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MILAN-LAZIO GOALKEEPERS: Fiori, Kalac, Offredi; DEFENDERS: Bonera, Darmian, Digao, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Oddo; MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Caraglia, Emerson, Gattuso, Gianola, Gourcuff, Seedorf; STRIKERS: Aubameyang, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Pato, Paloschi.

MILAN-LAZIO GOALKEEPERS: Fiori, Kalac, Offredi; DEFENDERS: Bonera, Darmian, Digao, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Oddo; MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Caraglia, Emerson, Gattuso, Gianola, Gourcuff, Seedorf; STRIKERS: Aubameyang, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Pato, Paloschi.

MILAN-LAZIO GOALKEEPERS: Fiori, Kalac, Offredi; DEFENDERS: Bonera, Darmian, Digao, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Oddo; MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Caraglia, Emerson, Gattuso, Gianola, Gourcuff, Seedorf; STRIKERS: Aubameyang, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Pato, Paloschi.

MILAN-LAZIO GOALKEEPERS: Fiori, Kalac, Offredi; DEFENDERS: Bonera, Darmian, Digao, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Oddo; MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Caraglia, Emerson, Gattuso, Gianola, Gourcuff, Seedorf; STRIKERS: Aubameyang, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Pato, Paloschi.

Oddo: We're so tired Defender Massimo Oddo has blamed fatigue for Milan’s costly draw at Catania last night. The Rossoneri have lost their grip on fourth place after losing a 1-0 lead at the Stadio Massimino and their ageing squad seems to be flagging. Over the last two months, Milan have been forced to catch up the Serie A games they missed due to December’s Club World Cup and Oddo believes the fixture pile-up is taking its toll. “We are all very tired,” the 31-year-old moaned. “We need to recover and we have had to play certain players who don’t always get a game. “It’s not easy to play so little and then step up to the mark when you are called upon. “The draw was the right result in Catania. Alexandre Pato scored a wonderful goal then they scored a really good goal on their first real chance.” Oddo must now hope that Milan can pick up maximum points against his former side Lazio this weekend. “The important thing now is to keep the pressure on fourth place and to do that we must win our next games,” he concluded.

Galliani Pleased With Pato Progress AC Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani says he is happy with the progress that Alexandre Pato is making, and that the right decision was made in buying him. The 18-year-old Pato only made his debut for the Rossoneri last month, however he has already scored five goals in just seven Serie A starts, making him the club's third top-scorer for the season. Pato was on target again last night in Milan's 1-1 draw with Catania, giving his side the lead with a powerful long-shot early in the second-half. "Pato? He's an extraordinary lad and he scored a great goal," said Galliani. "I'm very happy we bought this player. Ancelotti is trying to help him find his best position with a lot of good advice." Milan's draw in Sicily means they drop two points behind Fiorentina in the all-important fourth Champions League position. "It was a difficult match, but we knew it would be. We played quite well and then we conceded the goal," continued Galliani. "With a third striker they put us in difficulty and this was the result. The draw was the right result, now we proceed in the battle for fourth place and think about the game against Lazio."

YES, NOW I CAN SAY IT: AT MILAN FOR LIFE! 'Last year I did not have the faith I have now to say I want to stay at Milan forever. I want to become a symbol, a flag, a captain of this special club.' These are the words of Kaká, who added: 'I'll be there on Tuesday.' MILANELLO - His was a life choice. An important signature which represents the will of the man and the champion Kaká to remain a rossonero, to become with every day more and more a symbol and flag of this club. The Brazilian revealed his emotions in a long interview to Milan Channel. 'I remember that a year ago Milan Channel also asked me if I wanted to stay at Milan for life. In that circumstance I did not yet have the right confidence but today I do. Now I can say it and I want to. I want to stay a Rossonero for the rest of my career, I want to stay here for life. I remember the last two summers well, full of pressures, 'Ricky goes, Ricky stays'. My renewals have always come at difficult times, like it happened in the summer of 2006 during 'calciopoli'. That's why I did not give the answer I am able to give now before. I apologize for that, but I simply did not feel like I was ready to make such a commitment. But everything is different now, and I can say it without dboubt and a lot of joy.' 'This renewal charges me up, I think about the future and I know I will stay here, forever in this winning team which always starts with the aim to win. For a player that's a good feeling. I never take decisions alone, I talked with my family, my wife Caroline. She told me: 'Ricky, if I could I would sign too.' She's happy with this decision, to remain in Milan and in this club. Milan are always special in the way they treat us.' 'This is my fifth season at Milan, I want to become a symbol, a flag, and one day a captain of this club, with respect for the hierarchies. That day will come, substituting Paolo Maldini will be a great responsibility but before me there are other players and I respect that. 'In a few months I will become a father (Ricky revealed to a subscriber that he will have a son). Caroline and I are awaiting the moment, living everything with great emotion. Every day she feels something special, something new. I stay close to her, I accompany her to each exam, it's a good feeling to know that soon we will have our first son.' 'This fourth signature of mine is a life choice. Galliani knows it, I've told him yesterday as well. What I experienced here has always been intense. I've seen players leave, not just Sheva, who then always told me to evaluate my choices carefully because Milan are different, Milan live of feelings, affection, and this for me is a special value. I am happy to live my career here.' 'I think about when I will be 31 (in 2013), I imagine I will still be in good form. Besides, in this club I only have great examples in front of me which I will try to follow. The first great model of my life was Rogerio Ceni who spent his entire career at San Paolo. Here the example is Maldini. I want to be like them. Reaching Paolo won't be easy, but I will try to come as close as possible to the great targets and statistics which regard him. Scoring many goals, winning a lot. Those are my objectives. I want to enter the history books of this club.' 'If you ask me today who is the best Italian player, I say without a doubt Andrea Pirlo. For the way he behaves on the pitch, for how he plays, he is very important for us. I always feel the difference between when he's on the pitch and when he isn't. When we play I always ask the defenders to give the ball to him, every ball goes through him, he's intelligent, he's a player who's always there in important moments. He'll be there on Tuesday. It will be tough also for him, he's playing a lot and there is some tiredness but on Tuesday he will be ready and for us it will mean a lot.' 'I feel better, yesterday I tried to run and it went well. For tomorrow I am not available, but I'm very confident I will be there on Tuesday. This hasn't been a good period for me, physically I haven't been doing too well over the last month. The knee, the knock the other day... Physically I'm not at my best. But this week I've had the chance to work a lot, also physically. That was useful for me. I work hard to get in good form on Tuesday and do everything that people expect from me. Against Arsenal it will be a special match, I imagine a sold out San Siro, I remember Milan-Celtic of last year. In the end that turned out to be an unforgettable match, let's hope it will be the same way on Tuesday.'

Agents of AC Milan's Gilardino set for Juventus talks tribalfootball.com - February 29, 2008 Juventus interest in AC Milan striker Alberto Gilardino is gathering pace. The player's agents Beppe and Marcello Bonetto are expected in Turin in the coming days to discuss the prospect of a move to Juve for the striker. Gilardino is becoming increasingly unsettled at Milan and the prospect of joining Juve is something he and is family are enthusiastic - given they're all mad Bianconeri fans. Rossoneri chiefs, including coach Carlo Ancelotti, won't stand in Gilardino's way should he decide it's time to move on in the summer.

Kaka can stay for life - Galliani Vice-president Adriano Galliani hopes Kaka will stay at AC Milan for the rest of his career after the Brazilian signed a new two-year deal.Kaka, 25, is now contracted to the club until June 2013, when he will be 31. "Kaka has repeatedly stated that he wants to become a symbol of this team," said Galliani on the club's official website. "He's the best footballer in the world and he's decided to tie himself definitively to Milan. "This is a life contract. I hope that in 2013 I will make him a new contract but now we already know Kaka will delight Milan's fans until the end of his career. "It's great news for all us Milan fans." Kaka has repeatedly been linked with a move to Real Madrid over the past 12 months but Galliani insists the player's intention was always to remain at the San Siro. He added: "Kaka has made this decision. "He always had the conviction, but never as strong as in the last few months. "Kaka is a symbol of the football expressed by Silvio Berlusconi's Milan. "At the moment he is the best footballer in the world, and he's surrounded by great players, like (Andrea) Pirlo and (Clarence) Seedorf, who give this team a lot of quality. "With these players Milan are the defending European Champions and World Champions." The Brazilian helped Milan win last season's Champions League with a tournament-leading 10 goals. He also scored one goal and set up two more in December's Club World Cup final as Milan beat Argentina's Boca Juniors. Kaka is currently sidelined with a knee injury which is threatening to keep him out of next week's Champions League tie against Arsenal.

Brazilian star Kaka extends Milan deal MILAN, Italy -- Brazilian international Kaka has signed a two-year extension to his current contract at AC Milan -- committing him to the Turin giants until the summer of 2013. The FIFA World Player of the Year had reportedly been a target for Spanish Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid. The 25-year-old Kaka helped Milan to the Champions League crown last season, scoring a competition-leading 10 goals during their successful campaign. The attacking midfielder is reportedly set to be rewarded for his loyalty by being paid more than the near $9 million per year he earns under his current contract which was due to expire in 2011. However, The Serie A club refused to comment on the financial side of Kaka's new deal. Last week Kaka had told Britain's Daily Mail that he wanted to finish his career at Milan. "I think I will stay at Milan until the end of my career," he said. "I've got used to the life here and I'm settled in the city. I can't see myself going anywhere else, even if we never know what will happen in life." Kaka, who joined Milan from Brazilian side Sao Paulo in 2003, is currently battling a knee injury and could miss their Champions League last 16 return against Arsenal next week. Milan drew the first leg 0-0 at the Emirates Stadium, a rare high in a difficult season which has seen them struggling to achieve Champions League qualification through Serie A. But Kaka's new deal has delighted the club's vice-president Adriano Galliani. "Kaka has declared many times his wish to become a symbol of this team," Galliani said. "He is the best player in the world. "He is a symbol of the football displayed by Silvio Berlusconi's Milan and he has decided to tie his future for a definite period to the Rossoneri colors. "Kaka has taken this decision. I hope that in 2013 we can make him another contract in order for him to remain at Milan for life and continue to delight our fans."

Ancelotti: Milan not forced into new Kaka deal MILAN, February 29 (Serie A) - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted 'outside pressures' did not force the club to sign Kaka to an early contract extension. The Brazilian added two more years to his current deal on Thursday night which will keep him at the San Siro until the summer of 2013. Both Chelsea and Real Madrid have been linked to the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, but Ancelotti claimed their interest was not a factor in the deal. He said: 'I don't think external factors have accelerated Kaka's contract extension. Kaka's new deal is a beautiful thing for him and for Milan.' The 25-year-old Kaka had never indicated that he wanted to leave the current European champions, but had spoken of his admiration for Real Madrid, while the Spanish club made no secret of their desire to lure him to the Bernabeu. 'I hope that this new deal will mean that I no longer have to answer questions about Kaka being linked to Real Madrid this summer as I have had to do in the past,' AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said. 'I am extremely delighted because I am convinced he is the best player in the world.' Now that Kaka has cemented his future with the Rossoneri, Ancelotti predicts his stature at the club and in Europe will grow - Kaka has often stated his wish to become a future captain of Milan. 'Kaka will become more and more the symbol of this team,' Ancelotti said. 'Kaka has a great image on the pitch, he shows a great attitude and great quality.' In the meantime, Ancelotti is optimistic Kaka will recover for Tuesday's Champions League last 16 return leg against Arsenal at the San Siro. The South American star is fighting against the clock to recover from a left-knee injury that has kept him out of the Rossoneri's previous two league games. 'Kaka will not play on Saturday against Lazio but I believe he will recover for Tuesday's game,' Ancelotti said. 'He is training with the hope of being ready for Tuesday's game and I think he will make it.' Kaka scored a competition-leading 10 goals during Milan's successful Champions League campaign last season. Milan go into Tuesday's encounter with all to play for having held Arsenal to a goalless draw in the opening leg in London earlier this month.