April Update:
In the month of April Milan would play six more fixtures. They would start the month of away to Cagliari, who were sitting in 10th place. Then came the 2nd lego of the TIM Cup semi final against Juventus, after the first leg finished 1-1. Then Milan would play Parma at home, who were in 12th place. Napoli away would be Milan's next fixture, who have been in fine form of late, and were sitting in 4th place. The final to fixtures would be a home game against Verona, followed by an away fixture against AS Roma.
Cagliari 2-1 AC Milan
(4-1-2-2-1) Colombi, Pissano, Rossettini, Capuano, Murru, Crisetig, Dessena, Ekdal, Barrera, Sau, Longo(4-3-1-2) Abbiati, De Sciglio, Alex, Bonera, Armero, Montolivo, Poli, Bonaventura, Honda, El Shaarawy, Torres
Alex (46)
Marco Sau (83)
Marco Sau (90+1)
Marco Sau
AC Milan were beaten 2-1, away to Cagliari. AC Milan defender Alex opened the scoring just after half time, after he was able to shrug off his marker, to head a Keisuke Honda corner into the back of the net. Cagliari's equalizer came from Marco Sau, who broke the offside trap, to bend the ball around Abbiati into the right hand side of the goal. Marco Sau then scored the winner in added on time, after a good bit of play down the left saw Sau, cut back onto his right foot, to drill the ball past Abbiati in goal.
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
(4-2-2-1-1) Buffon, Motta, Ogbonna, Chiellini, Romano, Vidal, Pogba, Romulo, Cinlcola, Kampl, Giovinco(4-1-2-2-1) Diego Lopez, De Sciglio, Alex, Bonera, Armero, Essien, Montolivo, Bonaventura, Honda, El Shaarawy, Torres
Kevin Kampl (44)
Romulo
AC Milan were knocked out of the TIM Cup, after being beaten 2-1 on aggregate. The only goal of the game came just before half-time, after midfielder Kevin Kampl, was able to find space in the area, and strike the ball into the top left hand corner of the goal. Man of the match Romulo, was a constant menace for the Milan defense, and almost found himself on the score sheet after he found himself free in the area, and was able to get his head to a Sebastian Giovinco cross, but he was unable to keep the header down.
AC Milan 2-0 Parma
(4-2-3-1) Diego Lopez, De Sciglio, Mexes, Zapata, Armero, Essien, Montolivo, Honda, Bonaventura, El Shaarawy, Torres(4-5-1) Mirante, Cassani, Paletta, Lucarelli, De Ceglie, Acquah, Mariga, Gobbi, Vicente, Lodi, Belfodil
Stephan El Shaarawy (24)
M'Baye Niang (68)
Cristian Zapata
AC Milan bounced back from two straight defeats, to beat Parma 2-0 at home. The opening goal of the game came through Stephan El Shaarawy, who received the ball on the edge of the area, and curled an effort into the right hand side of the goal. Substitute M'Baye Niang then doubled Milan's lead after breaking the offside trap, to coolly slot the ball past Mirante in goal. Cristian Zapata had a solid game at the heart of the Milan defense.
http://www.ssnapolicalcio.altervista.org/25px-Napoli_Soccer_Logo.pngNapoli 1-1 AC Milan
http://www.ssnapolicalcio.altervista.org/25px-Napoli_Soccer_Logo.png(4-2-3-1) Neto, Henrique, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam, Inler, Gargano, Callejon, Hamsik, Meertens, Isigne(4-2-3-1) Diego Lopez, De Sciglio, Mexes, Zapata, Armero, Essien, Montolivo, Honda, Bonaventura, El Shaarawy, Torres
Fernando Torres (90+1)
Michu (90+3)
Cristian Zapata
AC Milan and Napoli both scored late on, to see the match end in a draw. Milan had the chance to open the scoring on the 54th minute, after Fernando Torres was brought down in the area, resulting in a penalty, Keisuke Honda would step up, and fire his shot wide of the goal. Milan's breakthrough came in added on time, after Torres broke through the defense, to find himself one-on-one with the keeper, and was able to place the ball around him. Milan thought they had won the game, only for Michu to go up the other end and find space in the area, to curl the ball past Diego Lopez in goal
AC Milan 1-0 Veronahttp://www.alluscita.altervista.org/img/sq/logo/album_Verona.gif
(4-2-3-1) Diego Lopez, De Sciglio, Mexes, Zapata, Fabio Santos, Essien, Montolivo, Honda, Bonaventura, El Shaarawy, Torreshttp://www.alluscita.altervista.org/img/sq/logo/album_Verona.gif(3-5-2) Benussi, Strandberg, Bulat, Badan, Sala, Lazaros, Hallfreðsson, Ionita, Miketic, Saviola, Lopez
Giacomo Bonaventura (48)
Giacomo Bonaventura
AC Milan managed a narrow win over Serie A struggles Verona. Giacomo Bonaventura opened the scoring on the 48th minute, after a playing a one-two with Fernando Torres, he found himself some space in the area, and was able to keep his cool and slot the ball past Benussi in goal. Keisuke Honda went close to making in two, after Milan were awarded a free-kick, which saw Honda step up and strike the ball onto the post, where El Shaarawy was unable to score the rebound.
AS Roma 2-2 AC Milan
(4-1-2-2-1) De Sanctis, Maicon, Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Holebas, Motta, Pjanic, Nainggolan, Iturbe, Totti, Destro(4-2-3-1) Diego Lopez, Abate, Alex, Zapata, De Sciglio, Poli, Montolivo, Honda, Bonaventura, El Shaarawy, Torres
Radja Nainggolan (7)
Juan Iturbe (21)
Giacomo Bonaventura (58)
Fenando Torres (64)
Juan Iturbe
AC Milan and Roma played out a competitive 2-2 draw. Radja Nainggolan scored the first goal of the game, after receiving the ball on the edge of the area, and unleashing a drive, that flew into the top left hand corner. Roma went two up through Juan Iturbe, who was able to evade the challenge of two Milan defenders, to place the ball into the bottom left hand corner. Giacomo Bonaventura pulled one back for Milan, after Roma failed to clear a Keisuke Honda corner, which lead to the ball landing at the feet on Bonaventura who struck the ball into the middle of the goal. Milan's equalizer came from Fernando Torres, who broke the offside trap, and was able to compose himself, and round the goalkeeper and finish into an empty net.
Manager's Thoughts:
April was a good month, despite the loss to Cagliari, we showed a lot of positives during our performances and we still sit top of the league with one more month of fixtures left to go. I'm so proud of how the team has performed throughout the season, and they keep their cool, then there is no reason why they cant win the title. Next month is going to be tough, we have some difficult fixtures, but i have every faith in my players, and i'm sure they will want to carry on their fine form and potentially lift the title.Player Of The Month:
http://img.fifa.com/images/fwc/2014/players/prt-3/200209.png
April player of the month goes to defender Cristian Zapata. Zapata has been in good form this month, picking up two man-of-the-match awards, in these two games Zapata showed us what he can do when he is on his game. Zapata has received some stick from the Milan fans due to his performances, however they will be pleased to see him putting in some good performances this month, and they will be hoping to see him continue these in future.
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Torres is a frikkin beast for you.Sad that De Jong had to leave tho.
http://www.fifa.com/imgml/tournament/confederationscup2013/players/xl/298663.png
