AC Milan

The Rossoneri failed to retain their Serie A title from the previous campaign as they ended up losing the race for the Scudetto to a resurgent Juventus, leading to rumours surfacing that the club had run out of patience with the former Cagliari boss.

However, in response to the claims, Berlusconi told reporters: “[Allegri] has a two-year contract with us. I see no reason why there are all these discussions about his future.”

Berlusconi then expressed his opinion on Milan’s title challenge this season, and felt his side had a 19th league triumph in their grasp but allowed the Old Lady to work their way back into contention.

“It was Milan’s title to throw away,” the former Italian Prime Minister noted. “We were top of the table and in the lead.

“It’s our fault that we did not win [the league]. However, it is impossible to not speak highly of Juventus, who have played really well all season and showed great perseverance.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The Rossoneri went down 4-2 to Inter in the Derby della Madonnina to gift Juventus the Scudetto, as they swept aside Cagliari 2-0 in Trieste, denying the 30-year-old the chance of retaining a domestic league title for the ninth season running.

However, despite his side’s failure this term, Ibrahimovic insists he will resist a move away from San Siro in the coming months and will remain loyal to the Milanese giants.

“I am willing to see out my contract with Milan and respect ‘her’,” Ibrahimovic told Aftonbladet.

“I’m sorry not to have won the Scudetto in statistically my best year to date.”

Ibrahimovic has scored 28 goals so far in the league and has provided eight assists.

The Japan international met with club directors earlier this week and is thought to be shopping himself to Serie A clubs in preparation for his contract’s expiry in June.

“It’s a wonderful feeling [to have my name attached to Milan],” Kawashima told Calcio Mercato. “Milan is a big club known throughout the world. It’s a very strong team and it’d be fun to play there one day.”

Kawashima would be a hypothetical third in the team’s current depth charts, but the potential departure of Marco Amelia and the increasing age of long-time goalkeeper Christian Abbiati could lead the way to a backup or even starting role.

“I’m aware that Abbiati is the holder, and he’s a very strong goalkeeper, but nothing scares me,” Kawashima said of the potential struggle. “There’s competition in every team, and I think Milan is the same.

“I have the utmost respect for the Rossoneri‘s goalkeepers; if there’s a chance to wear AC Milan’s shirt I will try to do my best.”

The former Kawasaki Frontale man, who trained with Parma early in his career and can speak Italian in addition to several other languages, also revealed the influence of national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni.

“I haven’t spoken to Zaccheroni about joining Milan,” he continued, “but he agrees with me that leaving Belgium is the right choice to continue my growth as a player.”

Kawashima also gave his metaphorical seal of approval to countrymen Shinji Kagawa and Gotoku Sakai, who are also reportedly on Milan’s radar.

“They know European football, which has allowed them to make the leap [from Japan],” he explained. “They’re happy in Germany right now, but I wouldn’t rule out a future for them [in Italy].”

AC Milan

Ibrahimovic, 30, has won a league title in each of his past nine seasons as a professional – claiming championship glory with Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and Milan – and could make it ten in a row this season with Massimiliano Allegri’s side currently a point behind Juve in the race for the Scudetto.

The Sweden international’s talismanic displays for Milan this season have seen him linked with a return to La Liga with Real in some corners of the Italian press, but he insists his future lies at the San Siro.

“As I said six months ago, I am happy here,” Ibrahimovic told the AC Milan channel. “I have a contract and I don’t have any other thoughts.

“I am determined to end this season well with the Milan colours and then with my national team [at Euro 2012]. Milan has given me back a smile and the will to play. Milan is my future.

“I play well because I am happy here, on and off the pitch. After the holidays I will return to begin pre-season training with this jersey.”

Ibrahimovic has scored 23 goals in 26 league appearances for the Rossoneri this season and leads the Serie A goalscoring charts. He joined Milan in 2010 from Barcelona and is under contract with the Italian giants until June 2015.

AC Milan

Referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot after the former Italy international had tangled with Blaugrana duo Carles Puyol and Sergio Busquets in the area as they awaited the delivery for a corner shortly before half-time.

Milan were incensed by the decision, given the ball had not been in play at the time, and Nesta has admitted that he has no idea why he was penalised.

“I pulled Puyol out of the way but only after he blocked me,” the World Cup winner is quoted as saying by Milan’s official website. “Not a single one of the players protested.”

Despite the controversy caused by the penalty, which Lionel Messi converted to set Barca on their way to a 3-1 victory, Nesta conceded that the better side had progressed to the semi-finals.

“Barcelona are strong,” the centre-half admitted. “If you leave them space, they start to play like they know how.

“There’s a big difference between us but I think that Milan have the economic power and the technical talent to get closer and one day or another this [Barca] team will start to fall.

“I think that in these two games we’ve shown that they can be beaten. But it’s true that they have Messi, who’s like having an extra player and good for them that they have him!

“We were unlucky and there’s no shame in losing to the best in the world. I’m sure that Milan will react and that after a couple of years we’ll be back dreaming like we used to.”

Nesta admitted, though, that he has probably played his last Champions League game for the Rossoneri, saying: “I’m going out with my head high because at 36 years of age, I gave all I could.”

The former Lazio captain has won two Champions League titles during his decade-long Milan career.

Barcelona

Lionel Messi stole the headlines once again, with two penalties in the first half either side of an Antonio Nocerino strike, bringing him up to 14 Champions League goals for the season, a record for a single campaign.

Andres Iniesta sealed the victory early in the second half, as the home side progressed to the last four for a record fifth straight year at the expense of the Italian champions, who will be left feeling aggrieved after some refereeing decisions did not go their way.

With a 0-0 result from the first leg under their belts, Milan knew that a score draw would be enough to take them through. Barca coach Pep Guardiola had already suggested that a Rossoneri goal was inevitable, and clearly set up to counter such an eventuality, with his side, and Messi in particular, dictating the opening exchanges.

A blistering counterattack after only four minutes saw the Barca forward glide into the penalty area in the blink of an eye, but his finish was put straight into the grateful arms of Christian Abbiati.

Moments later and Messi was at it again, this time poking the wrong side of the post after being put clean through by a beautiful piece of combination play from Cesc Fabregas and Dani Alves.

The Argentine sprinted clear of the Milan back line once more in the 11th minute, but initially appeared to waste the chance with a square pass to Xavi. However, the ball was soon back at his feet, and Luca Antonini, so assured in the first leg, slid in far too rashly, conceding a penalty.

Messi himself stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake, beating Abbiati with a low shot into the left corner to score a record 13th Champions League goal of the season and 50th of his career.

The Rossoneri were nowhere to be found, and with Guardiola’s men dominating possession and looking eminently at ease, the tie seemed to be heading to an inevitable conclusion.

However, out of nowhere, Milan were level just after half an hour. Robinho found Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the top of the box, who in turn slid in the unmarked Nocerino on the left for a low finish past Victor Valdes to put the visitors ahead on aggregate.

Milan were heading through as things stood thanks to their away goal, but could only hold onto their advantage for nine minutes. From a corner, a tug on the shirt of Sergio Busquets by Alessandro Nesta was spotted, and referee Bjorn Kuipers awarded Barca another penalty, much to the chagrin of the Rossoneri players, who protested vehemently to the match official.

Messi steadied himself once more from the spot, this time sending the ball into the right corner to put the home side back in front with a 2-1 aggregate lead at the end of the first half.

Despite a promising start to the second period from Milan, the Catalans were able to increase their advantage within eight minutes of the restart. Iniesta was perhaps fortunate to see a block by Philippe Mexes loop into his path, but did not hesitate, and stroked home from six yards out.

The Rossoneri were floored by the goal, with Barca playing comfortably on the back of a two-goal cushion. They nearly added another just past the hour mark, as Messi played in substitute Thiago Alcantara for a shot that was dragged just wide.

At this point, the sting was well and truly taken out of the game, with the fans inside Camp Nou already looking forward to a place in the last four. Further half-chances for Adriano and Messi were foiled, but it mattered little as the home side ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Barca now advance to their fifth consecutive Champions League semi-final, a tournament record, and will face the winner of the Chelsea-Benfica tie, with the first leg set for April 18.

AC Milan

“We have a good relationship with Juventus. They (Juve) are not guilty concerning Muntari’s goal,” said Berlusconi.

Controversy appeared during the match between Milan and Juventus which ended with a 1-1 final score . The referee ruled out a goal created by AC Milan midfielder, Sulley Muntari, in the 25th minute. In the replay, the ball seemed to have crossed the goal line.

The referee then made another controversial decision when ruling out Matri’s goal at minute 80. A number of  people believes that Matri was on an onside position. Matri finally entered the list of scorers in the 83rd minute.

It is hard to predict who will win between the two big European teams. Both Milan and Arsenal have a constraint in the composition of the players ahead of the game.

I Rossoneri are currently experiencing a crisis in midfield, while the Gunners are not complete in defense. Milan can not be strengthened by Kevin-Prince Boateng, Genarro Gattuso, Mathieu Flamini, and Alberto Aquilani, while Arsenal lost three defensive players, Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, and Carl Jenkinson.

However, the sharpness of the attackers of  the Gunner continued to show a nice graph. This is what makes Ramsey hopes Arsenal can steal a victory in Milan.

“If we can score some goals there and go back to the Emirates, obviously it is a fantastic result for us,” Ramsey said as quoted by Sky Sports.

AC Milan

For Udinese, this is their first defeat at home, the Stadio Friuli this season. This result is worthy of regret. Because they were still leading 1-0 15 minutes before the match ended .

Milan did not play well enough in this game, especially in the first half. Udinese went ahead in the 19 th minute through Antonio Di Natale. After working together nicely with Gelson Fernandes, the captain’s left foot shot could not be stopped by Amelia.

In the second half Udinse continued to press Milan. Several times Zebrette could create dangerous situations for Milan’s defense. But Marco Amelia’s brilliant performance saved his club from conceding even more goals.

The 77th minute Milan finally equalized. Milan’s new signing, Maxi Lopez was able to break the host’s defence with his goal. This goal came from Stephan El Shaarawy’s shot that was failed to be cleared by Samir Handanovic.

El Shaarawy was really the star for Milan in this match. The player from Egypt gave Milan the win after scoring in the 85th minute after receiving pass from the right side by Maxi.

Udinese tried to fight back and pressed Milan, but it seems luck is not on their side These results leads Milan as capolista with 47 points, two points ahead of Juventus who have two fewer games than the Rossoneri.

AC Milan

Mesbah, who was given the opportunity to make his debut appearance, immediately showed his skills, and no doubt the player also was praised by his coach, Max Allegri.

“Mesbah played very well and performed consistently throughout the game,” said the allenatore, according to Tribalfootball.

Then Allegri also noted a number of other names who played in the match for Milan.

“El Shaarawy continues to increase each game, while [Alex] Merkel also played amazinglt, but unfortunately Merkel suffered an injury and it will be evaluated for the next few days,” added Allegri.