European Cups

Benfica-Monaco: likely lineups and where to watch it – Soccer style

Published

8 months ago

02/18/2025

Staff

Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke at a press conference on the eve of Milan-Feyenoord. The Senior Advisor of RedBird for AC Milan touched on many topics.

Tomorrow the Rossoneri will be playing for a spot in the Champions League round of 16 and they must overturn the result from the first leg to progress.

Milan, Ibrahimovic’s words

Fans crucial tomorrow…

“It’s a rare situation for me to be here, the coach is returning from Portugal. For tomorrow: our fans are important, their fans pushed a lot in Rotterdam. But I am confident that tomorrow with 80,000 Milan fans in the stadium and those all over the world will give the maximum support to the team, which will then have to take this energy to do the best possible.”

What explanation do you give for these ups and downs of Milan?

“Low moments come. Being at the top every day is not easy, but in the long run, you have to work on it; we are working on mentality, on team things. Even in non-wow moments, then that mentality comes out. I talk to the players every day, we try to find solutions, but there shouldn’t be too much information: if you talk to the players every day, in the end things don’t sink in. It’s like telling your wife you love her every day, but you have to show it with actions.”

What does the team need to do tomorrow?

“Concentrated, aggressive, concrete. They must enter with a final mentality. It’s important to play well, but it’s more important to win. We have to get a result to progress. We are down by one goal, we have to get a result to progress. Everyone has to push their teammate and make them focused. It’s a collective thing that starts with some individuality. Even those on the bench have to push, it’s all connected to the collective. This is what makes a group and makes a team.”

Christian Pulisic (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

Tomorrow’s game is also crucial for the club.

“Personally important for me, because I am a winner and I want to win. I want to bring results. I am not someone who tries to do things well that will not remain in history, but the opposite: I try to make a difference to write history. To make history, you have to win. That’s Milan. If you look at the history of the Champions League, Milan has made history. And we want to continue. We push from the outside, we help.”

Is Gimenez on the right track?

“We expect a lot from the new players. Joao Felix can do more. Gimenez is the one who can grow and become even stronger. Then there are Bondo and Sottil who can still grow. The club expects a lot from the new players. I have already told them to take space, because we can’t wait: they have to come in immediately and shift the balance. That’s what we are doing.

Galliani always used to say: ‘Players only have to think about football, we’ll take care of the rest.’ That’s what we do. We missed Gimenez, for the quality in front of the goal, he’s a killer, but he also has to run, because with the coach if you don’t run, you don’t play. He has to be like in the last game: be there at the right moment. A ball can come from anywhere, even from Maignan, and he has to be ready and focused.”

Are you a mental coach?

“I am a backup for everything, I am a reserve. Jokes aside: the coach is not here, he had a personal loss. I am helping Milan.”

Yunus Musah (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

You are often seen close to the team…

“I was also there in the summer at the press conferences of the new signings. With Fonseca we talked every day, we were present at Milanello. We are doing it now too. Today is a rare situation, as it was after Verona. Nothing has changed, we are all working.”

Most dangerous opponent in the Champions League?

“Things change every week. We are focused on ourselves. Every game is a final for us, like tomorrow. In my opinion, those ahead of us, everyone is doing everything to get to the quarterfinals. It will be a battle until the end.”

Are you talking to Real about Jimenez?

“In the summer I said he would be Theo’s backup, then with patience we got him. There is a buy-back clause, but we have a good relationship with Real. There are no discussions today. There are Camarda, Jimenez, Bartesaghi, Torriani, Zeroli at Monza, Cuenca at Genoa, Stalmach in Germany, Liberali debuted: this is our strategy. I’m sorry he’s not on the Champions League list, he will be next year.”

How is the ownership approaching this appointment?

“We talk every day with Cardinale: he is very involved, charged, he wants success with Milan. He gives strength to everyone, he gives confidence.”

MILAN’S DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE END OF THE GAME (photo KEYPRESS)

Is there adrenaline in Theo?

“These moments are special. It’s all about one game. Everyone has their approach to do their best. I was more focused, I didn’t need superstitions or other things: I had confidence. Theo is no longer a kid. He was when I arrived, now he has grown and is one of the best in the world. He knows what he needs to do to bring out the best. He has to find the trigger point to reach a high level. And as a player, this is difficult. You have to find that button to charge yourself up. Everyone used to say I was always angry, but it was to motivate myself.”

Should Leao return to defense?

“Everyone talks about Leao, everyone tells him how to play. He is one of the best in the world. So he knows how to play. You can tell him tactically where to be, you can push him to run more, but it’s all tactical stuff. You don’t explain how to play: he explains that. He is himself and he is one of the best players in the world. Rest assured, Leao knows what he’s doing.”

Tomorrow without Italians.

“We tried to get Italians, it’s just that we couldn’t close the deals. We got Sottil. We want Italian players, but every situation is different. We try to bring the best players to Milan. When you’re at Milan, no one has a guaranteed spot, there’s always someone next to you who can take your place. And if there isn’t, then we bring them in from outside, Italian or foreign. We look for profiles that can fit at Milan. There are many great players, but when you play in front of 80,000 people it’s different.

I’ve seen many players who couldn’t play at Milan, then went to other places and did well. When you’re at Milan you have to bring results. That’s why Milan players become legends: because they bring results and trophies. We have our eyes on many Italians, but as you said, the Italian market is different. But we’re not afraid, if it’s right we’ll do it.”

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European Cups

Roma, Dybala: “This is what happens when you underestimate your opponents”

Published

26 mins ago

10/24/2025

Staff

Rome, Paulo Dybala harshly criticizes the team after the defeat against Viktoria Plzen, highlighting the lack of aggression and concentration on the field. The defeat of Roma against Viktoria Plzen has left a deep mark on the players, especially on Paulo Dybala. The Argentine striker did not spare criticism of the team, pointing out how underestimating the opponent […]

The post Roma, Dybala: “This is what happens when you underestimate opponents” first appeared on Calcio style.

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European Cups

Roma, a team with a dual identity: struggles in Europe

Published

4 hours ago

10/24/2025

Staff

AS Roma started their journey in the Europa League rather negatively, with 2 defeats in the first 3 games. However, their performance in the league is quite different.

The home defeat against Viktoria Plzen left a bitter taste, along with some perplexity. Gasperini’s team has struggled to get going in the Europa League and has lost both home games so far. There have been too many defensive mistakes, which once again have cost the Giallorossi dearly.

Against Lille, it was Tsimikas who made a naive error that led to the French goal, while in yesterday’s game, it was young Ziolkowski who made the mistake and was substituted by Gasperini after just half an hour. While the defense seems to be the strong point of this team in the league, they are making too many mistakes and lack precision in the Europa League.

Roma, a sterile attack

EVAN FERGUSON AND ARTEM DOVBYK (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

Another rather evident problem, highlighted by the coach in the post-match interview, is the sterility of the attack. Apart from the Argentine Soulé, who has scored 3 goals in the league, the rest of the attack is struggling to perform.

Dovbyk and Ferguson seem out of place: two physically heavy players, rather clumsy with the ball at their feet, who are struggling to find the back of the net. The Ukrainian was booed off the Olimpico pitch yesterday, and every touch of the ball by the Irishman was met with loud grumbling from the entire stadium.

Dybala scored his first goal of the season from a penalty, but more is expected from him. Finally, Bailey is proving to be in form and able to make an impact, having come on in the last two games and igniting the Olimpico with his plays.

Gasperini must find a solution and hope to mentally recover his two strikers, who currently seem demoralized and disconnected from the team.

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European Cups

Roma-Viktoria Plzen 1-2, Czech surprise at the Olimpico – Football style

Published

9 hours ago

10/24/2025

Staff

Tonight, at the Olimpico, the third day of the Europa League was animated by the Roma-Viktoria Plzen match: here’s how it went.

Not even a minute in, Artem Dobvyk almost scores a goal against the away team, but the shot is too central.

The match starts with a few too many errors from Hermoso and Wesley, and a proactive attitude from Viktoria Plzen, who repeatedly tries to score in the first few minutes, forcing Mile Svilar to make a miraculous save.

The visitors press high, while Roma tries to regroup mainly relying on Soulé, who shoots centrally. Shortly after, with determination and speed, Viktoria Plzen takes the lead thanks to a goal from Adu, who also eludes Svilar’s defense. A negative trend for Roma as, just 3 minutes after the first goal, they concede again through Souaré.

25 minutes into the game, Roma is losing at home 2-0. Speed is needed, so Gasperini sends Rensch to warm up on the sidelines, while El Shaarawy prepares to come on. Meanwhile, Koné raises the technical level of the game with feints and ball possession that make us hope he won’t leave for Juventus in January in an exchange for Koopmeiners.

At the 30th minute, Ziolkowski is substituted by Il Faraone. One minute later, Wesley attempts a through ball but the opposing goal remains unbreached. The goal for the Magica must be to score at least one goal before the end of the first half. At the 40th minute, the situation is still complex: meanwhile, Koné is down and receiving treatment, and Dybala tries to change the tide with a very wide shot that is easily blocked. El Shaarawy also does his job with a shot too high over the crossbar, but the attempt is commendable.

The real opportunity comes at the 45th minute, with the corner taken by Dybala ending up directly in the hands of goalkeeper Jedlicka. The last act of the first half is a mistimed cross attempted at the last minute by Wesley. But the Brazilian still has a long way to go to find coordination.

The second half begins with a new substitution: Niccolò Pisilli comes on for Manu Koné. An audacious substitution that raises doubts about the condition of the French midfielder.

At the 53rd minute, the referee checks for a possible penalty and awards it to Roma, giving them a great opportunity to close the gap of two goals. The Joya doesn’t disappoint: he shoots to the right corner of the goal, cool as usual. With Roma 1-2, El Shaarawy also tries to shake things up, while on the sidelines Gasperini prepares two aces: Ndicka and Bailey.

In this second half, Wesley appears more focused on the goal, as if the coach had reprimanded him in the locker room. Roma, however, continues to lack precision, with Soulé missing a good shot from outside the box at the 65th minute.
In the end, only Bailey comes on, replacing Celik. While for the away team, number 24 Abel comes on. Gasperini goes all in, choosing to also replace Dovbyk with Ferguson. And the surplus of attackers also requires the change Soulé-Ndicka.

Despite the coach’s efforts, Ferguson fails to make an impact in this game, replicating the clumsy movements of Dovbyk seen at the end of the first half.

For Plzen, Spacil and Adu come off, while Bello and Zeljkovic come on. At the 86th minute, Bailey also tries his luck with a very long shot that misses.

The balance of this match is that Roma still has a long road ahead of them, requiring strict discipline to find the precision and composure in front of goal that they often tend to lose, both in the league and in Europe. Dybala confirms himself as the team’s savior, despite his structural weaknesses, and also the good Svilar, who is not to blame for those conceded goals.

Some days of hard work now await the Giallorossi.

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