Rulli is a very good keeper, in FM and in real life as well. I hope he can perform for you, and develop into a world class keeper!

Yassine Benzia was the best player on the park yesterday night during A.C. Milan's 3-0 demolition of Udinese in the Italian Cup Quarter Final.

The 22-year-old has only been here since the start of the month but his outstanding show against Udinese on his full debut for the Rossoneri has made a huge positive impact of the fans opinion of the French striker.

The striker netted the best goal of the game to cap off his performance by scoring an overhead kick in the early minutes of the first-half.

The youngster went on to score marvellous hat-trick as the Udinese defence simply failed to cope with the skilful striker's explosive finishing.

Benzia gave A.C. Milan the lead in the 18th minute with a stunning bicycle kick. He then added his second goal of the game with a placed shot which hit the inside of the post before crossing the line 22 minutes into the game.

Benzia completed the rout on 68 minutes with a nice effort from 12 metres.

The striker's impressive performance was down to the constant goal threat he posed due to the accuracy of his shots and his pace.

Benzia is a new signing at the San Siro, having joined from French side Olympique Lyonnais earlier this month for a fee of £1.5 million.

In the New Year, we went from strength to strength, unbeaten in 14 games now, with seven of them games played this month. Our first game was against Catania where a 2nd minute goal from Suso sealed the three points at Stadio Angelo Massimino. From that point we kept winning, with the exception of two draws in the middle.

January also gave out six debuts, those players were new signings Héctor Bellerín, Jerónimo Rulli, Aaron Mertens and Yassine Benzia, while academy players Róbson covered for the injured Diego López until Rulli arrived, and Valentino Piacentini - now on loan to AA Gent, covered for the suspended M'Baye Niang following the departure of Hirving Lozano to AS Roma

Fixtures

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Catania vs A.C. Milan

8/1/2017
Stadio Angelo Massimino
Serie A

Goalscorers: Suso
Booked: Filippo Fumi, Fulvio Zorloni, Granit Xhaka
Attendance: 17,171

---

A.C. Milan vs Torino

11/1/2017
San Siro
Italian Cup 3rd Round

Goalscorers: M'Baye Niang (2), Carlos Fierro (2)
Booked: None
Attendance: 45,367

---

A.C. Milan vs Hellas Verona

15/1/2017
San Siro
Serie A

Goalscorers: Fulvio Zorloni, Carlos Fierro (2)
Booked: Héctor Bellerín, Francesco Biffi
Attendance: 39,533

---

S.S. Napoli vs A.C. Milan

21/1/2017
San Paolo
Serie A

Goalscorers: Suso
Booked: Héctor Bellerín, Francesco Biffi, Krisztian Tamás
Sent off: M'Baye Niang
Attendance: 39,432

---

Latina vs A.C. Milan

25/1/2017
Stadio Domenico Francioni
Serie A

Goalscorers: Carlos Fierro
Booked: Fulvio Zorloni
Attendance: 7,191

---

A.C. Milan vs S.S. Lazio

28/1/2017
San Siro
Serie A

Goalscorers: Carlos Fierro, M'Baye Niang, Suso, Krisztian Tamás
Booked: Adil Rami, Francesco Biffi
Attendance: 39,828

---

A.C. Milan vs Udinese Calcio

31/1/2017
San Siro
Italian Cup Quarter Final

Goalscorers: Yassine Benzia (3)
Booked: None
Attendance: 38,365

---

League Table

After slipping up twice this month, against Napoli and Latina, we lost four points. This has led to us going one more point further away from top spot, hosted by Juventus now. But to me it seems as though Internazionale are beginning to struggle as well, being knocked out of the Italian Cup by Pro Vercelli and drawing against Fiorentina and Udinese in the league, so hopefully they can slip up more so that we can catch up the five points we need to be level with them.

Next Month: February

In February we do not face much of a tough competition in the league, playing the likes of Genoa (18th), Livorno (15th) and Bari (14th) so I'm expecting maximum points from our league fixtures. But in February we finally return to European competition, playing both legs of the First Knockout Round of the Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine - with the prospect of playing either Arsenal or Borussia Dortmund should we get through to the Second Knockout Round.

Not too far behind, I can see you catching up, if you make sure you don't slip up!

Decent form for you .. watching and rooting for you to move up the table!

Zed: Would be extremely helpful if he did become world class!

IWelshWizard: Easier said than done

WG: Mr. Rösler, I feel it is of great importance to you that you should know the Rome and Milan Police Force are beginning their investigation into the disappearance of your son.

UR: Thank you for letting me know, Mr. Gegenbauer.


DI: Good morning my love, is your boss in today?

HS: No, he's on holiday at the moment, should I leave him a message?

DI: No, not yet. Do you know where he went on holiday?

HS: Why do you need to know this?

DI: Detective Inspector Leali, working on behalf of the Rome Police Force on the ongoing investigation of the disappearance of Tony Rösler, from this hotel a few months ago.

HS: Oh... Well I think Mr. Bianchi went to Ireland - why?

DI: You do not need to know. When did he go?

HS: Oh, I'd say a couple of weeks ago by now.

DI: Do you know when he's coming back?

HS: No, he doesn't speak to his staff much - especially not about holidays.

DI: Is there a deputy manager in place while Mr. Bianchi is on vacation?

HS: Well... No, Mr. Bianchi said he will run the hotel from Ireland.

DI: Any idea whereabouts Mr. Bianchi is staying in Ireland?

HS: Sally - she's off work today, ill, but she told me somewhere in Dublin.

DI: Ah, thank you. May I take your name please?

HS: Eva Borghetti.

DI: Thank you for your assistance, Eva. Dario? Call the Dublin Police Force and tell them to search hotels around Dublin, looking for a Lucca Bianchi.

HS: Wait... You're not arresting him are you?!

DI: I am not going to release details of the investigation until clear on evidence. Now goodbye.

Amid reports of a contract offer from FC Porto, Uwe Rösler has scrapped any rumours by penning a one-year extension at the San Siro.

'Absolutely relieved' was how new chairman Werner Gegenbauer put it, unveiling the news to the public yesterday afternoon.

Fans of the Rossoneri were clamouring for their manager to stay at the club, following Italian Cup and Super Cup successes in the 339 days Rösler has been in charge at the San Siro.

With new FC Porto chairman Pinto da Costa immediately ending Domingos Pacienca's reign at Estádio do Dragao, Rösler was the first name on his sheet of managerial targets.

With Porto boasting a key selling point of competitive Champions League football, it would be hard for any manager not to be attracted, but Rösler hasn't fallen for that temptation.

Werner Gegenbauer spoke about Rösler's extension: "There was an offer, yes. But I think Uwe feels more confident having a German boss here backing him.

"Uwe has built the foundations for an incredible future - you only have to look as far as the first-team regulars to see that.

"He has changed A.C. Milan from being a worn out Fiat 500 into a brand new Lamborghini with a new engine.

"It was essential to keep him here to ensure A.C. Milan's growth continues."

Rösler said it was an 'easy decision to make' to sign on for the next three years in Italy: "I've got settled down here, Gegenbauer has offered support to me in a tragic time for me and my family.

"He has promised to keep me safe here in Milan from now on, how could I turn down the offer to stay here longer?

"I have my home, my family, my friends all here. I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be at the moment. I loved England to begin with, but I grew to hate it, by a selection of people I won't name here.

"My love for Milan will continue to grow and I hope the fans will continue to be as supportive and backing of me as they have been all this time I've been here - it feels like home now."

Rösler has agreed a £30,000 per week deal at the San Siro - expiring in June 2020 now.

If you called this months results 'boring' then you would be lying as we slammed in 19 goals in the six games we played in February. It was a time for the January signings to really buy into the current squads personality, especially for Jerónimo Rulli, who joined on the last day of the window. We continued our Euro adventure, beating Dynamo Kyiv 6-2 on aggregate score in the middle of the month. We ended our unbeaten streak in all competitions against Dynamo Kyiv, and our unbeaten streak in Serie A against Bari.

Fixtures

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Genoa CFC vs A.C. Milan

5/2/2017
Luigi Ferraris
Serie A

Goalscorers: M'Baye Niang, Aaron Mertens, Yassine Benzia
Booked: Davide Calabria, Krisztian Tamás
Attendance: 17,225

---

A.C. Milan vs Dynamo Kyiv

9/2/2017
San Siro
Europa League First Knockout Round 1st Leg

Goalscorers: Carlos Fierro
Booked: None
Attendance: 39,927

---

A.C. Milan vs A.S. Livorno Calcio

12/2/2017
San Siro
Serie A

Goalscorers: Granit Xhaka, Yassine Benzia (3), Suso
Booked: Adil Rami
Sent off: Adil Rami
Attendance: 39,414

---

Dynamo Kyiv vs A.C. Milan

16/2/2017
NSC Olimpiyskiy
Europa League First Knockout Round 2nd Leg

Goalscorers: Suso (2), Carlos Fierro (3)
Booked: Francesco Biffi
Attendance: 27,023

---

A.C. Milan vs Torino

19/2/2017
San Siro
Serie A

Goalscorers: Carlos Fierro (2), Yassine Benzia, M'Baye Niang
Booked: None
Attendance: 39,502

---

Bari vs A.C. Milan

25/2/2017
Stadio San Nicola
Serie A

Goalscorers: Carlos Fierro
Booked: Adil Rami, Krisztian Tamás, Ramiro
Attendance: 24,134

---

League Table

As we head into March, we remain a consistent five points off the top of the table, with me hoping for a last-ditch surge to the top of the table - unlikely, but I wouldn't bet against it. We have also broken further away from 4th placed Sampdoria, from being three points ahead now to five points ahead of the team behind us, with the likes of Roma and Napoli being left behind in the distance at this stage.

Next Month: March

March is a massive month in terms of cup competitions, with us competing in both the Europa League Second Knockout Round against Arsenal who currently sit in 3rd place in the English Premier League table, followed later by the first leg of our Italian Cup Semi-Final match-up against Roma. In terms of league games, we've been dealt a good hand as we play Cagliari (14th), Fiorentina (9th) and Palermo (16th). I believe March is the month of our annual youth intake day, so I hope we can introduce some more talented youngsters to our ranks this month.

Big slip to Bari there, but not too far behind, still time!

As the German manager performs yet another one of his miracles, it caps off a great year for the 48-year-old.

The second leg of A.C. Milan's Second Knockout Round fixture against English side Arsenal marked the 365th day of Uwe Rösler's employment for the Italian side.

It all ended remarkably well for the Rossoneri, though, as Rösler led his Italian maestros to a 4-2 aggregate win at the San Siro tonight.

The German joined on 9th March 2016, exactly last year. His first fixture was the Cagliari game at the San Siro, four days after his arrival in Italy.

Rösler was a big hit in England, attaining legend status at Manchester City during his playing days led to managerial roles at Brentford and Wigan.



But it was his success at Elland Road with Leeds that bagged him the position at the San Siro. Rösler relied on lower league youngsters in his first season at Leeds, being forced to more than anything else with owner Massimo Cellino offering him very little space to work in.

It is unknown that it was his experience at Brentford that made him such a success with these lower tier players, but the German won promotion via the playoffs in his very first season in charge of Leeds.

He built the foundations for the next manager Diego Simeone at Elland Road, training up players like Sam Morsy, Tendayi Darikwa and Max Gradel to be the perfect Premier League unit.

Such training and encouragement caught the eye of Silvio Berlusconi in Milan, who had just sacked Gerardo Martino - he wanted Rösler to be his new man.

The negotiations took weeks to pass through, with Massimo Cellino and Enzo Moretti driving a tough deal with the former Italian Prime Minister for their new manager.

The deal was done on the 8th March 2016, with Milan paying compensation of £2.2 million for Rösler's services. It proved to be a bargain for the Rossoneri.

Just under two months after being hired by the San Siro club, Rösler won his first trophy at Milan - beating Torino 6-3 in the Italian Cup Final in May 2016. The Italian Super Cup followed this just three months later in August, and with Milan still competing brilliantly in the Italian Cup and the Europa League, Rösler may just add to that collection.

It's been yet another great month for us as we managed to go unbeaten again for a straight month. We progressed further into our Europa League adventure, with a 4-2 aggregate win over Arsenal in the Second Knockout Round, marking my years anniversary of taking the Milan job fantastically. On top of that, we picked up a healthy lead in the Italian Cup Semi-Final over Roma going into the second leg.

Fixtures

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Arsenal FC vs A.C. Milan

2/3/2017
Emirates Stadium
Europa League Second Knockout Round 1st Leg

Goalscorers: M'Baye Niang
Booked: Fulvio Zorloni
Attendance: 58,178

---

A.C. Milan vs Cagliari

5/3/2017
San Siro
Serie A

Goalscorers: Suso, Carlos Fierro (3), Granit Xhaka
Booked: Geoffrey Kondogbia
Attendance: 39,312

---

A.C. Milan vs Arsenal FC

9/3/2017
San Siro
Europa League Second Knockout Round 2nd Leg

Goalscorers: M'Baye Niang, Carlos Fierro, Suso
Booked: Francesco Biffi
Attendance: 49,482

---

ACF Fiorentina vs A.C. Milan

12/3/2017
Stadio Artemio Franchi
Serie A

Goalscorers: M'Baye Niang, Granit Xhaka, Francesco Biffi, Héctor Bellerín
Booked: None
Attendance: 29,717

---

AS Roma vs A.C. Milan

15/3/2017
Stadio Olimpico
Italian Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg

Goalscorers: Francesco Biffi, Ramiro, M'Baye Niang
Booked: Valmir, Fulvio Zorloni
Attendance: 60,095

---

A.C. Milan vs Cittá di Palermo

19/3/2017
San Siro
Serie A

Goalscorers: Carlos Fierro, Ezequiel Munoz (own goal)
Booked: Krisztian Tamás, Granit Xhaka
Attendance: 39,350

---

League Table

We finally reached up into second place which means for the first time this season we have risen above third place - a big achievement. But that is only on the basis that Internazionale lose their next game that we stay in that position. Despite that, we are still five points behind top of the league Juventus, although we do play both Internazionale and Juventus this coming month.

Next Month: April

April is definitely the biggest month in the footballing calendar, both in terms of amount of fixtures, and importance of them fixtures. It begins with a game against relegation strugglers Sassuolo. We then play the second leg of our Italian Cup Semi-Final against Roma, having taken a 3-1 lead in the first leg this month. We play the quarter-final of the Europa League against Wolfsburg this month as well. But the most important fixtures this month are at the end - the last two. Depending on how earlier league results go, we hopefully will still be in touching distance of the Serie A title, we must beat Inter and Juventus to stand a chance of carrying on that momentum.

After a brilliant season full of progression, Uwe Rösler is about to be hit hard by what is the defining period of the season.

The German has finally led his club into 2nd place, now three points behind top of the league, Inter Milan. But now he faces the toughest month in his career.

The Rossoneri have already defeated Udinese, Sassuolo and Roma in their April fixtures, but have to play a barrage of quality teams - their biggest test yet.

Milan must take on Wolfsburg, of Rösler's Germany in the Europa League Quarter-Finals. The first fixture being played at the Volkswagen Arena in Germany - a place where the two sides played in preseason as Milan succumbed to a 1-0 loss courtesy of an André Schurrle goal.



After that, the Rossoneri travel to the capital city of Rome to challenge AS Roma in the Serie A, which Roma currently sit fourth placed in.

After Wolfsburg travel to Milan to play the second leg of their European tie, Milan come up against Sampdoria, just one place behind Roma at the moment in 5th place.

Then Milan play the most decisive two fixtures of the season, as the Giuseppe Meazza hosts the Derby della Madonnina where first-placed Internazionale take on their town rivals A.C. Milan. A.C. Milan must win this game to stand a chance of the title.

After that, Milan finish the month at the San Siro as Juventus arrive in Milan to attempt retaining a chance of the first-place position in the league.

As A.C. Milan defeat Wolfsburg at the San Siro thanks to a 4-2 aggregate score, the Rossoneri have drawn one of Rösler's old friends as their next opponent.

Uwe Rösler was indirectly involved with Leeds' entrance into the Europa League last season, building the foundations of which Diego Simeone completed at Elland Road.

The German nurtured Leeds' academy players like Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor, Sam Byram and Tyler Denton into competent Premier League players by the time of his departure to Italy.

On top of this, he brought home former fan favourites such as Jermaine Beckford, Max Gradel and currently Jonny Howson - who scored a goal to send Leeds through to the semi-final of the Europa League.



He signed lower league talent like the Chesterfield duo of Sam Morsy and Tendayi Darikwa and Southend's Daniel Bentley. Only Sam Morsy has left currently, with Bentley still Leeds' number one keeper.

Since Rösler's departure, Simeone has signed up great talent like Harry Kane and Havard Nielsen, but let star players Joe Garner and Timo Werner leave the club, with academy graduate Kalvin Phillips also leaving for Cardiff City.

Rösler's legacy at Leeds still lives on without a doubt, and the German will always been in Leeds fans hearts, but the 48-year-old insists his Milan side won't be taking any prisoners as Rösler makes his first return to Elland Road on 11th May.

Rösler's Milan are battling for the Serie A title meanwhile Leeds are incredibly fighting for a top four position in the Premier League - a symbol of how far Rösler's developments have pushed The Whites.

Who knows? Maybe when this season finishes both teams will be opposing each other in the Champions League in the next season?

It's possibly the biggest game of the season today as Inter Milan take on their local and competitive rivals A.C. Milan.

The two clubs are set three points apart in the Serie A table, with Internazionale the team sat at the top, with Juventus sat below A.C. Milan on goal difference.



As you can see, AS Roma are way off the pace, sitting 17 points behind A.C. Milan, with no chance of winning the league now - they'll have to battle out the top four finish with Napoli and Sampdoria now.

A.C. Milan must face Juventus now, but if they lose today they may as well give up completely on challenging for the title, with Juventus and Inter being the only realistic contenders should A.C. Milan lose.

Here are the lineups today just before we head over to our match commentators:


1': Yes, thank you, Mauro Icardi will kick off the first-half here in Milan.

6': Isco has a free-kick on the right-wing - he'll hope to get someone's head on the end of this cross, preferably an Inter head! Biffi wins the header above Ogbonna, though. It's now with Kondogbia who was part of the wall, he spots the run of Carlos Fierro who was racing up the field. It's with Benzia now, who's playing instead of the absent Suso on the left-wing. He's cut inside here, given it to Xhaka, it's bounced his knee for Hummels to boot away. Rulli fires one up onto Niang's head, who nods it down perfectly for Granit Xhaka. Kondogbia plays it low to Fierro. Tamás has it on the left-wing now, maybe sending in a cross? He's done exactly that and has completed a one-two with Fierro now who hits it one the volley!!! GOAL! Fierro has broken the deadlock very early on in the game! That's an important goal for Rösler's Rossoneri!! A.C. Milan go top of the league!


8': Bellerín has a throw-in in his own half for A.C. Milan. It's a very risky high long throw to the head of Biffi, which is luckily headed to Kondogbia comfortably, otherwise Bellerín would have been in trouble there! Kondogbia gives it left 25 yards to Tamás, passed short to Benzia. The Frenchman cuts inside slowly before laying a pass off to Xhaka. A beautiful wide pass has found Niang's feet brilliantly! Niang races down the right side of the box, with Willems quickly bearing down on him... Sends in a cross to the six-yard box! Fierro heads it on target! Parried away but it's Benziaaaaa! Stopped again somehow! How has that not gone in?! Marvellous goalkeeping from Handanovic! Corner ball.

Kranevitter heads away the corner, which Kaboré latches onto. It's found Icardi who races upfield. Tackled by Kondogbia - wonderful challenge.

24': Tamás has a throw-in in a dangerous area. Kranevitter intercepts it, though and flies a powerful ball up towards Icardi. The Argentinian forward takes it well on his chest. He's found Shaqiri running in from the wing... He's got past the last defender... But Rulli stops it! Great save! It's away by Ramiro.

30': Xhaka is about to send in a cross from the corner. Icardi heads away at the near post but it's back in A.C. Milan's hands with Fierro, who sends a high pass out to the left to Xhaka. It's a high cross - floating in the air with uncertainty... Handanovic rushes out in the belief it's his ball... Fierro's got a nod on it! GOAL! It's looped into the net! Shocking judgement from Handanovic! Fierro's added a second to the scoresheet for the Rossoneri! 2-0 on 30 minutes!


44': Yassine Benzia knocks a ball to the halfway line, where Carlos Fierro waits. The Mexican drills a ball towards Niang, Ogbonna merely flicks it on before attempting to control the ball, Niang's tackled the centre-back! It's opened up for Niang!!! GOAL! It's a third for A.C. Milan!!! A mistake from Ogbonna may have cost his team the game! Inter have a mountain to climb now!


45+2': And that's the half-time whistle. A.C. Milan have absolutely destroyed their rivals and have gone top of the league for the first time this season in doing so!


46': Fierro rolls the ball to Granit Xhaka to begin the second half.

59': Suso replaces Yassine Benzia on the left-wing for A.C. Milan

77': Danilo throws it to Kranevitter, who heads it on. Biffi heads away from Icardi, but it's back with Inter now Kranevitter is on the ball. A long pass is cut out with Rami's head. Lukaku heads it back forward, Icardi also does the same, it's headed into the box... But no one sees Shaqiri! Xherdan Shaqiri!!! GOAL! Inter have pulled one back! Is there time for a comeback? Lets see!


90+2': We're in the final minute of added time - Inter know they have lost the game and maybe even the title. Suso's corner is headed away. It's fallen to Fierro. He runs back towards his own goal, there's men still inside the box for the Rossoneri. He's passed it wide to Héctor Bellerín. Bellerín drills a knee-height cross into the near post... Suso is there! GOAL! Suso has twisted the knife further! Milan just don't stop do they?! It's 4-1 at the Giuseppe Meazza!


90+3': Inter restart the game from kick-off... And that's it!! A.C. Milan have defeated their dearest rivals in the most punishable way possible! Rösler's side have gone top for the first time this season! A remarkable achievement for the Rossoneri!