'Malta will be a priority next year' - Ancelotti

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has been so impressed with the way his team's training camp has evolved so far that Malta will top his list of destinations if he decides to repeat the same exercise next year.

"We have carried out all the work we had programmed," Ancelotti was quoted as saying on Milan's official website yesterday.

"At this moment, there is a very good atmosphere. All the players have performed their duties with great attention.

"We are at ease in Malta. Should we devise another winter training camp next year, Malta will be a priority."

Addressing Italian reporters before the start of Milan's third day of training in Malta, Ancelotti also gave the latest team news ahead of today's Luigi Berlusconi-Polymer Cup (kick-off 5 p.m.).

Brazilian stalwart Kakà is among four players who will not make the trip to Milan this morning ahead of the match against Juventus at San Siro.

Ancelotti said Kakà, Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, Giuseppe Favalli and Kakha Kaladze will stay in Malta to continue with their physical conditioning.

Overcast weather and heavy showers marked the third day of Milan's training camp yesterday. The Milan squad had a work-out at their base, the Radisson Golden Sands Resort, in the morning but the second session went ahead as planned at Ta' Qali.

Despite the cold and wet weather, Milan fans turned up in their hundreds to watch the afternoon training session.

Birkirkara midfielder Roderick Briffa again joined Milan for practising for the second day running.

Ancelotti expects his team's hard training in Malta to pay immediate dividends.

"This game comes after a period of good training in Malta," he said.

"And to face Juventus is a lift for our squad. This is a good opportunity to assess the fitness of players such as Massimo Ambrosini who is back after a long lay-off."

The Milan coach believes that Juventus, currently top of the Serie B after being relegated from the top tier for their part in the match-fixing scandal, have a competitive team to challenge for a Champions League spot if they were still in Serie A.

"Juventus are competitive enough to challenge for a Champions League spot if they were in the Serie A," Ancelotti said.

"They are strong opponents despite what happened to them in the past. In Paro, Marchisio and De Ceglie, they have brought some talented youth players through."

Echoing Ancelotti's comments, Alberto Gilardino spoke favourably about his team's training camp in Malta.

"It has been excellent and we are really training well," Gilardino said.

"We are working to get back in form as quickly as possible."

Commenting about the prospect of forming a two-pronged attack with Filippo Inzaghi for this evening's match at San Siro, Gilardino said: "I am pleased to be playing alongside Pippo from the start. We are charged up for the game and we want to win."

Gilardino is looking forward to help Milan win the trophy.

"I feel fine at Milan and there's nothing else to say," Gilardino said.

"Juve have been missed in the Serie A, so this game is one to win."

Gilardino and fellow Italy team-mates Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo will not return to Malta with the rest of the Milan squad tonight.

The four Milan players and the other members of Italy's World Cup winning squad will attend a presentation ceremony in Rome on Monday.

Giorgio Napolitano, President of Italy, will honour 36 athletes who won a gold medal in a world championship in the last two years.

Gattuso, Pirlo, Inzaghi and Gilardino are expected to return to Malta in time to play in Tuesday's friendly against Birkirkara.