa7NRIi

 
3 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic has missed three of his last five penalties taken for AC Milan, more than any other top-5 European leagues player in all competitions since August 2020. Wasteful.

#MilanSpartaPraga https://t.co/T5zxUHRWXR
 
12 - AC Milan has scored 2+ goals in 12 consecutive games among all competitions for their first time since the start of the Serie A in 1929/30. Momentous.

#MilanSpartaPraga https://t.co/sDC9CZn5Kk
 
Ismaël Bennacer vs. Sparta Prague:

• 86% pass accuracy
• 6 successful long balls
• 5 successful dribbles
• 1 assist

Electric performance ⚡️🔴⚫️ https://t.co/0kOl52NPeN
 
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