Ronaldinho inspires Milan to Udinese win
Sunday, 14 February 2010
ROME, Feb 13 (AFP): Ronaldinho was at his inspirational best as AC Milan ended a four-game winless streak with a 3-2 success against Udinese at the San Siro to move up to second in Serie A.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a brace and Pato marked his injury comeback as a substitute with a goal as Milan closed the gap on leaders Inter Milan to eight points.
And the win was a much needed boost ahead of the resumption of Champions League duties next week but if there was any concerns that Milan would have one eye on Manchester United, they were quickly dispelled.
Two-goal hero Huntelaar said he hoped his strikes would help him claim a regular starting berth while he demonstrated that Milan are more concerned with the team immediately below them rather than Inter.
"I have to do my job and score goals, I was happy to play today and to score and I hope I'll play more," he said.
"It was an important game for us, we have to try to keep ahead of Roma, we were two points behind but now we're one ahead, we have to keep on winning," he added before turning his attentions to midweek.
"I think we are ready, we had to win this game, sometimes we play well and sometimes not, like at the end of the first half when we conceded a goal, but I think we are ready, we'll see."
The Sky TV cameras repeatedly cut to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands alongside his assistant Mike Phelan but Milan's players were firmly concentrated on the task at hand.
They took the lead after just seven minutes after dominating the early action as Ronaldinho teased two defenders on the right and crossed to the near post where Huntelaar, starting as Marco Borriello was injured, lost his marker to head home from three yards.
Udinese did not come just to defend and Serie A top scorer Antonio Di Natale was inches away from converting a cross-come-shot from Mauricio Isla at the back post.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a brace and Pato marked his injury comeback as a substitute with a goal as Milan closed the gap on leaders Inter Milan to eight points.
And the win was a much needed boost ahead of the resumption of Champions League duties next week but if there was any concerns that Milan would have one eye on Manchester United, they were quickly dispelled.
Two-goal hero Huntelaar said he hoped his strikes would help him claim a regular starting berth while he demonstrated that Milan are more concerned with the team immediately below them rather than Inter.
"I have to do my job and score goals, I was happy to play today and to score and I hope I'll play more," he said.
"It was an important game for us, we have to try to keep ahead of Roma, we were two points behind but now we're one ahead, we have to keep on winning," he added before turning his attentions to midweek.
"I think we are ready, we had to win this game, sometimes we play well and sometimes not, like at the end of the first half when we conceded a goal, but I think we are ready, we'll see."
The Sky TV cameras repeatedly cut to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands alongside his assistant Mike Phelan but Milan's players were firmly concentrated on the task at hand.
They took the lead after just seven minutes after dominating the early action as Ronaldinho teased two defenders on the right and crossed to the near post where Huntelaar, starting as Marco Borriello was injured, lost his marker to head home from three yards.
Udinese did not come just to defend and Serie A top scorer Antonio Di Natale was inches away from converting a cross-come-shot from Mauricio Isla at the back post.