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AC MILAN: EMOTIONS OF THE CHAMPIONS

President Silvio Berlusconi, chief executive Adriano Galliani and coach Carlo Ancelotti were all satisfied with Milan's progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League

/noticias.info/ President Silvio Berlusconi had this to say as he left the stadium after the game: 'We really had to suffer, but we made it. Milan always manage to do well on the big occasions. We always thought the Champions League was a possible target, now with the likes of Inter, Lyon, Real and Barcelona out we can seriously think that we are the team with the most titles that can win the final.' It was an evening of statistics as Milan were in the last eight for the fifth consecutive season: 'We have been there four times in a row so we are also number one in Europe for that. We have always had a motivated dressing room, we pick the players as men as well as athletes. The Milan philosophy is always that the strong overcome misfortune, envy and injustice. The players know they have the backing of the fans who notice the sacrifices that are made and know that the Milan school is still the most followed in the whole world. At the start of the season when Milan had to overcome different situations I thought that we were unjustly penalised which motivated us as we could not make some important signings, but we remedied that by buying Oddo and Ronaldo.' A final word was reserved for Paolo Maldini: 'The captain was great, he even played upfront and demonstrated what is needed when you want to win. We suffered in victory but we really deserved it.' Then looking ahead to the derby and a question. 'A goal from Ronaldo in the derby?' The answer was eloquent: 'Just one?'

Carlo Ancelotti was a happy coach leaving the San Siro and he hailed his team: 'Milan can challenge anyone out there, with no exceptions. For the last five years we have at least been in the quarter-finals and are here again this season.' On the game: 'I was preoccupied that the team would be well-balanced and concede little but it was a risk to give away an early goal. We controlled the game in defence and allowed them little in the way of chances. We created a lot in the first half and I think at the end of the game we almost overdid it trying to score because we knew there would be extra time. We gave nothing to Nakamura the whole game..' As for the team's fitness: 'We are in good shape. Some players are really fit and others are getting there. It was a game at the crossroads of the season and no one thought we would not go through because that would have been tough for the rest of the season. Now we will have Kaladze, Serginho and Nesta back.' Ancelotti then praised the captain and Kakà: 'Paolo Maldini did extraordinary things because he played 120 minutes at 100%. Kakà played at a really high level without crowning it with a goal. He was devastating this evening. The position where he plays allows him to be more lucid. It was a great evening, we had the atmosphere of the Champions League. It was all beautiful.'

Adriano Galliani added: 'What joy and how we suffered. There was patience and calmness. We were good and never unbalanced. This was Milan's strength this evening. Even if we had conceded a goal we knew we could score them. In the end the result came down thanks to a star like Kakà. Inter, for example, went badly, the ball was cleared off the line. Football is like that. When that kind of thing happened to us in the past we generally had the force to remain calm, knowing that things would change and that it would be someone else's turn next.' On what president Berlusconi had to say: 'Berlusconi is right in saying that we can reach the final because we are number one in Europe. I would prefer to evade an Italian side in the next round because it would leave more space in the future and more money to our game. After the Deportivo game I am not making any forecasts. Kakà was out of this world and extraordinary. He was like a sprinter and can continue to delight the Rossoneri fans for years to come. Boruc demonstrated what a great goalkeeper he is, but there are plenty of others around Europe. I believe that Dida can stay and nothing has been agreed with Barcelona. Bonera has been a great surprise, we didn't know he was that good. We will have almost everyone back for the end of the season.' notas_de_prensa_archivo