THE IMPORTANCE OF MILAN’S YOUTH

MILAN – AC Milan communicated its official UEFA Champions League 2013-2014 squad list for the knock-out stages of the competition yesterday. Please click here to see the full 24-man squad list.An important part of that list also includes the 8 players in the Player B list. Their contribution if needed could turn out to be significant.Many players on that list have already gained experience on the European stage thanks to the UEFA Youth League, playing against top European opposition such as Barcelona, Ajax and Celtic in UEFA’s youth competition.Here is the record of those youngsters and their playing time so far in Europe’s junior competition:Luca Iotti - 358 minutes played and 1 goal (vs. Ajax)Zan Benedicic - 253 minutes played (appeared in both matches vs. Barcelona)Andrej Modic - 86 minutes playedMarco Pinato - 181 minutes played and 3 goals (all vs. Celtic).Stephan El Shaarawy from the First Team squad is also in the Player B list along with Alex Pedone (born on the 10th of February 1994 and not available for the UEFA Youth League), goalkeeper Lorenzo Ferrari and finally Andrea Petagna who has been on loan at Sampdoria in the previous months and can play in the Youth League as he was born in 1995.