Socrates

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Chiellini and Bendtner face Milan Apr 20, 2013 Giorgio Chiellini and Nicklas Bendtner are back in the Juventus squad for tomorrow night’s encounter with Milan. The defender has recovered from ankle problems that ruled him out of the 2-0 win at Lazio. It is a big comeback for Danish striker Bendtner, who had been unavailable since tearing a thigh tendon in December. There is still no sign of Nicolas Anelka, while Simone Pepe and Sebastian Giovinco are also sidelined. Juventus squad for Milan: 1 Buffon, 3 Chiellini, 4 Caceres, 6 Pogba, 8 Marchisio, 9 Vucinic, 11 De Ceglie, 13 Peluso, 15 Barzagli, 17 Bendtner, 19 Bonucci, 20 Padoin, 21 Pirlo, 22 Asamoah, 23 Vidal, 24 Giaccherini, 26 Lichtsteiner, 27 Quagliarella, 30 Storari, 32 Matri, 33 Isla, 34 Rubinho, 39 Marrone http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Milan squad for Juventus Apr 20, 2013 Massimo Ambrosini is back in the Milan squad travelling to Turin, while Kevin-Prince Boateng and Ignazio Abate have shaken off injuries. Massimiliano Allegri named his players for tomorrow night’s match with Juventus. Click here for a preview. Boateng and Abate are able to feature after they limped off during last week’s 1-1 draw with Napoli. Ambrosini and Bojan Krkic had missed that game due to physical problems, but are both back in the side. There is no Mario Balotelli, as his three-match ban was reduced to two on appeal, but that still rules him out of this game. Mathieu Flamini is suspended after his red card against Napoli. Milan squad for Juventus: Abbiati, Amelia, Narduzzo, Abate, Antonini, Bonera, De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Zaccardo, Zapata, Ambrosini, Boateng, Constant, Montolivo, Muntari, Nocerino, Traoré, Bojan, El Shaarawy, Niang, Pazzini, Robinho http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Conte: 'Milan as strong as Juve, but...' Apr 20, 2013 Antonio Conte knows Milan “want to prove they are as strong” as Juventus, shakes off ‘provincial’ thinking and explains it’s hard work being a great motivator. The leaders welcome the Rossoneri in a prestigious clash on Sunday evening. Today Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani said his team is “not inferior to Juve,” and Conte does not entirely disagree. “He is right, but the strongest squad on paper doesn’t always win. The statistics and history books tell us in the last two years the Rossoneri didn’t happen to win,” said the Coach. It has been said that Juventus are eager to beat Milan in order to force them into a Champions League preliminary round or potentially even kick them down to the Europa League. “Our only motivation is to earn the three points so we can get even closer to the Scudetto. We have no pleasure in making Milan finish third, as it is provincial to think about your opponents that way. We must look only at our own situation. “It won’t be easy to win, as Milan are as strong as we are and want to prove it. They are working well, because it wasn’t easy to rebuild and replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva.” Milan won the last Serie A meeting 1-0 earlier this season with an incorrectly-awarded penalty. “It was a very strange game, as Milan weren’t coming from a great period of form and it was decided by a dubious incident. They attacked us from the start and we reacted too late, so deserved to lose. That match sparked Milan’s rebirth. “Against Lazio I felt it important to use all four midfielders and the 3-5-1-1 system is the only one that allows that. A good Coach adapts his ideas to the players at his disposal. If I wanted to return to my old 4-2-4 system, then I’d have to revamp the squad and get players suited to that shape. “It is not important how many strikers you have on the field, but how many players you get into the opposition penalty area. I changed the 4-2-4 originally because Arturo Vidal was so good he couldn’t be dropped. I am in a similar situation now with Paul Pogba. “Giorgio Chiellini trained with the side yesterday and seems to be in decent shape. We’ll see, but if he is fit then obviously Chiellini will play. He is an exceptional defender and if he’s fit then I very rarely leave him out.” Andrea Pirlo is releasing his autobiography in which he reveals Conte often throws plastic water bottles at the locker room wall at half-time, even when they are winning. “It is true, I sometimes get angry even during a victory. If there are constructive and convincing victories, then I’m happy. At times a win arrives with luck or other people’s mistakes, so those results leave you with three points, but also regret and anger. “If a Coach were to be happy in these situations, then it would be bad for the team, because it’d prepare them for other defeats. “A Coach in the 21st Century cannot be wrapped up only in tactical discussions, but must also be a motivator. He has to press the right buttons and find the best way to confront every individual. Some players might need a nice compliment, while others have to be challenged with toughness. “It is not easy to get inside the mind of every player, considering a squad has at least 25. A good Coach spends his time studying and keeping up to date with every aspect, because he wants to become the best. “Every Coach has his own mentality. I hope that mine is a winning mentality. The statistics and our consistency suggest that is the case.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti AC Milan are as good as Juventus, claims Galliani JUVE 74 - MILAN 59 The Rossoneri supremo has insisted that his side can compete with the Turin giants and is already looking forward to a title challenge next season. Apr 20, 2013 AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani believes that the Rossoneri are on the same level as Juventus and is confident that they can challenge the Bianconeri for the Scudetto next term. The San Siro outfit are currently trailing the reigning champions by 15 points ahead of Sunday's clash, but Galliani has stressed that things would have been different had they not had such a difficult start following the departure of several key players. "Juventus have been back among the elite for two years now. Last season we pushed them right to the end," Galliani told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "We’ve been getting the same results as them now for the last 24 rounds and I don’t think that we’re inferior to Antonio Conte’s team. "If both teams have the same squad next season, they won’t be 15 points ahead after eight matches. We paid the price of so many players leaving in the summer." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Allegri: 'El Shaarawy starts with Juve' Apr 20, 2013 Massimiliano Allegri confirmed Stephan El Shaarawy will start against Juventus tomorrow night and insists he was right to let Andrea Pirlo leave Milan. The two giants go head-to-head at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday evening, click here for a match preview. While Mario Balotelli is banned, Massimo Ambrosini, Ignazio Abate and Kevin-Prince Boateng return from injury and El Shaarawy is restored after being sensationally dropped against Napoli. “Ambrosini is a player of great experience and it is important to have him on the field in games like this,” said the Coach in his Press conference. “I was not courageous in leaving El Shaarawy on the bench. It was a technical choice and I would do it again. I think he had a great season with real intensity and important moments, so being on the bench for one game doesn’t change anything in terms of how I see the lad. “There was no El Shaarawy ‘problem,’ and by stirring up this controversy the media is making it seem as if Robinho didn’t deserve to play. In any case, I can confirm El Shaarawy will start tomorrow. “We didn’t play badly in Florence, but now have to pick up as many points as possible to reach the Champions League, either via the play-offs in third place or directly in second. Now we need to stay in Napoli’s slipstream and keep Fiorentina behind us. “Juventus are well organised and want to reach the Scudetto as quickly as possible, so it is going to be an important match for both teams. It will take a great performance from either side to get the better of the other. “Juve are the strongest team in Serie A, as they are top of the table and have a big advantage over second, so that shows the difference between the Old Lady and the others.” Antonio Conte has been reshuffling his pack recently, using Claudio Marchisio as a support striker so he can use Paul Pogba in midfield. “I don’t know if they’ll play with one or two strikers. The Bianconeri want to win in order to take revenge on us for when we beat them earlier this season. “My future? I will only say the club has given me a great deal and I have a good rapport with Adriano Galliani. The growth of the squad has been phenomenal in recent months and the club also takes credit for that.” Balotelli is suspended, but surprised many by opting against going to New York for the Time 100 gala after he was named one of the most influential people in the world, as it would interfere with his training schedule. “I want to underline the wonderful and very professional choice Balotelli made,” added Allegri. “Since he has been at Milan, he has behaved very well, it’s just that anything he does hits the headlines.” Juventus star Pirlo is set to release his autobiography and essentially blames Allegri for pushing him out of Milan after 10 years. “At times when you put together a team, you have to evaluate many different situations,” responded the Coach. “Nobody can put Andrea’s qualities in doubt and it seems to me that he proved as much at Juventus as he did at Milan.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Pirlo: 'Milan, Juve and Conte' Apr 20, 2013 Andrea Pirlo has written an autobiography, which covers his Milan leaving gift, how he nearly returned to Inter and dodging bottles thrown by ‘viper’ Antonio Conte. The midfielder is set to publish his book, titled ‘I think, therefore I play,’ and La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport published some extracts today. Pirlo reveals he was less than impressed with his parting gift from Milan – a Cartier pen with the club symbol on it. “A lovely pen, but still a pen. Filled with banal blue ink. Adriano Galliani told me ‘Make sure you don’t use that to sign a new contract with Juventus.’ At least he got the joke right. “As a goodbye gift I expected something more than that perfect comic timing. My 10 years of Milan, gone like that. I smiled anyway. “It was a mutual decision to leave, as I did not want to risk suffering from boredom. That is why I was disappointed at the end of that final meeting, but only to the right degree. So was Galliani.” Pirlo also wrote about the fact Massimiliano Allegri wanted to move him to the left side of midfield rather than in front of the defence. “I still thought I could give my best there. A fish breathes when it is in deep water. It makes do when near the surface, but it’s not the same thing. “We never discussed money that afternoon in the spring of 2011. Never. In those 30 minutes, we didn’t broach the subject of economics with Galliani. I just wanted to be considered important, at the centre of a project and not a player heading for the scrap yard.” He had joined Inter as an Under-21 international, but reveals then-Coach Leonardo tried to bring him back there when his contract expired with Milan in 2011. “He told me great things about Inter, how happy and fired up he was. It could’ve been a great challenge to go back where I had already been, to cross the city after 10 consecutive years at Milan, nine of which had been extraordinary. “Leonardo could’ve helped me with that, if he hadn’t gone to Paris Saint-Germain a few weeks later. I couldn’t do it, though. It would’ve been really too much and the Milan fans did not deserve an affront like that.” Pirlo also considered an offer from Roma, but was “suspicious” when the new American owners wouldn’t go into detail about the kind of team they were building. “I have dealt with many Coaches in my career, but Conte is the one who surprised me the most. He needed just one speech, with many simple words, to conquer both me and Juventus. We arrived together on the Planet Juventus. “He presented himself to us on the first day of pre-season training in the gym at Bardonecchia. He already had fire running through his veins and moved like a viper. ‘This squad, dear lads, is coming off two consecutive seventh-place finishes. It’s crazy. Shocking. I am not here for this, so it’s time to stop being crap.’ “If Arrigo Sacchi was a genius, then what is he? I expected him to be great, but not that great. I thought of a Coach with a lot of grit and charisma, but instead I discovered he has much to teach his colleagues in terms of tactics and technique. “Going back, there is one thing I wouldn’t do again – choose the locker right next to Gigi Buffon at the Juventus Stadium, the one in front of the door,” wrote Pirlo. “It is the most dangerous spot in Turin, especially at half-time. Conte storms in and – even when we are winning – throws anything he can get his hands on towards the wall, which is my spot. He’ll throw anything he can find, almost always plastic bottles full of water. Very fizzy water. “He becomes a beast and is never happy, as there is always some detail that isn’t perfect and he can see in advance what could happen over the next 45 minutes. “One time we were losing to Milan and he couldn’t get over it. ‘Against them! I can’t understand how we can’t be beating them! They even play badly.’” It remains to be seen what Conte will be saying at half-time on Sunday evening when Juventus welcome Milan to Turin.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Galliani: 'Milan not inferior to Juve' JUVE 74 - MILAN 59 Apr 20, 2013 Adriano Galliani stokes the fires of tomorrow night

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Bonucci wary of AC Milan threat The Italy international is eagerly anticipating this weekend's match versus the San Siro outfit and has warned that a tough game awaits. Apr 20, 2013 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has stressed that Sunday's Serie A encounter at home against AC Milan will not be an easy game. The Bianconeri were beaten 1-0 at San Siro earlier in the campaign and Bonucci has warned that Juve cannot afford to take the return versus the Rossoneri lightly. "In the reverse fixture, we lacked concentration, motivation and energy, which are all vital traits at a club like Juventus. But since then, we have been growing as a side and have become very consistent," Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia. "We’re up against an in-form Milan team, as is shown by their results in 2013. Along with the memory of defeat in the reverse fixture, this will give us extra motivation for Sunday. "Not only do we want to get our own back on them but we’re also looking to take another step towards the Scudetto." Sunday's match at the Juventus Stadium is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti De Sciglio flattered by Maldini comparisons The Rossoneri youth product has downplayed the parallels being drawn between him and the legendary defender while he says he is ready to confront the Old Lady. Apr 19, 2013 AC Milan defender Mattia De Sciglio has cooled praise liking him to Paolo Maldini, insisting he still has much to learn. The young full-back has exploded on to the scene this season with a string of solid displays for the Rossoneri having already earned two senior caps with the Italy national side. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old has emphasised the he has a long way to go before he can be considered in the same league as the former Azzurri captain and insisted that Massimiliano Allegri's side are fully prepared to face Serie A leaders Juventus on Sunday. "The parallel to Maldini is an honour but I still have a long way to go. Perhaps they say this because I grew up in the club's youth academy," he told La Stampa. "I initially was a Juventino like my father, but my mother and my grandfather made me change. I did not have a poster of Maldini in my room like it has been said. I liked Buffon, Del Piero, Nedved and Thuram but mainly because I was influenced by my father. "Clarence Seedorf once said he was born ready. Well I too am more than ready for Sunday night's clash with Juventus! "We studied our opponents but we are already prepared for Juventus. We have faced them twice already this year." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Milan game will not be easy, warns Barzagli The experienced defender is eagerly anticipating Sunday's encounter in Turin and is over the moon to be closing in on his 100th appearance for Juventus. Apr 19, 2013 Andrea Barzagli has stressed that Juventus cannot afford to throw away points in this weekend's Serie A match against AC Milan as they aim to wrap up the Scudetto as soon as possible, but has warned that the Rossoneri will pose a stern test. The Bianconeri hold an 11-point lead over second-placed Napoli with six more games to go, but Barzagli is not getting carried away just yet as they prepare to face a side battling for an automatic Champions League spot. "The upcoming matches versus Milan and Torino will be two important games, but we’ll focus solely on the first," the defender told Sport Mediaset. "Both us and Milan are in need of points. We’re chasing the Scudetto, while they’re aiming for Champions League qualification. It won’t be easy, but we’re preparing well." Barzagli needs only two more games two reach 100 official appearances for Juventus and he is very pleased with the way things have progressed for him since his move to the Old Lady from Wolfsburg. "I’m very happy, it’s pleasing to be able to play as much as I do. Reaching 100 appearances for such a prestigious club is a real source of pride," he went on. "The last few years have been the best of my career in terms of consistency. There was a time when my performance levels tended to fluctuate more." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Balotelli ban cut, but misses Juve Apr 19, 2013 Milan’s Mario Balotelli has had his three-match ban reduced to two on appeal, but he will still miss the Juventus tie. The Italian international was punished for insulting a match official during the 2-2 draw at Fiorentina two weeks ago. The January signing was automatically banned for one game for the accumulation of yellow cards, plus two for his verbal outburst. Milan appealed against the ban today and were able to get a discount on his initial punishment. Balotelli, who missed the draw with Napoli last week, will now also sit out the trip to Turin. He’ll return against Catania. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Nedved happy to wait for Scudetto Apr 19, 2013 Pavel Nedved says he’s not bothered when Juventus wrap up the Scudetto – so long as they are crowned Italian champions. There is a chance that the Old Lady could make sure of the title in the derby against Torino or on May 5 – a significant date in the club’s history given their comeback title win in 2002. “I have no preference over what date we do it on,” the director stated. “I just want to win it. The last minute of the last game of the season would do for me.” Juve need just seven points from their last six games to clinch the title and they’ll face a Milan side on Sunday who are attempting to get Mario Balotelli back from suspension on appeal. “I expect a great game between two great sides,” Nedved continued. “It’ll be beautiful, but it is always better when all the champions are on the pitch.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Bonucci: Title not won yet Apr 19, 2013 Leonardo Bonucci has called for focus as his Juventus side edge towards another Italian championship. The Old Lady have an 11 point lead at the top of the table with just six games left, meaning they only require another seven points to regain the Scudetto. “We have to keep our guard up right until we are mathematically sure of winning the League again,” he told Sky Sport Italia. The Turin giants have dominated in Serie A this term, but their hopes of a treble were ended by Bayern Munich in Europe and Lazio in the Coppa Italia. “We’ll have to define the season we have had at the end of the campaign,” continued the centre-back. “In the Champions League we gained a lot of experience which will be of use to us next time around, while we were unlucky in the Italian Cup. “Had we taken that chance in the 96th minute of the semi-final against Lazio then we would be talking about another Final.” Juve reached the Italian Cup Final last season, but were beaten by Napoli.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Nedved: I hope Balotelli will play against Juventus The Bianconeri director hopes the controversial striker will get the chance to play against the Serie A leaders. Apr 18, 2013 Ex- legend Pavel Nedved hopes Mario Balotelli’s suspension is reduced so he can feature in Juventus' clash with AC Milan on Sunday. Balotelli was handed a one-match ban after picking up his fourth yellow card of the campaign in the 2-2 draw with Fiorentina and then given a further two-game punishment for insulting an assistant referee. But rather than be happy at facing a weakened Rossoneri, Bianconeri director, Nedved, would like to see the controversial forward feature to provide a greater spectacle for supporters. He told reporters: "Obviously it's always better when both teams have a full complement of players, not only for Milan, but for everyone. "If the disqualification was reversed for Balotelli, I expect a great match with two top teams playing against one another, but it will still be a great game if he doesn't play." The ex-Manchester City striker has scored 11 times in 10 games for club and country since returning to Italy in January. Milan go into the game in third place, four points adrift of second-placed Napoli and 15 behind leaders Juve. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Vieira: Pogba better than I was at that age The 36-year-old feels the promising youngster has a bright future ahead of him following his good performances for Juventus this season. Apr 18, 2013 Former France international Patrick Vieira has taken the time to praise Juventus starlet Paul Pogba and believes the midfielder already plays at a higher level than himself at the age of 20. The powerful midfielder joined Juve from Manchester United in the summer of 2012 and has since impressed with a number of fine performances for the Bianconeri. "He is a better player now than I was at the same age. Only time will tell how things pan out for him, but I think that he has a great career ahead of him," Vieira told RMC. "I believe he can be the next great midfielder for France. He is always calm and very technical. He has a better shot than I had and will score a lot more goals. "He's already making an impact at Juventus at this young age. When I was that old, I played five games in an entire season at AC Milan." Pogba has made 24 Serie A appearances so far this term, scoring five goals in the process.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Barzagli: 'Milan need points too' Apr 18, 2013 Andrea Barzagli acknowledges there is a lot at stake in Juventus-Milan this Sunday. “We’re chasing the Scudetto, while they’re aiming for Champions League qualification.” The giants go head-to-head at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday evening and it is first against third in Serie A. “Both us and Milan are in need of points. We’re chasing the Scudetto, while they’re aiming for Champions League qualification. It won’t be easy, but we’re preparing well,” the 31-year-old told Sport Mediaset. The game after that, the Turin Derby, will see Barzagli mark his 100th appearance in the Bianconeri jersey. “I’m very happy, it’s pleasing to be able to play as much as I do. Reaching 100 appearances for such a prestigious club is a real source of pride. “The last few years have been the best of my career in terms of consistency. There was a time when my performance levels tended to fluctuate more. “Ever since I started playing I’ve never thought about scoring, preferring instead to focus on stopping the opposition. I’m not particularly talented going forward… all that matters is that my team-mates find the target.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Vieira: Pogba better than I was Apr 18, 2013 Patrick Vieira has been left impressed by Juventus youngster Paul Pogba. “He’s better than I was at his age…” Pogba, who has been likened to Vieira, is a 20-year-old midfielder who has been a revelation since leaving Manchester United in the summer. “I first saw him play as a teenager in a game against Portugal,” Vieira, formerly of Milan, Juventus and Inter, told RMC Sport. “It didn’t take long to understand that he was destined to become a good player, then I saw him for Juve and knew that he was a very strong one. “I believe that he is a better player than I was at his age. He has a great shot on him and a good physique for someone who has only just turned 20. “Only time will tell, but I think he has a great opportunity to have an excellent career. “He will be the next great midfielder of the French national team. He will learn things very quickly.” Pogba, who was recently handed his first full international cap by Didier Deschamps, has scored five goals in 24 League games this term.

Marotta: 'Juve not a selling club' Apr 17, 2013 Beppe Marotta assured fans that Antonio Conte, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal will be staying, but Juventus “won’t go crazy” on the transfer market. The director sat down with Juventus Channel to discuss numerous topics, including last night’s Coppa Italia Primavera victory over Napoli. “It is the crowning moment of a project we started three years ago. We are proud and happy for both them and for Juve,” he said of the youth team. “We have 78 young players in Italy and abroad, either owned or co-owned by us. In Serie B alone there are 18 of our players, while in Serie A we have elements like Manolo Gabbiadini and Ciro Immobile. At the end of the season, we’ll sit down with the coaching staff and evaluate who will return. “In these three years there have been more than 30 players coming in and out of the club. Clearly there have been some errors, but we have opted to trust in a leader of the technical staff, a Coach with a strong personality and a strong sense of belonging to the club. “Conte is in perfect symbiosis with the club and there are the foundations for him to stay here for many years, because the objectives we can reach are very prestigious indeed.” Marotta also commented on the players attracting interest around Europe, such as Vidal, Pogba and how Juve snapped up World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo on a free transfer. “Pogba is tied to us by a contract that represents an investment for the future and we are happy he has sped up that process. He is staying with us. “Vidal was a smart choice by the club, while the Coach made the most of him. Our desire is to keep hold of him. Juve are not a selling club and we have important objectives to achieve. “As for Pirlo, you’ve got to know how to take opportunities. When Pirlo and Milan decided to split up by mutual consent, we approached the player, discussed it with Conte and wrote up a contract. Pirlo is the symbol of my time here, as he is a player with a great trophy cabinet who is no longer as young as he once was. “Signing him left us open to criticism, but at the end of the day we won a great gamble. I couldn’t sleep at night the first few days after the signing...” Much as the free transfers and bargains have impressed fans, the Champions League exit to Bayern Munich fuelled the demands for a ‘top player’ in attack. “The difficult thing is to combine excellent sporting results with excellent balance sheets. The Financial Fair Play rules wanted by UEFA are trying to put the brakes on the crazy amount spent by many clubs in recent years, some of them even disappearing from the football landscape due to that approach. “It is our duty to respect the economic limits, without abandoning the idea of winning that is intrinsic in this club. “Champions League results are not only down to investments, but also planning. We want to create a winning model that can achieve any result.”

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Milan stars target Juve fitness Apr 17, 2013 Kevin-Prince Boateng, Massimo Ambrosini and Bojan Krkic look to be fit in time to face Juventus on Sunday night. The Milan trio have all been suffering from knocks recently, but took part in the full training session with their teammates today. Giampaolo Pazzini worked on strength exercises, while Ignazio Abate remains in doubt for the big game, as he focused on the gym and the sand strip. Boateng and Abate limped off during the 1-1 draw with Napoli, while Bojan pulled out the night before with a muscular problem. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Pete Nordsted: Two weekend tips from the Both Teams to Score market Pete has analysed the statistics around this weekend's fixtures from several top European leagues and he has selected two bets from Serie A . Apr 17, 2013 Well last week we had a poor weekend with both selections losing and both teams scored early on in the two matches. Let’s hope this weekend we get a far better run for our money. As always here we are following a system bet and you are advised to keep stakes reasonable and always try and obtain the best price available. This weekend after trawling through the major leagues once again we are focusing our attention on Italy where we have two selections from the Serie A. Our first match features one of the Italian marquee games when leaders and reigning champions Juventus, who are once again closing in on another Serie A title, host third-placed AC Milan who are chasing the automatic Champions League spot that Napoli have currently. Since January 2011 when hosting other Italian elite sides both teams have scored in only two of Juve's last eight matches and in recent home matches only three of 10 games have seen both sides finding the net. The stats are not as strong with Milan though. When facing top four sides away from San Siro we see both teams have scored in five of the last nine. Indeed, when looking at all of Milan’s away matches this season only four of 16 have seen the 'No' on both sides scoring. The stats are strong enough with Juventus to justify a bet and it should also be remembered that both teams have not scored in the last three head-to-head matches in Turin. The "No" outcome on the both teams to score market can be backed at 10/11 (1.91) with bet365 For our second match we move over to another fascinating contest when Udinese take on Lazio. This year five of Udinese’s eight home matches have seen at least one side not scoring and in the case of visitors Lazio 13 of their last 17 away games have seen the 'No' on both teams scoring. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Chiellini hopeful of making Milan clash The defender hopes to be match fit in time for this weekend's encounter and is keen to stay at his current club after his active career. Apr 17, 2013 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is desperate to make his comeback in this weekend's Serie A match against AC Milan after missing the 2-0 win over Lazio on Monday due to injury. The Italy international picked up a knock during Friday's training session that ruled him out of the match at the Stadio Olimpico, but he has stressed that his physical condition is improving ahead of Sunday's encounter. "I am feeling better. We will see how things stand by Sunday. I definitely hope to be there for the match against Milan," Chiellini told Tuttosport. The defender then went on to discuss his long-term future and made it clear he wants to stay at Juventus after his active career. He added: "I hope to stay in the footballing world in a different role when I hang up my boots. I would love to stay here at Juventus and work for the club that I love." Chiellini, 28, joined Juventus in the summer of 2005 and has made over 250 official appearances for the Bianconeri so far. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Madrid usurp Manchester United as most valuable club in the world Barcelona have risen 99 per cent in value over the last 12 months while the Red Devils see their top position crumble as the Blancos take over in Forbes' top 20 rankings. Apr 16, 2013 Real Madrid have usurped Manchester United as the most valuable football club on the planet for the first time since Forbes magazine began their rankings in 2004. The Red Devils have sat at the top of the list for nine years in a row but Jose Mourinho's men are now worth $135 million more (€103m) at $3.3 billion (€2.429bn), while Sir Alex Ferguson's side sit second in the business magazine's most valuable club list. Barcelona are perched comfortably in third - $565m (€434m) behind United but $1.274m (€978m) ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal - and rose 99 per cent in value over 12 months. Bayern Munich fill out the top five having made the Champions League final last season as well as finishing second in the Bundesliga. Their value is sure to rise further in next year's rankings with the added interest of Pep Guardiola as coach, not to mention their triumph in this season's Bundesliga and a potential treble of trophies. AC Milan are the top-placed Serie A side in sixth and the highest-placed club to be valued below the €1bn mark this year. However, they are also the only club in the top 10 which have gone down in value over the last 12 months. Chelsea's Champions League-winning season saw maintain their place in the list and boost their value by 18%, not so contrasting to the team below them, Juventus, who saw their value rise by 17% after returning to Scudetto-lifting ways in 2012 (8th place). Manchester City rose from 13th to 9th in Forbes' list after winning the Premier League last season and qualifying for the Champions League for the second successive campaign. An English team not faring as well are Liverpool, who were fourth in April 2008 but find themselves 10th five years later as they continue to suffer from not competing with the European elite. Outside of the top 10 sit Europa League quarter-finalists Tottenham in 11th, Bundesliga side Schalke in 12th, Champions League semi-finalists Borussia Dortmund in 13th, Italian giants Inter in 14th and Olympique Lyonnais in 15th. The final five in the list are South America's sole entrants Corinthians in 16th, Walter Mazzarri's Napoli in 17th, German side Hamburg in 18th, Olympique de Marseille (who dropped 18% in value, the biggest drop in the top 20) in 19th and Newcastle United perched 20th. Interestingly, despite being considered one of the most valuable clubs in the world, Paris Saint-Germain fail to make the top 20, while La Liga's top-three duo are the only Spanish sides to make the list.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Chiellini hopes to face Milan Apr 17, 2013 Juventus stopper Giorgio Chiellini is keeping his fingers crossed that he’ll be fit enough to take on Milan on Sunday. The defender has had an injury-plagued campaign and he missed the 2-0 win at Lazio on Monday with ankle problems. “I’m felling better,” he stated. “And I’m certainly hoping that I will be available to face Milan. We’ll just have to see what happens.” The 28-year-old has appeared in just 18 League games for the Old Lady so far this season. He missed only four Serie A games last term. Juventus need just seven points from their last six games to win their second consecutive championship. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Boateng on fitness & Juve clash Apr 16, 2013 Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has insisted he will be fit enough to face Juventus this weekend. The 26-year-old limped out of the Rossoneri's 1-1 draw with Napoli last Sunday, but the former Ghana international has claimed he will be fit to play the Bianconeri, whilst also making reference to Sulley Muntari's 'ghost goal' against Antonio Conte's men last season. “I am fine,” he told Milan Channel. “At first I thought the damage would be greater, but today I feel a lot better and hopefully I'll be available against Juve. “We are still there or thereabouts and we want to finish second – and to do that we have to win in Turin. “The matches against Juventus are always special – there is no need to talk them up further. “This time we'll kick the ball harder in order to make it clear for everyone that the ball has crossed the line.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Montolivo: Juve deserve Scudetto Apr 16, 2013 Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has admitted that Juventus 'deserve' to win the Scudetto. The Rossoneri face the Old Lady next weekend looking for the three points that would consolidate their Champions League place. But the Italy international has conceded that it will be tough against 'the best team in the League'. “Juventus deserve to win the title,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “We will be playing the best team in the League. “It is definitely going to be a tough game for us. “I have been happy with my performance this season – although at the moment I am only thinking of reaching third place.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/