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Milan’s Ancelotti Commends Napoli Players; Admits Hamsik Goal Was Not Offside

The Rossoneri coach was pleased to have taken a point away from a difficult away match against Napoli.

Mar 22, 2009 10:17:29 PM

No Problem: Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti still full of confidence despite his side's shaky start to the season.

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No Problem: Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti still full of confidence despite his side's shaky start to the season.

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Milan
Napoli

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Carlo Ancelotti

Milan took on Napoli at the San Paolo stadium earlier tonight, in a match that ended deadlocked at 0-0. Despite Milan’s dominance of possession, they were unable to create any clear cut opportunities, which consequently saw them fail to hit the target.

The home side did manage to hit the back of the net in the latter stages of the first half, when Marek Hamsik tapped in a goal from close range to give his side what looked to be the lead. The goal was disallowed for offside however, a decision that the Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted was the incorrect one.

“In all honesty, Hamsik’s goal was valid, and it should have stood,” Ancelotti confessed in an interview with Sky.

“The goal was good, and it was a mistake by the linesman, however it is difficult to assess in real time.”

The decision proved to be decisive for Milan, because had they conceded that goal then things would have been very different for them.

“It’s a good point for us to attain, as despite the fact that we controlled the play, we failed to create many chances in attack.

“In the second half the match was more open, and they certainly caused us some problems. We wanted to attack their three man defence; however they had five players back there for the most of the match.

“They were very attentive, and very good in the tight spaces.”

Ancelotti had one last comment to make in relation to the absence of Kaka, who was introduced early in the second half against Napoli.

“We have really missed the movement and technical ability of Kaka. Hopefully now we can count on him, if he can stay injury free,” the coach concluded.

Milan will have a two week break as a result of the international break, and they will resume their Serie A campaign in a fortnight’s time against Lecce.

Adrian Del Monte

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