Mourinho: New-look Milan are Real threat
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Former Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho believes AC Milan can emerge as Champions League contenders this season following the arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho at the San Siro.
Milan signed striker Ibrahimovic on loan from Barcelona and acquired Brazilian forward Robinho from Manchester City on the final day of the transfer window.
Mourinho has been paying close attention to Milan's transfer dealings as his Real Madrid side will face the Rossoneri in Champions League Group G, where Auxerre and Ajax also lie in wait.
"With Ibrahimovic and Robinho, this is another Milan," Mourinho told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Robinho and Ibrahimovic are among the best in the world. Certainly Milan is much stronger than it was a year ago.
"The Rossoneri are among the teams that can win the Champions League."
Mourinho, who departed Inter in the summer after guiding the Nerazzurri to a Coppa Italia, Serie A and Champions League treble, has no regrets over his decision to leave Italy.
"I don't think any Italian coach misses me just as I don't miss them," he said. "I do speak to [Inter Milan president Massimo] Moratti every week. We are friends. He is part of my history just as I'm part of his.
"I hope with all my heart that Inter wins the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the FIFA Club World Cup, but not the Champions League. But I am a professional and when I end a chapter, I end it without regrets."
Milan Are Top, But Inter Are Still The Team To Beat - Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff has compared Milan and Inter, and claimed it's going to be a tight fight for the title.
By Salvatore Landolina
Sep 4, 2010 10:30:00 AM
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Dino Zoff believes that Milan have the juice and drive to match Inter over the 38-week race for the title, but remains sceptical whether they would cross the chequered flag with the Scudetto on board.
Despite a strong transfer campaign from the Rossoneri, Inter's firm hold on domestic matter covinces the former Italy goalkeeper.
"Inter are the team to beat as they are the European champions," Zoff told Calcionews24.com. "However, I really like this Milan. They have quality, fantasy and a will to succeed.
"I am certain they will have great season in Italy and Europe."
Juventus and Roma remain respectable opponents, not title challengers.
"Roma and Juve? Excellent teams, but Inter and Milan are ahead," he concluded.
A C MILAN: MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND SEASON TICKETS SOLD TODAY!
9/3/2010
MILAN - The Ibra-Ro effect continues to heavily influence season ticket sales: especially impressive is the number of Champions League season tickets sold, another demonstration of the special meaning Europe has for Milan. Over 5000 Champions League season tickets were sold today for a total of 27.200 compared to last year's 22.103. In the meantime, during the course of the day, Rossoneri fans bought around 500 season tickets for the championship for a total of 24.492, compared to last season's final result of 25.780.