Milan injuries mount after Auxerre win
Reuters - Thursday 16 September 2010, 13:47
MILAN - AC Milan got more than they
bargained for in Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League win over
Auxerre with a tougher-than-expected game and injuries hampering
plans for Saturday's Serie A visit of Catania.
Captain Massimo Ambrosini suffered a knee injury while
striker Alexandre Pato pulled a leg muscle and both will now be
out for around three weeks, the club said in a statement,
meaning the pair will miss the next group game at Ajax.
Milan were woeful for an hour against the French side in
their Group G opener before new striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic burst
to life with two goals in three minutes.
The patchy performance followed last weekend's shock 2-0
league defeat at promoted Cesena and new boss Massimiliano
Allegri wants the team to show more verve having mainly pinged
pointless long balls forward during Wednesday's first half.
"It will be a very difficult game against Catania and
because of this we need to recover our energy and physical force
as quickly as possible," he told reporters.
Ambrosini's early exit allowed substitute midfielder Kevin
Prince Boateng the chance to shine on Wednesday and he is likely
to keep his place with Robinho coming in for Pato. Defender
Thiago Silva should also return after injury on Saturday.
Champions Inter Milan had their own travails in Europe in
midweek, drawing 2-2 at Twente Enschede, as they began the
defence of their Champions League title in unconvincing fashion.
Next up is a trip to Palermo on Sunday where the
intimidating crowd always makes life uncomfortable for visiting
teams, even if their own side look toothless this term without
injured striker Fabrizio Miccoli and the departed Edinson
Cavani.
Inter look poised to be without forward Goran Pandev for
around 10 days after his injury against Twente turned out not to
be as bad as first feared but his absence will probably force a
change in tactics for coach Rafael Benitez.
A switch to 4-3-1-2 from 4-2-3-1 is likely, pushing in-form
forward Samuel Eto'o closer to goal and lifting the burden off
the struggling Diego Milito.
Chievo, the only side with a maximum six points in Serie A,
host promoted Brescia on Sunday, while Juventus search for their
first win at Udinese.
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