Filippo Inzaghi has promised that seven-times European champions Milan will break away from their mid-table mediocrity and become great again.
“We have alternated very good matches with others which have been less good, but I never claimed to have a magic wand,” the Milan coach told reporters.
“So many other teams are struggling, such as Napoli and Inter, and we need patience but I’m sure we will be great again soon. I hope this is Milan’s moment.”
Inzaghi took over before the start of the season hoping to improve on last season’s modest eighth-place finish.
Milan have won five of their 14 Serie A games this season.
Mass brawl in Kiev
St Etienne supporters were hurt in a mass brawl with Dnipro fans following the Ukrainian side’s 1-0 Europa League victory in Kiev on Thursday.
Several of the French club’s supporters were taken to hospital with knife wounds, while others were treated for minor injuries after they burnt the Ukrainian flag, reports said.
Dnipro reached the last 32 as Group F runners-up, five points behind Inter. Earlier this season their fans attacked supporters of Danish club FC Copenhagen in a Champions League qualifier.
Wigan players subsidise tickets
Wigan’s players have offered to pay half of the cost of away tickets for their trip to Leeds on Boxing Day after fans complained about the prices set by the Whites.
Latics fans contacted their club with complaints about the fees for the game at Elland Road, which are currently priced at £36 for advanced sales and go up to £41 on the day.
Wigan’s own players have now stepped in to offer financial aid for that fixture on December 26 by paying 50 per cent on the first 500 advance tickets sold.
“Christmas is an expensive time of year for everyone, especially football fans, and we want to show our appreciation to the fans who follow us week-in, week-out by making this gesture,” said club captain Gary Caldwell.
Berahino not joining Inter
Head coach Alan Irvine has vowed West Brom will not sell Saido Berahino in the transfer window.
The Hawthorns boss insists their eight-goal striker is going nowhere next month as the Baggies fight relegation.
Berahino has failed to scored in his last seven games but was linked with a move to Inter in the Italian media this week.
“You can’t stop people looking, but the chairman said Saido won’t be sold in January and I would imagine that he won’t be sold,” Irvine said.
“We can’t stop others looking but that doesn’t mean we have to take any offers.”
Reid not leaving West Ham for cheap
Sam Allardyce will not be letting Winston Reid leave on the cheap in January.
The 26-year-old New Zealander’s contract at Upton Park expires at the end of the season and he has reportedly attracted the attention of Liverpool and Arsenal.
With Reid able to leave the club for nothing, the Hammers could have looked to cash in on the former FC Midtjylland de-fender in the January transfer window. But Allardyce intends on holding out for a big payday in the hunt for European football.
“He isn’t going anywhere,” Allardyce insisted.
“He is not going anywhere unless someone bids £20 million or something like that.
“There is obviously not a lot I can do about that.”
Foxes hunting for deputy goalkeeper
Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson admits he faces a transfer rethink after Kasper Schmeichel’s shock injury blow. The goalkeeper was due to have surgery on a broken metatarsal yesterday.
Pearson will have funds available to try to lift Leicester off the bottom of the Premier League and will hunt for a new goalkeeper.
“Yes, I would have thought so,” he said, when asked if the injury affected his January plans.
“If it’s going to be four to six weeks at the earliest then I’ll be considering options.”
Ben Hamer, who has made two appearances this season, keeping a clean sheet in September’s 1-0 win at Stoke, will deputise until Pearson can bring in further cover.
Parma confirm sale but not buyer
Serie A bottom team Parma have been sold although the new owner will only be confirmed next week, the club said yesterday.
This week, club director Piero Leonardi said the club was on the verge of being sold to a Russian-Cypriot conglomerate.
Current president Tommaso Ghirardi took over at Parma in January 2007, only to see the ‘Ducali’ relegated to Serie B for the first time in 18 years the following season.
Parma returned to the top flight in 2008/09 and finished an impressive sixth last season under former Italy player and coach Roberto Donadoni, although they were barred from taking part in the Europe League because of overdue payments.