Ronaldo back from Brazil on the 13th of January
Carlo Ancelotti revealed that Ronaldo will be back in the squad on the 13th and will be heading to Dubai with the team.
“I’m sorry that Ronaldo cannot play yet, but I believe that the fact that he left is the best thing for him. Unfortunately he suffered an injury from which he is finding it hard to recover and now he has the necessary time up to the 13th of January to solve his problem. The psychological factor of which everyone is talking is due to the fact that he was able to play just one game in six month. In reality he had suffered a problem to the flexor before, then to the calf. He will be in Dubai. We shall send a trainer in Brazil from the 26th of December who will be able to assist him and Pato, because he cannot come to Dubai due to bureaucratic reasons.”
Hopefully Ronaldo can reach 100% match fitness before they face Arsenal in February.
AC Milan to play Arsenal in February
Defending champions AC Milan were drawn against Arsenal in the last 16, knockout phase of the Champions League here on Friday.
AC’s city rivals Inter, unbeaten and flying high in Serie A, will play Liverpool, whom AC Milan beat 2-1 in last season’s final.
Arsenal, who missed out on a favourable seed ranking after finishing second in the qualifying group, will host the Italian club on February 19/20 with the return leg in Milan on March 4/5.
The London club will have their work cut out against Milan, who last week were also crowned world club champions after their 4-2 victory over Boca Juniors in Japan.
Despite standing 22 points behind Italian league leaders Inter, AC Milan also boast the FIFA Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year in Brazilian playmaker Kaka.
AC Milan and Arsenal have only met once before – in 1994 in the European Superclub competition, the Italians coming away with a 2-0 aggregate win.
Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman insisted they won’t fear the seven-time Champions League winners.
“It’s a great match and I’m sure the fans will be trying to book tickets already,” Edelman said.
“Games don’t come much bigger than this. I’m sure it will be highly charged and very competitive.
“I think we would have preferred an easier one. We want to win all four competitions and we’ve got a big enough squad to compete in all of them.”
Chelsea apart, the draw was also hard for the three other British teams in European club football’s showpiece tournament.
Celtic will face 2006 winners Barcelona, while Manchester United face six-time French champions Lyon.
Liverpool, winners in 2005 and losing finalists last season, paid for having finished as a group runner-up with a tricky tie against Inter Milan.
Anfield chief executive Rick Parry expressed confidence that Liverpool could go on another long run in competition this season.
“We stopped a few hearts in the way we qualified. We’ve done well in recent years and we want to do well again,” he said.
“It’s a big one but it was going to be big whoever we drew. It’s a very long time since we played them.
“They are a very good team and they doing well in the Italian league. It’s going to be tough.”
Roma were drawn against Spanish giants and nine-time former champions Real Madrid in what promises to be another humdinger of a match-up.
Chelsea play Greek underdogs Olympiacos, while German club Schalke 04 will no doubt be happy after being drawn against Porto, winners of the Champions League in 2004.
Completing the draw was the tie between Turkish champions Fenerbahce and Sevilla, who trumped Arsenal to top their group and land themselves a tie they will be confident of winning.
Celtic (SCO) v Barcelona (ESP)
Lyon (FRA) v Manchester United (ENG)
Schalke 04 (GER) v FC Porto (POR)
Liverpool (ENG) v Inter Milan (ITA)
AS Roma (ITA) v Real Madrid (ESP)
Arsenal (ENG) v AC Milan (ITA)
Olympiacos (GRE) v Chelsea (ENG)
Fenerbahce (TUR) v Sevilla (ESP)
(Matches to be played – first leg on February 19/20 with return leg on March 4/5)
Rumours that Ronaldo will go to Fenerbahce in January
AC Milan’s President Silvio Berlusconi revealed that he dreams of a Brazilian trio up front (Ronaldo, Kaka and Pato)
“We are accustomed to making history,” he said after the game in Yokohama. “So for that reason, I dream of seeing a strike trio of Brazilian wonders, Kaká behind the forwards Ronaldo and (Alexandre) Pato.”
Although this might never happen as reports have said that Ronaldo might be seeing a move along side his countryman Roberto Carlos and coach Zico.
The Turkish side have struggled in the Champions League and now want to make an impact by signing Ronaldo. Everyone knows what Ronaldo is capable of when he is fit but the real question is ‘Will he ever be fit again?’
The long lay off from the pitch has left Ronaldo down but not out. We have seen a glimpse this season of his phenomenon against Cagliari, when he hit the post and won a penalty.
However, he is now back on the injured list and there has been no sign of Ronaldo in the last two training sessions at Milan leading to the game against Catania.
Fenerbahce are ready to offer Ronaldo a contract for six month worth £2.5 million and they are also willing to pay Milan a £4 million fee to release him in January.
Will Silvio Berlusconi realize that it will always be a dream or does he believe in dreams do come true. I hope the later as Ronaldo fit with Pato upfront and Kaka behind will be spectacular to watch.
Ronaldo helped AC creep back to fourth place last season. Hoepfully this season he can do the same and the Brazilain Trio could take the Rossoneri to another Champions League final.
