Mancini (ancora una volta preso di mira da Padovan, vedi foto) ha diramato la lista dei convocati per la partita di sdomani contro il Fenerbahce, unica squadra ad avere sconfitto i nerazzurri in una gara ufficiale oltre alla Roma, in Supercoppa. Sono 19 i giocatori, i portieri Julio Cesar e Orlandoni, i difensori Cordoba, Zanetti, Maxwell, Maicon, Materazzi, Rivas, Samuel, Chivu, i centrocampisti Stankovic, Jimenez, Dacourt, Cambiasso, Solari, gli attaccanti Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Crespo e suazo. El Jardinero dovrebbe essere il partner d'attacco di Ibra, che ha giocato poco sabato con l'Atalanta e deve difendere il primato nella classifica marcatori. Acciaccati Suazo (per la botta presa da Manfredini) e Dacourt, ancora alle prese con un ematoma. Comunque, con il solo Burdisso ancora squalificato per i fatti di Valencia, da segnalare anche qui il ritorno di Materazzi e una squadra quasi al completo, Figo e Vieira sono gli unici dei 25 ancora indisponibili. C'è la possibilità per i nerazzurri di chiudere i conti con la prima fase, il che era insperato dopo la sconfitta all'esordio con gli uomini di Zico.

Tornando al titolo (becero come il suo stile) di Tuttosport, Mancini ha fatto una dichiarazione sui medici che ritarderebbero il rientro dei calciatori, specificando che si trattava di una battuta perché, parole sue, "altrimenti domani arriva la risposta dell'ordine dei medici ", e nonostante ciò la protesta è arrivata. Da chi? Da Maurizio Casasco, presidente dell'ordine dei medici sportivi, mio conterraneo che io conoscevo come dirigente sportivo (partito giovane dal Rivanazzano, società di prima categoria in cui giocava mio cugino, finì al Torino di Borsano ma -ironia della sorte- venne mandato via per l'arrivo di... Luciano Moggi). Mi sembra che questa difesa corporativa per via di una battuta sia eccessiva, ma di una cosa sono certo: Mancini ha le "palle" per respingere questo e i tanti attacchi che gli arrivano dai "quaquaraquà" come quelli che stanno a Tuttostort e come Ronaldo, il quale ancora tira in ballo Adriano di cui sarebbe grande amico (si sa, fin dal 2001, chiedere alle discoteche milanesi...)

Detto della zamparinata del lunedì (esonerato Colantuono, ritorna ancora Guidolin), della difficile e fredda trasferta della Roma a Kiev, con Benfica-Milan e Lazio-Olympiacos mercoledì e la Fiorentina giovedì, a proposito della squadra viola, OleOle si unisce al cordoglio ed è vicino al mister Prandelli per la prematura scomparsa della moglie Manuela.

UPDATE: aperta un'inchiesta federale, a questo punto possiamo anche attenderci la richiesta di impiccagione per Roberto Mancini. DA NOTARE (sì, uso il maiuscolo perché questa cosa va urlata!) CHE IL 27 OTTOBRE, UN MESE FA, IL CENTROCAMPISTA DELLA ROMA, DAVID PIZARRO, DICHIARO' "PRENDIAMO TROPPI FARMACI. SIAMO OBBLIGATI? SI PUO' DIRE DI NO, MA POI SI RESTA FUORI". PER QUESTE DICHIARAZIONI GRAVISSIME DI PIZARRO STIAMO ANCORA ATTENDENDO LA REPLICA INDIGNATA DI CASASCO E DELLA FEDERAZIONE ITALIANA MEDICI SPORTIVI. VERGOGNA!

Si è appena svolto il sorteggio per il terzo e ultimo turno preliminare della Champions League. Sorteggio non proibitivo per la Lazio, che ha pescato la Dinamo Bucarest.

Il clou è Spartak Mosca-Celtic, interessanti anche Sparta Praga Arsenal, Tolosa-Liverpool, Fenerbahce-Anderlecht, Siviglia-AEK Atene. Buon sorteggio per il Valencia che troverà i vincenti tra Debrecen ed Elfsborg, il Werder troverà la vincente tra Dinamo Zagabria e Domzale.

Andata il 14 e 15 agosto, ritorno il 28 e 29 del mese.

Dall'ammissione UEFA con questa lettera dell'Emergency Panel:

"L'Emergency Panel della Uefa ha ammesso oggi il Milan a partecipare al terzo turno di qualificazione alla Uefa Champions League 2006-2007. Il club ovviamente non ha ancora percepito nella maniera giusta i problemi in cui si trova e il danno che ha gia' causato al calcio europeo. L'Emergency Panel dell'Uefa, competente a decidere in materia, è arrivato alla conclusione che non aveva altra scelta se non quella di ammettere il Milan alle competizioni Uefa 2006-2007 per ragioni formali, a causa delle insufficienti basi legali nel regolamento che avrebbero consentito la non ammissione del Milan viste le specifiche circostanze''.

Ai cori beceri, che nello spogliatoio potevo anche capire, dopo la partita, con l'emozione, ma che in queste circostanze sono davvero deprecabili. Uno schifo veramente. Eccolo, insieme ovviamente un'altra volta ai cori beceri:

A parte che se è in risposta al "Vinciamo senza rubare" degli interisti denota una enorme coda di paglia da parte dei rossoneri. E' gente questa che, dando retta ai media di proprietà del loro presidente, sembra vivere in un Eden ritrovato dove si sta tutti in armonia col mondo. La squadra il cui presidente va al 'family day' (il minuscolo è voluto) e il giocatore che ha la maglia in cui c'è scritto che appartiene a Gesù. Il giocatore che aveva in mano lo striscione, Massimo Ambrosini, dopo la partita è andato in diretta TV con la maglietta della parrocchia, salutando tutti gli amici dell'oratorio di Pesaro. Allora, milanisti brava gente? No, è un'accozzzaglia di persone che dovrebbero essere dei professionisti ma sono solo dei volgari cafoni. CAFONI D'EUROPA!

(il primo gol di Kakà)

Il Milan stravince meritatamente 3-0 la semifinale di ritorno col Manchester United e prepara le valigie per Atene. Gli inglesi non sono mai esistiti, Ronaldo ha giocato la peggior partita dell'anno, Giggs fermo sulla sinistra e Rooney troppo solo davanti. Gli inglesi non ci sono stati propio, se all'andata il confronto tra Kakà e Cristiano è stato vinto dal brasiliano ai punti, stasera l'incontro è finito per K.O. al primo round.

Ferguson, peraltro, ci ha capito poco, i suoi giocatori sul campo bagnato nel primo tempo non stavano in piedi. E non ha provato nemmeno, sir Alex, a cambiare di posizione i suoi esterni. 2-0 all'intervallo, mi sarei atteso un calo del Milan nella ripresa ma solo tra il 60' e il 70' i Red Devils sono stati un po' pericolosi. Ma l'ingresso del fresco Gilardino, autore del terzo gol con un contropiede uno contro zero, ha rimesso le cose a posto e nel finale anche il bistrattato Dida si è esaltato nelle uscite alte sugli sterili cross dei britannici.

E così, il Milan va ad Atene dove troverà il Liverpool. La finale è tra due squadre terze nei rispettivi campionati, segno che è sempre più difficile fare il double (il Barca dello scorso anno fu un'eccezione). Alla faccia di chi diceva che la Serie A vale poco. Si ritrovano le due squadre di un paio d'anni fa: allora ad Istanbul, stavolta ad Atene, il Mediterraneo Orientale porta loro fortuna. Un grande successo comunque per il calcio italiano, e milanese in particolare: Inter scudettata, Milan in finale della Champions League. Certa gente che ha solo gettato fango sull'immagine del calcio italiano non ci manca per niente! Al 23 maggio...

Inter's 17th consecutive win isn't news, just like the umpteenth Totti's mistake from the penalty spot. Today we want to talk about three teams that have been punished after Calciopoli scandal, and now are trying to get into Europe by its main door: Champions League. Now it's Lazio seating on the fourth step, but Milan is just one point behind and Fiorentina is some distance from them but maybe is in very good shape and don't mind if they are six points under. Reasonably, they are fighting for just one place, but we see that Palermo is in a bad moment and there are still 14 games to play. Will the Sicilians resist in the Top Four? We'll see...

Another remark we should do is that all the people saying this year Serie A is not so good, are a little bit wrong. Take for example the table as it would be if all those teams weren't penalized. At least for the top 6, it should be: Inter 66, AS Roma 52, Fiorentina 46, Palermo 44, AC Milan 44, Lazio 40. Top teams are all there, except Juve that is still paying for its scandals, so it's not Inter's fault if they are too strong. We should talk anout no history for its strenght, but not that the level is lower than the past for the reason Juve is not there.

Anyway, yesterday night AC Milan won without deserving, for the second time three points came during the extra-time, once again Ambrosini's header has been decisive: without him now Milan would be sixth with 31 points, 35 less then Inter. Ronaldo played badly, but had to carry the weight of the attack as Oliveira has been replaced by Cafu after 10', due to Oddo's sending-off. Mach 11th is going to be the moment of truth for Ancelotti: that day his team will play against Inter for the derby. Anyway, choosing Ronaldo -that cannot play Champions League- Milan has shown how important is fourth place to them.

Lazio forward Tommaso Rocchi is the man of the day. His beautiful goal in Cagliari has been applauded by all the viewers, and he had a standing ovation by the opposite fans, and this doesn't happen every day, especially in Italy, where fair play is just a pipe-dream. Now Lazio on Wednesday is going to play Catania at the Stadio Olimpico, it won't be easy, though Catania is in deep crisis and needs some point after the unsuccessful match against Inter.

We think Fiorentina is Serie A third best team, after Inter and Roma (according to Mutu, they are second, after Inter). They have a good coach, a fantastic pair of forwards, Luca Toni and Adrian Mutu, a technical skilled player as Liverani and some good youngsters (Montolivo, Pazzini and Donadel). Sporting director Pantaleo Corvino confirms their interest to young players: today Fiorentina has signed Arturo Lupoli (Arsenal forward, now at Derby County on loan) for the next five years. So, Neapolitan forward will be back to Italy since July, as he left Parma some years ago, "stolen" by Arsenal.

So, as from now until the end of may, at least we'll see an exciting fight for Europe: giants are back!

The triumphal march in serie A (20 wins, 3 draws and no defeats) deceived Inter fans, but in Europe things are different this year. The groups stage started in a bad way, with 2 incredible defeats in Lisbon and home vs Bayern Munich, then three consecutive wins against two irresistible teams as Sporting and Spartak Moscow. And now, retour match in Mestalla will be very difficult. Inter needs to win or draw at 3 to get through the quarter finals. Inter is Valencia's bete noir, and we hope in a good result.

It has been difficult and to play in front of 22000 people in a stadium that can contain 85000, but an absurd regulation gave access to "Meazza" in San Siro only to people with season tickets that are, for yuor information, 35000. Ok, we have to increase security, but we don't think the right way to do this is to keep people outside. Anyway, after kick off Inter starts slowly and ball possession is for Valencia. Coach Mancini cannot field his usual starting 11, as Patrick Vieira suffers with some muscolar problems, so Figo is just behind the strikers and midfield is made by Stankovic, Zanetti and Cambiasso. It's just the Argentinean Cuchu to score for the 1-0: free kick of Figo from the right, Ibra hit the ball with his shoe's sole, Canizares saves but Cambiasso's header goes into the Spanish goal. Probably it was an offside.

Second half: Inter's rythm is lower than before, and Valencia is better, though they played last Sunday in front ofa tough team as Barcelona is. Minute 64: a foul by Dacourt, and David Villa's free kick from 30 metres passes by Inter's wall. It's a fantastic goal, but Julio Cesar could be positioned better, and the wall itself was not so well positioned. Anyway, it's 1-1. Inter takes it badly, but after some time Cruz enters for Crespo, and serves a delightful assist to Maicon, that beats Canizares. Inter is leading again, but it lasts no more than 10' minutes a corer from the right by Villa, and the other David, Silva, finds his life's shot. It's the end: Inter 2, Valencia 2.

It will be hard for Inter at Mestalla on March 6th. Valencia stadium will be -differently from Milan San Siro- a hell-pit, but Inter has to demonstrate that his strenght is not relegated to the Italian border. And Roberto Mancini has to avoid tonight's mistakes, especially in second half. Ok, Vieira was injured and Cambiasso had to go out, but we think he should have send into the pitch Santiago Solari, in Figo's stead or maybe Stankovic. Well, he should have changed his pattern into a classic 4-4-2, but he definitely needed more power in Inter's midfield.

Let's give some ratings to Inter players:

Julio Cesar 5/10: first goal of Valencia is due to his mistake
Maicon 7: now he's also a scorer
Materazzi 6: he catches all high balls, but a little bit slow for Valencia's forwards
Cordoba 5.5: sometimes he misses Villa and Morientes
Burdisso 6: better in his end, he doesn't attack as he should
Zanetti 6.5: it's his best season of the career, and also in this unlucky Champions League is one of the best
Stankovic 5: he's imprecise even in the easiest passes, too tired in second-half
Figo 6: a good first half, then he disappears
Cambiasso 6.5: a goal, then he has to go out for a muscular problem
Crespo 5: just a header close to goal, he touches few balls
Ibra 5.5: not his best night, but as usual he shows some touches of class
Dacourt 6: not a midfield barrier we know
Cruz 6: an assist to Maicon, half of second goal is the Argentinean's

Serie A is quite boring, especially for the first place, but tomorow the last 16 of the biggest European competition comes to the fore. Celtic Glasgow-AC Milan tomorrow, Inter Milan-Valencia and AS Roma-Lyon on Wednesday are the matches of Italian teams. A difficult heath for everybody, very difficult to get through, especially for the Romans. Lyon has been dominating French League for five years, and it should win this year as well, but in Champions League their best result was a quarter final. Now Lyon is a little bit weaker than the beginning of the season, but still a dangerous opponent. Juninho Pernambucano is sure we'll see the rtue Lyon next Wednesday. In Rome the enthusiasm is great, it's first time the Giallorossi get through UCL the groups stage.

Coach Spalletti denies any dispute with Totti after the captain's substitution at Empoli. "French are strong -the coach from Certaldo says- but I'm convinced AS Roma will play two great games". Probably center back Philippe Mexes will take part of the game against his compatriots. If in Rome, Stadio Olimpico will be full, in Milan for an absurd decision only season tickets holders can watch the game, even the ones buying tickets before Catania riots had to renounce, and will get only a full refund of the ticket. Mancini should have his best formation, with many players that just had a rest day on Saturday. Valencia is a hard nut to crack, especially after their win in front of Spain and Europe champions of Barcelona. They have a good forward duo (Villa and El Moro Morientes), and good midfielder. Inter has a lot to loose, and the same is for Italian football: imagine what could happen if the team that is triumphing in the Serie A League was sent off by a Spanish team...
Anyway, Baraja and Vicente haven't been called up due to someinjuries.

AC Milan is maybe the weakest Italian team at the moment in this last-16 tie, but also has the easiest task. Celtic Glasgow has been a surprise of the groups stage, but still seems to be at a lower level than the Milanese. The problem for Ancelotti is that some key players won't take part to the match: Ronaldo already played in Champions at Real Madri), Dida is injured and Gilardino is not sure he will play. Only Oliveira is ok among the forwards. Then, the Celtic Park is a hot stadium, ad the Scottish have a player like Shunsuke Nakamura that can create some danger. "I'd like to be in good condition -the Japanese says- I think it will be a great match". Well, we hope all of these matches will be great, but for the Italian clubs...

All draws are full of danger, but I think that tomorrow one is the worst. The issue is that games will be played after two months, the teams that are in good shape in December might be weaker in February. On the contrary, the easiest team to face now could become a hard nut to crack.

For example, AC Milan. The Rossoneri fell behind to the 15th place in Serie A, Dida is injured and who knows when he will be back, the defenders are old and no one can take Sheva’s place in the centre of the attack. No one could give Milan a chance to win, all runners-up would like to find it in the drop box. But…who knows how will it be in the next two months? It’s not only good luck if Berlusconi’s team has won 6 Champions Leagues in its history. Nobody in Milanello issues a statement about the draw, but we guess they’d like to avoid Real and Barcelona.

By the way, it seems that Inter’s Coach Mancini preferred to finish at second place in his Group just to avoid the Azulgrana that were behind Chelsea in Group A. That’s why Inter had six big players on the bench in Munich. Mancini is so afraid of Barcelona, that he doesn’t matter if probably his team will face one of the greatest English teams: Chelsea, Man UTD, Arsenal or Liverpol. Or Lyon, the most impressive team of the Group Stage. Of course, as clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other, as well as winners and runners-up of the same group, another solution is Valencia. Which fell behind in Spanish Liga standings but, as I told before, who knows in February? Last year Inter was sent-off by Spanish underdog Villareal…
For sure, most of Group winners would like to avoid Inter itself.

AS Roma, at the end. Francesco Totti says he prefers Manchester, not because he considers the Red Devils the easiest challenge: he just dreams of playing at Old Trafford. Giallorossi did not loose their faith in a Serie A victory, even after the debacle in the derby. Anyway, for Spalletti’s team this is the first time in final 16 round, neither Capello was able to go through. Draw for the Romans have a lot of hidden dangers, they won’t draw Valencia ad AC Milan, but probably they will encounter an English team, or Bayern Munich or, again, Olympique Lyon.

Well, this is the situation of the Italian teams the day before the draw. We don’t have to wait too much, we’ll know everything tomorrow, at about 2pm.