Alexandre Pato

[maldita]

booya! he scored for brazil!

[LuNo]

PATO: BRAZIL THANK

MILAN - Today in Brazil there is only one topic, Pato, after his goal with the Brazilian national team against Sweden. 'The debut of a star', was the title of the daily O Globo, while l'Estado di San Paulo talked about 'a great goal that ensured Brazil's victory.' "My parents called me after the game and they were in tears - said Pato - I was emotional as well, I thank them for everything I'm achieving in my life, for the way they've been close to me and how they've educated me."

[LuNo]

MAGIC OF THE DEBUT

The day after his splendid goal on his debut with the Brazilian national, Alexandre Pato talked about his sensations and his happiness. - THE WORDS OF ALEXANDRE PATO -

MILANELLO - Here are the declarations made by Alexandre Pato to Milan Channel's microphones at the end of today's training session:

"I'm very happy I managed to make my first appearence with the national team, after I couldn't make it the last time due to my injury. On the move that led to the goal, I saw the ball behind me and I noticed the goalkeeper had come out, I fired a shot and fortunately it went in.

I'm happy about this goal which came on my debut and the comparison with Pelé who scored in the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden makes me happy. For me he is an idol, a phenomenon. At the moment my career is doing well and I have to work a lot to keep my place in the Brazilian national team. I'm very happy about the compliments I've gotten from many people who have shown me their affection.

As soon as the game finished yesterday I went into the dressing room and I immediately called my parents who were very happy for me.

Coming back to play at the Emirates stadium where we played against Arsenal made me a bit sad as it reminded me of the elimination in the Champions League, but it was nice to win with my national team in the stadium. Now in the league we have to reach the fourth place in order to play in the Champions League again next year."

[LuNo]

Pato: We Must Beat Atalanta

Teenage sensation Alexandre Pato says that Milan simply must beat Atalanta this weekend if they are to finish in the top four at the end of the season.

The Rossoneri currently face a real struggle to qualify for next season’s Champions League as they trail fourth-placed Fiorentina by four points.

“It’s time to think about Milan again and the objective is obviously to finish in fourth and get into the Champions League,” Pato explained.

“It’s crucial to beat Atalanta and claw back Fiorentina.”

Pato will be hoping to crown a wonderful past seven days with another excellent performance at San Siro.

Last weekend he scored the only goal of the game as Milan won 1-0 at Torino. Then in midweek he marked his debut for the Brazil national team by also getting on the scoresheet in another 1-0 win over Sweden.

The Brazilian media broke out the superlatives following Pato's dream bow, comparing him to former Brazilian greats Pele, Zico and Rivelino.

[LuNo]

AC Milan youngster Pato happy with Pele comparison

tribalfootball.com - March 28, 2008

AC Milan superkid Alexandre Pato admits scoring on debut for Brazil brought him to tears this week.

"I called my parents straight after the game and I was crying with the emotion," he told Milan's website.

"There's nothing you can say. I was so emotional and I wanted to thank my parents, as they deserve the credit for everything that I am achieving because of the education they gave me, and the fact that they were always close to me.

"There's a great feeling of joy at having made my Brazil debut. I would have had this chance before but I was denied by an injury."

Pato has been compared to Pele and added: "Without a doubt the comparisons make me happy.

"He is an idol to me, and a phenomenon."

[LuNo]

MILAN-ATALANTA

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac;

DEFENDERS: Bonera, Favalli, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Simic;

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf;

STRIKERS: Gilardino, Paloschi, Pato.

[LuNo]

Galliani Lauds 'Fantastic' Pato

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani addressed Pato's emergence, football in Italy and Milan's current plight.

The outspoken Rossoneri chief claimed he is happy with the state of Italian football despite criticism coming from many quarters following issues such as Calciopoli and crowd violence.

Football and Fashion

The bald eagle boasts of the Azzurri's World Cup success, as well as his own Milan being holders of the Champions League and World Club Cup.

"What I would change about the Italian football scene? Not much, because I think that, along with fashion, it's one of the sectors in which our country is doing well," he said.

"Let's not forget we have achieved some amazing results. Milan becoming European Champions, Italy World Champions, and then Milan also became Club World Champions. Also in swimming things are going well now. I would change other areas, not sports."

Trophies

He admitted he was bitterly disappointed with the side's position in the league - currently floundering in fifth place and look unlikely to seal Champions League qualification - but took solace in the fact that no matter what, his side will end the season with silverware.

"Certainly we can't be happy about being in fifth place, but we've won two trophies so we will not finish the season empty handed," he declared.

"Now obviously we have the objective of finishing fourth, because I can't imagine Milan playing in the Uefa Cup, but if it should happen we will accept it."

Predestined

Despite being happy with the state of Italian football, he readily admitted to skipping watching his own team play a game of great prestige against Spain, instead choosing to watch Milan's Brasilian prodigy Pato against Sweden, as the 18-year-old came off the bench to score the only goal of the game with a composed lobbed finish.

"I admit I didn't watch Italy, I watched Brazil and Pato," revealed Galliani. "He's evidently a predestined player, he's almost always scored on his debuts.

"He's a fantastic player, but let's allow him to grow. I think we've found our striker for the next 10-15 years."

No Conflict

Regarding il Diavolo's other Brasilian superstar, one Kaká, Galliani is reluctant to see his injury-stricken player participate in the Olympics with Brasil, and insists negotiations with the Selecao have so far been amicable, contrary to several reports.

"Kaká will play against Cagliari but not against Atalanta," he said, regarding the player's current struggles with a knee problem.

"On the situation of a call up to the Olympics, I must say that president Texeira was very kind. We've talked. We don't want to start any conflict, because since they are not Uefa dates we can allow it, but we know that national teams have a squad of players (Pato being one of them, because he has the right age) who can participate. We don't agree with bringing in extra players."

Broken Home

Galliani also briefly addressed Milan's current struggles at San Siro, which sees them miraculously having one of the worst home records in Serie A so far this season.

"It's hard to say why a team which has done better than any other away from home is one of the worst at home," he sighed.

"It's hard to understand because this is the first time this has happened, but it's a problem we are aware of and hopefully it can be solved in the next few games."

[LuNo]

Pato Flattered By Pele Comparisons

AC Milan's teenage prodigy Alexandre Pato has admitted to being flattered to be compared to Brazilian football god Pele, but insisted that his focus is now strictly on helping his club qualify for the Champions League next season.

Things could hardly be going better for the 18-year-old at the moment, as last weekend he scored the only goal of the game as Milan won 1-0 at Torino, and then in midweek he made a dream debut for the Brazil, during which he was also the match-winner during the 1-0 friendly win over Sweden.

"I am happy with this goal on my debut and it makes me delighted that some people consider me the next Pele," beamed Pato.

"Pele, who scored in the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden, is my idol.

"At the moment my career is going well and I have to work very hard in order to continue with the national team.

"I am delighted with all the compliments I have received from so many people.

"But now my focus is on the domestic league and we have to concentrate in order to finish fourth in the standings and return to play in the Champions League next season."

The Rossoneri currently face a real struggle to qualify for next season's Champions League as they trail fourth-placed Fiorentina by four points. There will be added pressure on Pato today as Ronaldo, Filippo Inzaghi and Kaka are all unavailable through injury, while Alberto Gilardino is doubtful with the flu.

[LuNo]

[sandy]

Thanks LuNo

[LuNo]

You're welcome sandy!!!!!!!!

[LuNo]

AC Milan 1:2 Atalanta - match report

Scorers: Floccari 32 (A), Langella 42 (A), Maldini 84 (M)

Andrea Pirlo's last-gasp penalty was saved as another disastrous Milan home performance further dampened their Champions League hopes.

The Rossoneri lost to local rivals Atalanta in January's rescheduled game and were desperate to avoid a similar outcome with the Champions League spots four points away going into this weekend. Kaka, Ronaldo, Pippo Inzaghi, Marcos Cafu, Emerson, Marek Jankulovski and Serginho were in a packed treatment room, while Moris Carrozzieri and Coach Gigi Del Neri sat out bans for the visitors. Atalanta's last Serie A victory here was a 1-0 result on March 17, 1991.

Gennaro Gattuso scored against Atalanta in January and almost did it again after eight minutes, but he blasted a poor clearance over the bar from the D.

Alberto Gilardino nodded over when Massimo Ambrosini was in a better position behind him, then Gattuso flicked on an Alexandre Pato cross a little too long for Clarence Seedorf to go clear on goal.

Gilardino had not scored at San Siro in nearly a year and chested down the ball to test Fernando Coppola at the near post.

Instead, Atalanta took the lead with their first real chance. Ferreira Pinto got away down the right and rolled across for the unmarked Sergio Floccari to come sliding in. Zeljko Kalac got a touch to the first effort, but could do nothing on the second as the Milan defence was caught ball-watching. Massimo Oddo claimed he had been fouled in the lead-up, but the linesman and referee waved play on.

Thomas Manfredini replaced the injured Leo Talamonti, but the San Siro crowd was jeering a dreadful Rossoneri performance. Andrea Pirlo tested Coppola with a free kick, but they had precious little to offer.

In an almost identical move to the one Sampdoria scored in their 2-1 win here a fortnight ago, Atalanta struck again on the counter. Floccari drew three defenders and passed for Antonio Langella to beat an Oddo challenge and fire past Kalac at the near post!

It should have been 0-3 in stoppages, but Ferreira Pinto ballooned over totally unmarked from Langella's cross. Carlo Ancelotti made two changes with Alberto Paloschi and Kakha Kaladze coming on.

Seedorf was already celebrating an equaliser after the restart when Coppola palmed Paloschi's shot into his path, but the Dutchman was flagged offside. However, replays suggest Langella was keeping Seedorf in play.

Soon after Coppola parried a Gattuso effort and Pato passed straight to the goalkeeper from Paloschi's headed assist. Milan looked like a different team and were pouring forward in waves, but this left space for the counter-attack and Cristiano Doni incredibly fired over when totally clear on goal from nine yards on Ferreira Pinto's assist.

Paolo Maldini had to clear from six yards when Langella was allowed all the space and time he wanted to go on the counter, while Kalac was at full stretch to deny another shot from the former Cagliari winger.

Pato scuffed a volley and Seedorf's shot was deflected out for a corner. Massimo Ambrosini thought he had got them back into it on 77 minutes with a header from a corner kick, but it was disallowed for a push on goalkeeper Coppola. Ambrosini was also booked for dissent.

Soon after Ambrosini nodded over the bar, but the goal came with six minutes to go. It was an unusual scorer, as Maldini got a free header from eight yards on a corner that squirmed through Coppola's hands at the near post.

Yet Simone Inzaghi went on the counter and brought a difficult save out of Kalac. It was a chaotic finale, as Alessandro Nesta was sent off for dissent and moments later Ambrosini was brought down by a Guarente sliding tackle. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation and Pirlo stepped up, but his penalty was well saved by Coppola!

Milan: Kalac; Oddo (Brocchi 59), Nesta, Maldini, Favalli (Kaladze 46); Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Pato, Gilardino (Paloschi 46)

Atalanta: Coppola; Rivalta, Pellegrino, Talamonti (Manfredini 33), Bellini; Ferreira Pinto, Tissone, Guarente, Langella (Padoin 69); Doni; Floccari (S Inzaghi 82)

Ref: Brighi

Sent off: Nesta 87 (M)

Missed penalty: Pirlo 89 (M)

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

Player Ratings: Milan 1-2 Atalanta

Milan suffered yet another home defeat as their Serie A season goes from bad to worse. Atalanta took the honours at San Siro with a 2-1 win. Goal.com's Salvatore Bianchi rates the players' performances.

Kalac 7 – Milan can be thankful to the Aussie that they didn’t concede more than two.

Oddo 5 – Poor game, the lowlight of which was the ease in which Langella skipped past him for the second goal.

Maldini 6.5 – The best of the back four and Milan looked better at left-back once he switched there in the second half.

Nesta 6 – Started very well, making some great interceptions, but played his part in the two goals and was foolishly sent off late on

Favalli 4.5 – Really bad. It’s no surprise he was hauled off at half-time. Majorly at fault for the first goal.

Gattuso 6 – Showed his class on occasion but it was all too rare.

Pirlo 5 – What’s happened to Pirlo of late? He was that poor in this game that the penalty miss wasn’t even a shock.

Ambrosini 7 – The only Milan midfielder who really looked to have any fight in him.

Seedorf 5.5 – Really didn’t feature enough and it showed in Milan’s lack of creativity.

Pato 6 – His pace was always a threat, his movement and play dropping deep was generally good, but he forgot his shooting boots.

Gilardino 5 – Another poor display and surely another nail in the coffin of his AC Milan career

Subs

46mins Paloschi 6.5 – Looked extremely bright immediately after coming on but his influence then subsided. Still, a vast improvement on Gilardino.

46mins Kaladze 5 – Milan didn’t concede after he came on but the Georgian hardly looked sturdy at the back, lunging in early and getting beaten several times.

59mins Brocchi 5.5 – Didn’t really have the desired impact on the game.

[LuNo]

We Made A Lot Of Mistakes - Pato

Milan striker Alexandre Pato was rueful of his side's clumsiness as they capitulated to yet another home defeat in their miserable Serie A season...

Milan were stunned in the first half and went in at the break two goals down, just as they did recently against Sampdoria.

In this instance - like last time - they hinted at mounting a comeback. Paolo Maldini netted late on and there was time for Alessandro Nesta to be sent off for dissent before Andrea Pirlo was given an opportunity to level things from the penalty spot in the dying moments, but missed and consigned Milan to another embarrassing defeat.

Pato, who wasn't as assured in front of goal as he has been recently, was disappointed after the game and in full praise of Atalanta.

"Unfortunately we didn't play a great match, we made a lot of mistakes and we lost," he declared. "They managed to be more concrete than us."

Fiorentina also went down to a disappointing defeat against Udinese. As such, the race for fourth place is still just within the reach of the Rossoneri, but it's looking less and less likely each week.

A player who can feel a little more aggrieved is Massimo Ambrosini, who put in one of the better individual performances for the World Club Cup holders. He had a goal controversially disallowed and was critical of the officiating, but insisted it did not excuse his side's disappointing performance.

"Concerning the referee, I think that following some of the recent events they want to show they are impartial and tend to favor the team not playing at home," he stated. "But that can't be an alibi for our performance. There are many things we could say about that, but the first thing we must do is ask ourselves some questions.

"The only positive note about today is that our distance from the fourth place didn't change. Now we have seven games to play with the right spirit trying to play well, which we haven't managed to do at San Siro.

"I think it's a mental issue which we have to face all together, we have to increase our attention, but in football often it's episodes that decide matches."

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

MILAN-CAGLIARI

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac;

DEFENDERS:Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Kaladze, Maldini, Simic;

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kaka, Pirlo, Seedorf;

STRIKERS: Inzaghi, Pato, Paloschi.

[LuNo]

[LuNo]

Pato To Miss Juve Clash?

Alexandre Pato could be set to heap more injury problems on Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, as he is a doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Juventus.

The 18-year-old has had a sensational start to life in Serie A, hitting seven goals in just 14 league appearances.

Pato missed last week’s 3-1 win over Cagliari due to an injury to the abductor muscle in his thigh.

He was expected to recover in time for tomorrow’s big match against Juventus in Turin, however it seems that this will not be the case.

The Brazilian is currently rated as a doubt, with Pippo Inzaghi set to fill in as the lone frontman once again.

Pato’s injury heaps more problems on Carlo Ancelotti, who is already without a host of first team players.

Massimo Oddo is out for the season, Alessandro Nesta and Marek Jankulovski are both doubts, while Kakha Kaladze is suspended after picking up a booking against Cagliari.

Milan are struggling to qualify for next season’s Champions League as they are currently four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina, with just six games of the season remaining.