CLEAR IDEAS

During the commercial press conference of A.C. Milan, Delegate Administrator Adriano Galliani answered journalists' questions on football topics. - THE DECLARATIONS -

MILAN - Here are the declarations made by Milan's Delegate Administrator Adriano Galliani during the traditional meeting to present the new partners of the club and the initiatives to involve the Sponsors in the 2009/2010 season, which was held this morning at the Conference Room at San Siro:

"Adidas inform us that outside Europe Milan are the club who sell the most and that our victories are much different to those of our competitors in Italy and Europe. We have a very strong brand value on a global level, this also thanks to Publitalia and what they've done in these twenty years. I remember the first sponsor we found, it was 'Motta', with whom we contributed to originate the concept of sponsor which at the time didn't exist. In these of collaboration between Milan and Publitalia we have done many things."

ON THE SAN SIRO STADIUM
"Our position is very clear: our dream is to be the sole owners of San Siro one day. Few remember that San Siro was born as home to only Milan, it was built in 1926 by then-president Pirelli, we remained alone at San Siro until 1936 and Inter were playing at the Arena. Then Milan gave the stadium to the Milan commune in 1937 and since then Inter also came to play in the stadium because it was the community stadium. We would like to remain the sole proprietors, restructure the stadium and remain at San Siro, in a different stadium from the current one.

I think it's difficult to give a new name to the stadium and I think it will always be known as San Siro also by the sponsors. I made some enquiries but experts always repeat it to me: the new name for the stadium only works if the stadium is new. San Siro is San Siro, it's a very simple matter, the Milan commune have tried to name it Giuseppe Meazza, but no one says 'I'm going to the Meazza', everyone in Milan says, 'I'm going to San Siro'. This stadium will remain San Siro for all eternity."

ON THE EFFECT OF THE SPONSORS ON THE JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW
"In January we'll see, Milan's policy continues, our policy is to keep the club on top of the world. When I talk about the brand, I'd like to emphasize the strength of this brand. Real grew in value despite not winning the Champions League from 1966 to 1998, while we won it in 2007, two years ago. We want to continue flying high, it's obvious that the brand is valorised thanks to victories. The january transfer market is only relative compared to the growth of the brand, we've been here for 23 years and we're very proud of what we've become: we took Milan from a courtroom and turned it into the most winning club in the world, that's why the sponsors follow us and one of the biggest companies in its sector (referring to Infront) has decided to tie its name to us."

ON A POSSIBLE SALE OF THE CLUB
"No one ever said Milan were for sale, it's the press that came up with this news. Officially and speaking for Fininvest, I reiterate and confirm that Milan isn't for sale. We signed a contract with Emirates, but there was never a negotiation with Dubai for a partial or complete sale of the club. I can absolutely deny the desire to sell Milan on Fininvest's part."

ON LEONARDO
"He is Milan's coach, I hope he stays at Milan for many years."

ON THE SPONSORS
"As of today there are two options, one is to renew the contract with Bwin, the other is a new sponsor, there are many companies that want to be on Milan's shirt, we'll see if it will be Bwin in the next months. Milan will only occupy themselves with the two shirt sponsors. In 2010 all the TV contracts will expire, the contracts with Adidas, Milan Channel, Digitalia08, many have been renewed, only the one with Bwin remains. With Infront we will look for main sponsors and we'll be helped by Infront for all the other contracts."

ON THE ARRIVAL OF BECKHAM IN JANUARY
"I won't say it's done because the contract is still going between Milan and Los Angeles, but I'll say we're at 95%. He's a player who has a lot of visibility as well."

ON ONYEWU'S INJURY WITH THE AMERICAN NATIONAL TEAM
"Onyewu suffered a fracture to his tendon, the news came from the United States, it has to be confirmed because in Washington it's night now and if the diagnosis is confirmed the player will be out for six months, I presume. This reopens the problem of players who are loaned out to their national teams, it's a problem that needs to be solved."

ON THE PROTESTS TOWARDS THE ITALIAN NATIONAL TEAM
"I followed the match, but I was in a restaurant so I didn't see what type of protest it was, even though it's disappointing because Italy qualified for the World Cup and it should have been a festive evening.
Certainly we all dream of English or French football where a team is applauded even when it is relegated, but this is our culture."

ON THE CYCLE OF MATCHES AWAITING MILAN
"Every match is difficult, the calendar is fixed and it's known from the start of the year, every month there's a break for the national teams and when it's not there we know we are playing Wednesday and Sunday."

ON THE PLAYERS CALLED UP TO THE NATIONAL TEAM
"We let our Under 20 players go, just like it happened for Albertazzi with Italy. I think Fifa have the duty to regulate the problem of the Under teams and the Olympics which aren't played on Fifa dates. Some certainties are needed because competitions will overlap: in January players will leave for the African Cup of Nations because in the summer it's very hot. Work is being done to solve these problems, there are many divergent interests and they must be allowed to coexist.
The anomaly of football is that the regulating entities are also organising entities. We have to make sure that big competitions like the World Cup and the Champions League can coexist with the national leagues.
Then we have to resolve the problem of the injured players especially for the poorer national teams, who have players who play for rich clubs where they earn a lot of money. They are delicate problems, we're working on them, but it's all very complex and difficult."

ON GILARDINO AND GOURCUFF
"I believe - he says with a hint of irony but always with a smile - to have achieved a national record. When Milan bought Gilardino, the newspapers said it was wrong because he was not a big team player and could only play for a medium club. But then they ask why he was sold, so that's also a mistake. The same goes for Gourcuff. It's tough..."

Source By AC Milan Official Website

Trezeguet: "We want a comeback"

David Trezeguet was supposed to take part in Filo Diretto today on Juventus Channel, but something came up which stopped him from doing so. The striker however, spoke on Juventus Channel to excuse himself with the supporters and postpone the appointment by a week: "Something came up which stopped me from keeping my appointment with our supporters – explained David – but i promise that I will be there next Thursday to speak to them".

David also took the opportunity to speak of the next match against Fiorentina: "For us it will be a very important match because we are coming from a heavy defeat against Palermo and we want to get back to victory. The time we had to prepare for the match was little because only today did we have back our colleagues who were busy in the international matches, but we have the right motivation to play a great match and show everybody that we are an important team".

The defeat in Palermo left everybody with a sour taste but seeing the start of the season by Juventus, Trezeguet could not but underline the positive aspects: "We had a good period notwithstanding the draws and the defeat. We are still close to the top of the table and we played well in the Champions League. The team spirit is positive and we are working to get back to our best playing form. We lost a few players due to injury but we will have other important returns. We want to get back to winning and to doing well and I believe that we will play an excellent match against Fiorentina".

On a personal level, David is going through a good moment: "I am well. I had the possibility for working well this week. The coach will decide and I am available. The most important thing is that I feel well both physically and mentally. I hope that, together with my team mates, I will be able to give the supporters the victory which have been awaiting for a long time and I hope I can score and contribute as I did up to now".

The last thought is dedicated to the French national team, which will be busy with the play-offs to qualify for the World Cup and which might be in need of the excellent sense of scoring of David: "I said I am available because now there are the play-offs and they will be two very important matches and if the coach thinks that I could be useful to the team I would be glad. Surely in the last two matches against Faroe Islands and Austria, France showed it has very strong attackers, therefore if I can contribute so be it, otherwise I will continue to do my utmost for my team which after all interests me the most".

Source By Juventus Official Website

Mourinho on Inter Channel: "I'm a bauscia"

APPIANO GENTILE - One fan asked him to cut his hair. Another, a little girl who plays in goal, asked if one day she will be able to play for a men's team. Others wrote in with their ideal starting lineups, while a tactically minded fan suggested advancing Cambiasso ten metres upfield. "Okay, but we'd need two of them, one ten metres further up and one ten metres behind," was Mourinho's reply on Inter Channel's new programme MOURINHO@interchannel.org, in which the Portuguese coach replies to fans' questions, read out by Roberto Scarpini.

Mourinho dribbled questions about transfers, "because otherwise tomorrow's papers will say Inter are buying this or that player," but he obliged when asked to recommend some good restaurants in London. And in the pilot episode of the new thirty-minute show, which goes out on Inter Channel tonight at 21:00, José Mourinho delved into the world of dialect. "I know what bauscia means; it's Milanese dialect," he said. "Yes, I think that I am bauscia. All the fans know that I give everything for my club, for my team, and for them too. It can't be any different for me. I'm like this. I don't know how to work in any other way."

Source By inter.it