APPIANO GENTILE – The Nerazzurri continued their build-up to Sunday’s match against Lazio – their last of the calendar year – with an afternoon training session at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti today.

The first part of the session focussed on ball possession and quick-fire passing. Afterwards the Nerazzurri were split into two groups. Initially, coach Roberto Mancini worked with the defenders on various phases of play, before moving on to the midfielders and attackers in turn.

Whilst this was going on, the rest of the group concentrated on some technical drills, paying particular attention to movement with and without the ball.

Osvaldo and M’Vila were given leave for personal reasons.

]]>

MILAN – Gianluca Pagliuca is third only to Javier Zanetti and Paolo Maldini in terms of appearances made in the top tier of Italian football. He spent five years wearing the hallowed Nerazzurri jersey, amassing a total of 234 appearances for the club, with 165 coming in the league, 37 in European competition and 32 in domestic cups. Pagliuca’s crowning glory at Inter was the 1997/98 UEFA Cup win.

After cutting his footballing teeth in the youth setup at Bologna, Pagliuca made his professional debut for Sampdoria. His glorious Blucerchiati adventure saw him win a Scudetto in 1990/91, three Coppa Italias (1987/88, 1988/89, 1993/94), one Italian Supercup (1991) and one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (1989/90).

In the summer of 1994, Pagliuca got his big break as Inter came calling. Fresh from collecting a runners’ up medal at the 1994 World Cup, the goalkeeper did not disappoint in Milan, proving to everyone that he was more than up to the challenge. On 6 May 1998, Pagliuca tasted European glory for the second time, as the Nerazzurri beat Lazio 0-3 at the Parc des Princes in the UEFA Cup Final.

A year later, Pagliuca returned to his hometown club, Bologna, where he made 248 appearances before curtailing an impressive career with a season at Ascoli in 2006/07.

On behalf of everyone at the club, happy birthday Gianluca!

]]>

]]>

APPIANO GENTILE – After a recovery session yesterday following Monday’s win over Chievo, the Nerazzurri reassembled as a squad today at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti to start preparing for Sunday’s visit of Lazio.

The players were split into two groups initially, with half of the pitch used for technical drills under the orders of Fausto Salsano and the other for tactical work.

Roberto Mancini took it all in attentively together with Sylvinho, intervening when appropriate to make sure everything was carried out perfectly.

Afterwards the ranks joined together for a series of small-sided games focusing on possession before the workout was rounded off with a high-octane fitness programme directed by Ivan Carminati.

 

]]>