MILAN – Aboard Milan’s state of the art high-speed train to Reggio Emilia ahead of Sunday’s match against Sassuolo, CEO Adriano Galliani took the chance to hand out an award to Ignazio Abate for reaching the milestone of 200 appearances with the Milan jersey last week. Galliani said the following:

“This is a special award ceremony on one of the best, if not the best trains in the world, it’s fantastic. We have the great honour of being the first to be on board this wonderful train after the Italian President. We thank trenitalia and all the directors that were very kind in inviting us and allowing us to make this wonderful trip, which will take us to Reggio Emilia in 30 minutes. Ignazio has reached 200 matches with Milan. 200 special appearances, because he made his first team debut at 17 years of age in the Italian Cup away at Sampdoria. Then he started a long journey before finally coming back to Milan 6 years ago and so he’s practically made 200 appearances in 6 years and he can add to the record this season. I think we’ve reached the moment to say or to nearly say that he will remain at Milan. We won’t make it yet official, but let’s say that it’s 99.9999% likely that he will stay at Milan. A youth sector product that we never wanted to sell, after years of loans, he came back to continue, and I hope to finish as late as possible, his career with our colours. Congratulations to Ignazio and I hope that you can pick up many more of these awards.”

MILAN – Usually held at Milanello, this week’s pre-match press conference took place at the Milan Central Station. Click here to read what Filippo Inzaghi had to say to gathered journalists and media. Shortly afterwards, the squad took the high speed train to Reggio Emilia ahead of Sunday’s Serie A match away at Sassuolo.

Before the press conference meanwhile, Filippo Inzaghi stopped by at the Milan Temporary Store, which opened earlier this week at Milan Central Station, and posed for photos with the fans. The club’s CEO Adriano Galliani likewise visited the recently opened store.

MILAN – Milan’s final youth sector league match of the regular season before the Final-8, for which Milan had already qualified for, ended in a 3-0 defeat away at Chievo on Saturday afternoon.

It was the rossoneri that made the better start to the match and created two chances through Mastour. On 11 minutes the teenage talent tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area while on the half hour mark he then forced the Chievo shot-stopper into a good save with an excellent right foot strike. After a slow start, Chievo eventually responded and just 2 minutes before the half time whistle the home side broke the deadlock thanks to Jallow.

Shortly into the second-half, Jallow struck his second of the match to double Chievo’s lead. After missing a good chance earlier on, Ghirardi made up for his miss by extending Chievo’s lead on 77 minutes. Milan enjoyed plenty of possession in the closing stages and were denied a consolation goal after Chievo’s goalkeeper made a fine save on Fabbro.

MILAN – Ahead of Sunday’s lunch-time kick-off against Milan, Eusebio Di Francesco spoke to the press. This is what the Sassuolo coach had to say:

“We want to improve our position in the league table and to achieve that we need 3 points against a prestigious side like Milan. I am sure that with the right attitude we can give a great display and show what we can do and by enjoying ourselves.”

MILAN – The first half of the final youth sector league match of the season between Chievo-Milan has ended 1-0 in favour of the home side. It was the rossoneri however that made the better start to the match and created two chances through Mastour. On 11 minutes the teenage talent tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area while on the half hour mark he then forced the Chievo shot-stopper into a good save with an excellent right foot strike. After a slow start, Chievo eventually responded and just 2 minutes before the half time whistle the home side broke the deadlock thanks to Jallow.