Cassano keeps it simple to save Milan
Reuters - Sunday 09 January 2011, 17:10
MILAN - Serie A's favourite rebel Antonio
Cassano had not trained for two months before joining AC Milan
but he has silenced the doubters already with three superb
assists in two short substitute appearances.
The Italy forward was kicked out of Sampdoria in October for
verbally abusing the club president in the latest in a long line
of crazy antics and fans worried whether Milan had taken on more
than they could chew when he joined them this month.
However, Cassano set up Rodney Strasser for the winner in
Thursday's 1-0 victory at Cagliari and played in both Alexandre
Pato and Zlatan Ibrahimovic late in Sunday's astonishing 4-4
home draw with Udinese where the leaders had been 3-1 down.
"Simplicity is the best thing in football. Moreover, to play
simply is the most difficult thing and only top players manage
it," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri told Sky.
"Cassano today gave us two great assists. When we play
around the box he is devastating. Definitely when he is fitter
he can play from the start."
Cassano's San Siro debut began in typical style when he
insulted the officials from the bench for allowing Udinese's
opener, even though Antonio Di Natale was clearly onside.
The livewire went to apologise to the referee at halftime
having seen the replay before finally doing his talking on the
pitch, using angles and speed of thought to rip open the
visiting defence rather than dribbling excessively as he
ocassionally did at Samp, Real Madrid, AS Roma and Bari.
"It's been one of those games which happen during a season.
I think a draw was the right result," Allegri said, adding
Clarence Seedorf did not deserve to be booed by his home crowd.
"I don't think he had such a bad game. It's unlikely we will
repeat a defensive display like that."