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AC Milan coach Ancelotti grateful to have Pato AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti attempted to deflect criticism of striker Alberto Gilardino after his below-par performance in last night's 1-1 draw with Lazio. "At the moment everyone must do more, not just him," replied Ancelotti to questions about Gilardino's disappointing display. "Fatigue at this stage of the season is a factor, but all teams suffer it and we must overcome." Ancelotti had praise, however, for Brazilian youngster Alexandre Pato: "A great prospect, even from a position on the flanks, he provided us with good ideas. Through him, we can find important solutions. "Alberto Paloschi? I brought him on because there were not many alternatives." Massimo Oddo's penalty was needed to fight back from a Rolando Bianchi, on-loan from Manchester City, opener for Lazio.

Kaká: I'm The New Maldini After penning a new contract at the San Siro, AC Milan and Brasil star Kaká is targeting a Champions League repeat and the captain's The recent Ballon d’Or winner, Kaká, is ready to put uncertainty regarding his future behind him and become “a symbol, like Paolo Maldini.” After committing his future to Milan with his new bumper contract running until 2013, Kaká now wants to be the Rossoneri’s main man. “I remember last year Milan Channel asked me if I felt ready to say I would remain here for life,” he told the club’s official tv station. “In that instance I didn’t have the right confidence and belief, but today I do. “Now I can and want to say it – I want to remain Rossonero for the rest of my career and to stay here for life.” The Champions League triumph of last season appears to have helped the Brazilian playmaker make up his mind about his future. Now, he talks enthusiastically about making a long-term home with his family and speaks with ambition. “This renewal has charged me up. I am thinking about the future and I know I will stay here, forever in this winning team that always goes out there to get the best. For a player that is a great sensation. “This is my fifth season at Milan and I want to become a symbol. One day I will be the captain of this club, naturally respecting the hierarchy within the team. This day will come and to replace Maldini will be a great responsibility, but there are others for that role before me and I respect that. “In a few months I will become a father. Caroline and I are waiting for that moment and it’s all so exciting. Every day she feels something new and special. I accompany her on every appointment and it’s wonderful to know we’ll soon have our first child. “It would be wonderful to win the Champions League a second time around the same date as the birth of my son. I’m dreaming of a magical spring.” Part of History It doesn’t end there, though. The 25-year-old is sure he’ll be feeling the same way in 2013 and hungry for more. “When my contract expires I’ll be 31 and can picture myself still at Milan in great shape. After all, I have some great examples to follow, like Rogerio Ceni who spent his whole career at San Paolo and of course Maldini. “I want to be like them. It won’t be easy to reach what Paolo has achieved, but I’ll try to go as close as possible to his statistics. My objectives are to score many goals, win trophies and become part of this club’s history.” With the crucial Champions League second leg against Arsenal looming next week, Kaká’s thoughts returned to last year when he scored an extra time goal to pip Celtic and spark a winning finale to the European campaign. “At the end that proved to be an unforgettable night. I hope Tuesday is, too. Arsenal are strong, but in the crucial moments Milan never betray their fans.”

Wenger: We have no special plans for Kaka Manager Wenger has revealed that his side have no special plans to deal with AC Milan's Kaka. The Frenchman says he will not ask his team to man mark the Brazilian forward, but instead employ a zonal system that will cut off supply to the Player of the Year. Wenger said: "In Italy, what do the teams do who play against Milan? They take Kaka, get him out of the game. "We will play zonal and will not mark him man to man. We will be faithful to what we do usually. "We will try to get him out of the game by cutting the connections with him. "If you kick the great players out of the game, why should people go to watch football? "Great players make football a bit special, they make it art. If you are there to kill them, it is not acceptable."

Kaka and Seedorf out for AC Milan Influential midfielder Clarence Seedorf is a major doubt for AC Milan after suffering a hamstring injury against Lazio on Saturday. Brazilian playmaker Kaka will definitely miss out through injury while fellow midfielder Emerson is a doubt. Arsenal team news to follow.

Kaka wants to spend rest of career at Milan Brazil playmaker Kaka, who this week extended his contract with AC Milan until 2013, wants to spend the rest of his career at the club. 'Last year the Milan Channel asked me if I wanted to stay for life and on that occasion I didn't have the confidence and drive (to commit myself) I have today,' FIFA's World Player of the Year told the club's in-house television station on Friday. 'Today I can say it. I want to stay Rossonero all of my career. I want to stay here for life.' According to Italian media reports, the 25-year-old will earn nine million euros ($13.67 million) a year net under the terms of his new deal with the European champions. Kaka also said he wanted to skipper Milan one day. 'This is my fifth season at Milan,' he said. 'I want to become a symbol, a standard-bearer and one day a captain of this club.' Kaka was the driving force behind Milan's victorious Champions League campaign last season, scoring 10 goals. The seven-times European champions have fended off several attempts by Real Madrid to buy the player, with the Spanish champions making an offer of 80 million euros in the close season.

You're welcome double blush

ALBERTO AND ALICE, CONGRATULATIONS! :clap: MILAN - Congratulations to Alberto Gilardino and his partner Alice Bregoli. The small Ginevra was born today at 10.11, the first daughter of the couple. All the best wishes to the new dad and mum from all the Milanisti of the small child.

Ecclestone and Coulthard back F1 in Schools Chief Executive of The Formula One Group, Bernie Ecclestone, and Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard have given their support to the F1 in Schools initiative ahead of next month’s world championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The competition sees school children, aged 11 to 18, from all over the world use CAD/CAM software to design, analyse, manufacture, test and race their miniature F1 car made from balsa wood and powered by CO2 cylinders. “Formula One brings together a range of nationalities and cultures who work together to achieve a common goal and so replicating this in the F1 in Schools initiative will prove invaluable both personally and professionally for all the students taking part,” said Bernie Ecclestone. The 2008 championships are taking place at Kuala Lumpur’s Sunway Lagoon Resort and Spa Hotel from March18-20, during the build up to the Malaysian Grand Prix. Over three days of enthralling competition, 25 teams will pit their miniature Formula One cars against each other along a 20-metre two lane track at a scale speed of over 220mph. “F1 in Schools offers young people aspiring to work in F1 a great opportunity to experience the demands of designing, engineering and manufacturing a racing car while contributing enormously to their education and enjoyment,” said Coulthard. “It’s inspirational to see them channelling their enthusiasm into engineering and Formula One.” Ecclestone and Coulthard join F1 in Schools patrons - including Honda team principal, Ross Brawn; Red Bull’s chief technical officer, Adrian Newey; Force India’s chief technical officer, Mike Gascoyne; Renault’s engineering director, Pat Symonds and Sam Michael, Williams’ technical director - as key supporters of the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge. “My career in engineering started as a youngster because of an enthusiastic father and a Meccano set,” explained Brawn, the engineering brains behind Michael Schumacher’s seven Formula One titles. “F1 in Schools takes the idea to another level and contributes enormously to the education and enjoyment of these young people. “There is such a broad range of disciplines along with the need to be part of a team within a competitive environment. You can see the sheer enthusiasm they have and it is great that all this enthusiasm is channelled into engineering and Formula One. These are our engineers of the future and our future is engineering.” School children from 15 countries across the globe have won their way through regional and national finals, and competed against a global reach of seven million students, to win the chance to represent their countries in the fourth annual world championships. Teams will compete to win the Bernie Ecclestone World Championship Trophy and BEng Automotive and Motor Sport Engineering scholarships at City University, London.

MILAN 1 - 1 LAZIO

MILAN 1 - 1 LAZIO

MILAN 1 - 1 LAZIO

MILAN 1 - 1 LAZIO

MILAN 1 - 1 LAZIO

Diarra & Torres "Winning was all that mattered" Miguel Torres and Diarra commented on how important Saturday's victory was and both already have next Wednesday's match against Roma in mind. Torres: “We knew it would be a complicated match. We were very practical. We managed to recover the point that we had lost, and now we have to rest because on Wednesday we have a very important match in store.” “The five-point lead gives us a little breathing room heading into the Roma clash. We have have very deternined people here, and that's what tilted the match in our favor.” “The referee didn't give us anything and Recreativo proved they are a good team.” “We came to beat Huelva, but the score in the Calderón also serves us well. Winning today was all that mattered because we wanted to prove we're still going strong.” Diarra: “The first half was tricky, but we managed to turn the game around and win after Robinho came on.” “The three points combined with a loss by Barcelona were extremely important. We knew it would be complicated, but we did it and we're now five points ahead again.”

Casillas & Baptista "We had to win any which way we could today, and we did" The Real Madrid goalkeeper and midfielder were happy with Saturday's score and satisfied with the team's attitude. Baptista: “This is an important victory. It gives us peace of mind, especially knowing that our rival slipped up. But what matters to us most is winning, tallying three points, and remaining atop the table.” “Now that the season is coming down the home stretch, the teams at the bottom of the table aren't going to give us anything. We'll have to fight hard if we want to win.” “We ran a lot and put a lot of effort into it. We felt better after the two red cards. There was more space to work with and we managed to touch the ball more often.” “We're calm. We know that the lead means nothing if we can't maintain it. It dropped to two points in just three games. We have to take each match at a time and continue tallying points because our goal is to finish as champions.” “We now have to think about turning around the [Champions League] tie because a 1-0 will suffice. Our whole season is on the line.” Casillas: “The team had to win. It doesn't matter how it was done, whether it was by playing well or poorly. We're happy with the result and with what took place in the Calderón. We're back on the winning track and we've recovered some self-esteem heading into the Roma and Espanyol matches.” “We had to win any which way we could today. It's great that we've got a five point lead again.” “Suffering is normal. We knew this match would be like this. The team was a little down due to recent results, so today we had to win, and that's just what we did.” “We have to begin thinking about Roma. It's going to be a very difficult game. One goal is all we need, so we'll be fine as long as we don't concede any.” “We have to be cautious. The league has yet to be decided. All that counts is that we won again and got some confidence back. The league isn't won yet. It's won in May.”

RECREATIVO: Sorrentino; Bouzon, Beto, Martín Caceres, Poli (Ersen Martin, 76’); Varela, Barber, Carlos Martins, Aitor (Quique Alvarez, 62’); Camunas (Zahinos, 69’) and Sinama Pongolle REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro (Robinho, 73’), Heinze, Torres; Drenthe (Pepe, 58’), Gago, Diarra, Robben (Higuain, 76’); Baptista; Raul. GOALS: 1-0, min.16: Martin Caceres 1-1, min.27: Raul 1-2, min.73: Robinho 1-3, min.88: Robinho 2-3, min.90: Martins REFEREE: Iturralde Gonalez. Booked Bouzon (17’), Robben (69’), Cannavaro (72’), Martin Caceres (80’), Sinama (86’), and Ersen Martin (88’). Real Madrid fitness trainer Jordi Garcia (45’), Beto (51’), Ramos (55’), and Quique Alvarez (67’) sent off. NOTESS: Matchday 26 of La Liga played at Nuevo Colombino Stadium. Attendance: 20,000.