9/14/2009 9:09:00 PM
Ahead of the match against Milan, French coach Didier Deschamps and Senegalese striker Mamadou Niang spoke during a press conference at the Velodrome stadium. - THE DECLARATIONS -
MARSEILLE - Here are the declarations made by Olympique Marseille coach Didier Deschamps and Senegalese striker Mamadou Niang, who spoke at a press conference at the Stade Velodrome, ahead of the match against Milan:
DIDIER DESCHAMPS:
"Milan remain Milan, an expert team of great character. They'll certainly be more motivated than for the league so I don't expect to see a doubtful or scared Milan tomorrow also because they have important players in their squad.
When you start a competition like the Champions League, it's always good to win the first match, whether you're playing against Zurich! or Milan. This is our desire, but I think also Milan have the same objective even though they're playing away.
We have a team made to do well in the league, in any case we'll try to get the best out of this competition, which can give us great satisfactions, but then there are times like Milan who are more or less destined to go far. Italian football is superior to ours: in the Italian culture they care about winning, teams are good at defending even though some may have defects or problems, but they always have important weapons available. If Ronaldinho doesn't play there will be Seedorf. They are two great players, even though with different characteristics. Ronaldinho isn't doing great right now, but he can still decide the game at any moment.
Milan have lost a lot technically without Kaká, obviously it's better to meet them without Kaká than with him.
Milan's weak points? Like in all teams there are weak points and points of strengt! h, tomorrow we hope to evidence what could be Milan's weakness! es.
The lights in the stadium? This time they've been controlled carefully and there won't be problems. Jokes aside, Adriano Galliani probably won't forget an episode like that, it's maybe the only bad moment of his brilliant career."
MAMADOU NIANG:
"Every team has a chance to finish second in this group so everyone should be respected. We'll play against Real Madrid like we will against Zurich. We'll need to have the same mentality without forgetting about anyone. After the match in Le Mans my team mates and I started to talk about this match against Milan: we'll have to give the maximum. We are all ready, but the eleven who will go on the pitch will have to show the coach made the right decisions.
Milan have some problems in the league, but that doesn't mean they will have them in the Champions League. The demonstration lies in the fact that when we were 17th in the league we went to win 1-0 at Anfield Road. Certai! nly we'll try to take advantage of any chances Milan might give away."
http://www.acmilan.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=90397
