Quotes - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

"I do not need a trophy to tell myself that I am the best." 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Milan Hopes for H-Cup Final

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The 80,000-capacity home of AC Milan and Inter Milan football clubs has been confirmed as the 2015 venue by European Rugby Cup.

What form next season's competition will take, though, remains up in the air, with grave doubt surrounding the tournament's future beyond this term .

Leading English and French clubs are currently service a notice period to quit ERC-run competitions, and they intend taking part in a new Rugby Champions Cup next year.

ERC recently appointed a mediator, Canadian lawyer Graeme Mew, in the quest to reach agreement for a new tournament accord covering the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup tournaments.

Premiership Rugby and France's Ligue Nationale de Rugby, though, say they have no intention of participating in ERC talks on October 23 and 24.

If the 2015 Heineken final happens, it would be the first time for Italy to stage it.

"We are especially proud that a Heineken Cup final could be staged in Italy, " Italian Rugby Federation president Alfredo Gavazzi said at the Italian launch of this season's Heineken and Amlin tournaments on Monday.

"This is a tournament which plays a key role in the continued development of our top clubs, and which also is critical for the progress of our national team.

"Regarding the future, I do not believe that an Anglo-French competition would be in any way suitable. The six unions have stated that they wish to keep the Heineken Cup, and they are absolutely united on this point of view.

"The Italian Federation also believes that it is crucial to keep four of our clubs in the Amlin Challenge Cup to allow our young players to develop. Overall, I am confident that an agreement can be reached.

ERC chairman Jean-Pierre Lux added: "We are in a difficult period for European club rugby, and I too hope that a solution can be found and then we can look forward to 2015 and a celebration of 20 years of European club rugby in Milan.

"It would be a shame if Italian rugby lost such a major opportunity to promote the game in their country."

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Little Cheer for AC MIlan's Allegri

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AC Milan lost 1-0 at home to 10-man Inter in the 161st Milan derby to increase the pressure on manager Massimiliano Allegri. 

The result leaves the Rossoneri in 11th place in the Italian top flight, having won only two league matches from seven.

Walter Samuel scored the only goal of the match when he met a free-kick at the far post with a brilliant header.

Inter were down to 10 men early in the second half when Yuto Nagamoto was shown a second yellow for handball.

But despite the man advantage and creating several chances, Milan could not make the breakthrough.

Allegri is a man feeling the heat according to Italian newspapers. His side went into the derby 11th in the table, nine points behind leaders Juventus and five points behind their city rivals.

What the 45-year-old needed was for his side to make a good start in what was the biggest match of their season so far, but what happened was exactly the opposite.

Allegri was already out of the dugout when former Milan player Antonio Cassano, who was jeered throughout the match by home fans, was deemed to have been fouled by Daniele Bonera on the left side of the Milan half.

The Rossoneri manager carried out a heated conversation with referee Paolo Valeri over the decision before standing back and watching Samuel twist the knife for Inter with a brilliant header at the far post from the resulting free-kick.

Allegri's side should have been punished again moments later when goalkeeper Christian Abbiati's awful pass from his area found Diego Milito. Fortunately for the Milan number one, he blocked the Argentine striker's first effort and then saved the headed follow-up.

It was a poor start for Milan, but they created more than enough chances to not only draw but even claim what would have been their 61st win in 161 derbies. They were also handed an advantage when Japan's Nagatomo was shown a second yellow for his deliberate handball.

Riccardo Montolivo, who was one of Italy's stars at Euro 2012, led the charge with shots from distance that troubled Samir Handanovic.

He was twice forced to parry the midfielder's strikes and from the second the rebound fell to Bojan, who slipped as he tried to slide his shot past the keeper.

Montolivo also thought he had scored with a brilliant volley, only for the referee to award a free-kick to Inter for a foul on their keeper.

Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng volleyed wide from 10 yards and substitute Giampaolo Pazzini failed to convert a Robinho cross by a couple of inches, while Dutch winger Urby Emanuelson narrowly missed the target with his low strike.

In the final five minutes Robinho tried to claim a penalty after he said he was pulled down by Samuel, but referee Valeri waved away Milan's appeals.

The defeat is already Milan's fourth in the league - last season their fourth league defeat did not come until February.

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Serie A - End of AC MIlan Era

The end of an era at AC Milan was greeted with tears from the players who will no longer wear the famous black and red shirt. 

A host of established stars will move on from the club since summer after years of loyal service, with one such individual Filippo Inzaghi bowing out the match-winning goal in a 2-1 over Novara. 

The 38-year-old, who has played 11 seasons at the San Siro, is yet to decide on his future and leaves with the likes of Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Mark van Bommel and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Nearly of those who are waving goodbye to Milan, especially tough-tackling Gattuso who departs after 13 seasons, left the San Siro pitch in tears.

Milan, who won the title last year, finished second and four points behind unbeaten Juventus.

Elsewhere in Italy, Udinese clinched third place and a spot in the qualifying rounds for the Champions League, the same stage they reached last year where they were beaten by Arsenal.

Lazio took fourth despite going behind to Inter when Diego Milito scored from a penalty, the Argentine's 24th Serie A goal of the season, on the stroke of half-time.

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Zlatan Unhappy with Barca Penalties

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's return to Barcelona ended with the Swede feeling "disgusted" after two Lionel Messi penalties led to AC Milan's 3-1 loss and exit from the Champions League.

Ibrahimovic was back at Camp Nou for the first time since his 2010 departure from the Spanish champions, after just one season, and while the striker set up the Italian club's lone goal from Antonio Nocerino, he was prevented from scoring.

After the final whistle, Ibrahimovic echoed former Inter Milan and current Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's belief that Barca's European success has been helped by match officials following a disputed penalty decision.

"I'm just disgusted," the Sweden international said. "They are the best team in the world but at 1-1 and, playing with intelligence, you can do something. (But) I understand better why Mourinho gets upset every time he plays here - in my opinion it was not fair."

Mourinho was handed a ban last season, following defeat to Barcelona, when he accused Uefa of aiding the Catalan club towards their European Cup title in 2009.

Milan's players were left aggrieved when Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers booked Alessandro Nesta in the 40th minute for yanking down Sergio Busquets inside the area, as the pair tussled during a corner kick. It was the kind of shirt pulling that often goes unpunished in top games, and started well before the corner had been taken.

Messi stepped up to score his second spot kick of the match to put the hosts back in front, before Andres Iniesta's second-half goal sealed the win.

"The ball wasn't in play and he called it. It was weird, odd, it ruined the game," Ibrahimovic said. "I still don't understand what he whistled. If he calls those he should call the others. Without him the game would have been 50-50."

Barca eliminated Arsenal last season in the quarter-finals after Robin van Persie was given a second booking for continuing to play after the whistle had gone early in the second half, with the game tied 1-1.

In the semi-finals, Real were left with 10 men for most of the second half of their 2-0, first-leg defeat when Pepe was red carded, which led to Mourinho's criticism.

"Sometimes the referee made too many concessions," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "I don't know if it proved decisive. We made a mistake on the first penalty but he helped on the second. Playing Barca is never easy."

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola offered few apologies after leading his team into the Champions League last four for a record fifth straight season. Only Real Madrid have achieved such a feat in the history of the European Cup, on their way to a record five straight triumphs between 1956-60.

"You can talk all you want about referees but that makes it five straight semi-finals, the fruits of our talent and a lot of work," Guardiola said.

Apart from the penalty, Ibrahimovic - who played one season for Mourinho at Inter - did not leave with an entirely sour taste in his mouth.

"It was a good experience, we lost the game 3-1 playing against the best team in the world," said Ibrahimovic, who joined Barcelona from Inter in 2009 in a swap that included striker Samuel Eto'o. 

"We were there until the second penalty, and this we have to discuss."

Messi Penalties Earn Semi Place

Barcelona qualified for the Champions League semi-finals for the fifth consecutive season as two Lionel Messi penalties and a second-half strike from Andres Iniesta saw them to a 3-1 win over AC Milan.

Messi opened the scoring on 11 minutes after he had been brought down by Luca Antonini but Antonio Nocerino levelled just after the half hour after he was set up by Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his return to the Camp Nou.

Messi restored the Catalans' lead five minutes before the break as Alessandro Nesta was penalised for holding Sergio Busquets and the Argentine was involved again for the third as his blocked effort rebounded for Iniesta to fire home.

Barcelona's all-time top-scorer now holds another prestigious record as he equalled former Milan striker Jose Altafini's record of 14 goals in one season of European football's top club competition.

However, his side were made to suffer at times for their place in the last four by a Milan team that showed far more attacking intent than during their last visit in September.

The hosts started strongly and Messi could have given them an even earlier lead as he uncharacteristically wasted two good sights of goal within the first six minutes, firstly firing straight at Christian Abbiati and then side-footing wide after a wonderful pass from Cesc Fabregas.

The reigning champions were in front four minutes later though as Messi robbed the ball on the left and after his square ball to Xavi rebounded back into the Argentinian's path, he was brought down by a desperate challenge from Antonini. Messi stepped up to roll in his 57th goal of the season.

However, against the run of play the Italians equalised on 32 minutes as Robinho and Ibrahimovic combined to play in Nocerino and he finished calmly to give Milan the advantage on away goals.

Xavi had a fierce effort beaten away by Abbiati minutes later as Barca responded immediately and they were handed the chance to retake the lead five minutes before the break as Busquets was hauled down by Nesta and referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot for the second time. Messi this time choose to go to Abbiati's left and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Milan had their own claim for a penalty two minutes into the second period as Ibrahimovic went down under pressure from Javier Mascherano however this time Kuipers waved away the claims.

Five minutes later Barca had the two-goal cushion they craved as Messi's deflected effort found its way through to Iniesta and he showed great composure to stab the ball past Abbiati from a narrow angle.

Kevin-Prince Boateng should have reduced the arrears when he headed over when unmarked from Clarence Seedorf's corner but at the other end substitute Thiago Alcantara wasted an even better opportunity as he pulled his effort wide after another fine pass from Messi.

Adriano should have sealed the tie but skewed horribly wide when clean through with three minutes remaining - but Barca saw out the final stages to equal Real Madrid's record of five straight semi-finals from 1956-60.

Cassano gets Comeback Clearance

AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano has been cleared to resume playing after having heart surgery in November.

The Serie A champions said the 29-year-old was passed fit following a scientific legal evaluation at the Institute of Sports Medicine in Milan.

The Italian forward has been recovering after a procedure to close a small opening in his heart.

Cassano underwent surgery after he developed problems with vision, speech and movement.

The forward was taken ill on a plane while travelling home after Milan's 3-2 win over Roma in Serie A on 29 October.

He had tests on his heart and brain in hospital before undergoing heart surgery six days later.

Cassano resumed training by himself in January before rejoining his team-mates in training last Thursday.

The striker was Italy's top scorer in the Euro 2012 qualifiers with six goals and was a key member of Milan's championship-winning side last season.

All Square at San Siro

AC Milan and Barcelona could not be separated in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final as they played out a goalless draw.

An entertaining encounter lived up to the pre-match billing, though, with chances aplenty at either end.

Milan could have edged in front inside the opening exchanges, but Kevin-Prince Boateng and Robinho fluffed their lines - as Zlatan Ibrahimovic did later on.

Lionel Messi and Xavi pulled the strings for Barcelona in the final third and they kept Christian Abbiati on his toes, while Alexis Sanchez saw a first-half penalty shout waved away.

The second half was a much edgier affair, with both teams wary of heading into next week's return date with a deficit to make up.

Carles Puyol saw a brave diving header slip inches past the upright, but everything now rests on the outcome at Camp Nou.

Milan squandered their first opening in only the third minute. Space opened up for Boateng on the edge of the area, but he hesitated for a split-second and Gerard Pique charged down the shot.

The ball was then headed back in to give Robinho an even better chance unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, but he skied the ball horribly over the crossbar when it looked a certain goal.

Messi, one goal shy of 50 in the competition, gained some unwanted attention from a laser pen as he lined up a free-kick on the edge of the area, but could only blame the turf as he slipped while taking it, with Seydou Keita was offside as he tried to head in the unintended cross.

Messi then saw Abbiati spill one of his shots, but the ball somehow evaded the advancing Daniel Alves as Milan survived.

Barca, though, should have had a penalty moments later when Sanchez fell over Abbiati after beautiful play from Xavi and Sergio Busquets, but the Chilean perhaps went over too theatrically and was told to get up.

Barca were passing the ball about at speed and forcing passes through seemingly impossible gaps, but they continued to stutter when it mattered, with Messi offside as he tapped in an Alves cross, while Abbiati denied Xavi.

Amid it all, a first-time ball from Clarence Seedorf put Ibrahimovic clean through, but goalkeeper Victor Valdez raced out to make a fine save at point-blank range.

Sanchez then looked to have broken clear, but Luca Antonini did not give it up and made a brilliant recovering tackle to prevent the shot.

The second half failed to capture the imagination in quite the same way.

Andres Iniesta cut in from the left to send an early shot wide, but it was hardly a sign of things to come as the game became scrappy thanks to a series of fouls and some unnecessary falls.

Milan lost Robinho to an injury amid the tumbles, but at least cut down the number of direct threats on their goal.

They should have been attacking themselves in the 67th minute when Urby Emanuelson came on to be handed the chance of an instant impact, only to scuff his first touch when a long ball put him clean through.

Barca began to threaten again going into the final 15 minutes. Substitute Cristian Tello fired high into the side-netting from a tight angle and then Messi saw a shot charged down and deflected wide.

From the resulting corner, Puyol's diving header across goal went narrowly wide.

Their best chance of the half came right at the end when Messi stayed on his feet as Milan defenders fell about him, firing in a powerful shot which Abbiati could only parry across goal.

It rolled teasingly towards Tello as he raced in, but cover arrived in the nick of time for Milan.

Guardiola Faces Milan in San Siro

AC Milan and Barcelona on Wednesday night meet for the third time this season as the European heavyweights prepare for kick-off in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Ahead of the first leg at the San Siro, Milan have not beaten Barcelona since October 2004 despite having two attempts in the current campaign's group stages.

They did hold the Spaniards to a 2-2 draw in Spain in September, while Pep Guardiola's defending European champions won 3-2 in Italy three months later to finish top of Group H.

And the two entertaining encounters demonstrated Barcelona are the better team, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger having not been exactly complimentary about Milan's chances after being narrowly eliminated by the Italian club in the last 16.

Lionel Messi, who has scored 30 goals in his last 25 appearances in the Champions League, including five in the last 16 second-leg rout of Bayer Leverkusen, will likely prove the prominent threat to Massimiliano Allegri's Milan.

However, the Serie A-leading club's goalkeeper, Christian Abbiati, knows Barcelona are not a one-man team.

"It's not going to be a battle between me and Messi," he said. "Barcelona is not just Messi and hence, we will not only focus on him. They are a complete team."

Former Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead Milan's attack after scoring twice to give the Rossoneri a 2-1 win over Roma on Saturday.

A fourth straight win in the league kept Milan four points clear of Juventus at the top of Serie A.

The Italians will have to overcome the absence of the injured Thiago Silva, Ignazio Abate and Pato, while midfielder Mark van Bommel serves a one-match ban.

But Allegri welcomes back defender Alessandro Nesta and winger Robinho from injury and Kevin-Prince Boateng made his comeback against Roma.

Barcelona have also put together an impressive run of form, winning their last seven league matches in a row to remain six points behind Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Guardiola's team will be bolstered by the return of defender Dani Alves, who missed the clash at Mallorca through suspension.

David Villa was in December ruled out for the season when he broke his leg in the Club World Cup.

Ibrahimovic in Sky Row

A post-match row between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a journalist has overshadowed Milan's 2-0 win over Lecce at San Siro on Sunday. Ibrahimovic was involved in an angry exchange with the Sky journalist Vera Spadini, during which television pictures appeared to show him swearing at her.

Milan have tried to defuse the situation, releasing a statement claiming the dispute had been "cleared up" in a phone call between the duo.

"A few minutes ago there was a phone call between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sky journalist Vera Spadini to clear up the misunderstanding between the two at the end of Milan-Lecce," a statement on the club's official website read.

Despite that the Sweden striker's outburst, and the accompanying TV pictures, have been top news in the Italian press this morning. Ibrahimovic had scored his side's second goal of the game to help Milan open a four-point lead over Juventus at the top of the Serie A table.

The enigmatic Sweden striker was then interviewed pitchside during which he turned away from the camera and said: "What the **** are you looking at?" at Spadini. The altercation reportedly continued afterwards with Ibrahimovic allegedly also flicking his headband at Spadini.

Ibrahimovic had been aggrieved at reports in the Italian press in recent days which claimed he had been involved in an altercation with the coach, Massimiliano Allegri, after Milan's Champions League match at Arsenal in midweek.

Milan were beaten 3-0 as they just held on to their 4-0 lead from the first leg to progress, with reports later suggesting Ibrahimovic had been unimpressed with his manager's tactics.

The striker had denied those reports, with Allegri backing him last night, saying: "As for Ibra, thankfully these stories emerge every now and then, otherwise it gets boring. Nothing happened, as it's normal there are discussions between a coach and his players."

Arsenal to Give Milan Emirates Welcome

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his team will give it "a real go" as they try to overturn a 4-0 deficit in their Champions League tie with AC Milan.

Wenger is encouraged by his side's turn in results, coming from a goal down to beat Liverpool at Anfield a week after fighting back to beat Spurs 5-2.

"We want to have a real go," he said.

"The best way is to ignore the first game and do what we did against Tottenham. We were 2-0 down and just kept going because we wanted to win."

Following the Gunners' first leg defeat at the San Siro, Arsenal's worst defeat in European competition, Wenger admitted that his side were all but out.

But, ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, he still insists that they are capable of scoring four goals against the Italian champions.

"We have to gamble a little bit and we have to go forward," he said. "We know that.

"The target is to find a good balance between attacking and defending because we have a double target - not to concede as well.

"I know my players well. I know they've been hurt by the first result and I know they will have their pride and they'll come out tomorrow to give a different performance.

"If they can score four we can do it as well. Why not?"

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is expecting an Arsenal backlash.

"In football, anything can happen," he said. "I think we need to step on the pitch fired up for 90 minutes without thinking what we did in the first leg.

"We must be conscious that we are going to face a team with great qualities and a team which will try to change the course of the tie right from the beginning.

"I also know the English teams will never surrender."

Gunners defender Kieran Gibbs points out that they are also playing for pride after their emphatic defeat in Italy. He said: "You don't really like to accept to get beaten 4-0 in the Champions League.

"We've shown a fantastic mentality to come back in the last couple of games. We have created a momentum now. We'd like to continue that."

Only three clubs have recovered from such a first-leg deficit in the history of European competition, but not for 17 years.

No team has overturned a four-goal margin in the Champions League era, although Milan beat Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 after losing the first leg 4-1 in Spain.

FOUR-GOAL COMEBACKS IN EUROPE

1961: Leixos 5-0 Chaux de Fonds (Leixos won 7-6 on aggregate)

1984: Partizan Belgrade 6-2 QPR (6-6 on aggregate. Belgrade won on away goals rule)

1985: Real Madrid 5-1 Borussia Moenchengladbach (5-5 on aggregate. Madrid won on away goals rule)

Milan Silence Wenger's Gunners

Arsenal have been left with a mountain to climb to progress in the UEFA Champions League following a 4-0 first leg defeat to AC Milan in the San Siro.

The Gunners were second best throughout and fell behind in the 15th minute courtesy of a spectacular volley from Kevin-Prince Boateng.

The Rossoneri doubled their advantage before the break thanks to a close-range header from ex-Manchester City forward Robinho.

The Brazil international added his second of the game after half-time, angling a right-footed drive beyond Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

AC Milan added a fourth in the 79th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Johan Djourou.

Milan had not won any of their previous seven matches against English clubs, having been knocked out of the Champions League at this stage by Tottenham last season.

However, the Serie A leaders never looked in danger of a repeat on Wednesday, well organised from kick-off as Arsenal struggled to get any sort of foothold, regardless of a poor San Siro pitch which had recently seen the turf relaid down the flanks.

Side-netting

Veteran Dutchman Clarence Seedorf - a European Cup winner with three different clubs - drilled a low effort into the side-netting, before going off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury - compatriot Urby Emanuelson replacing him.

Boateng fired the Italians ahead on the quarter-hour mark. The former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder collected a chip to the edge of the Arsenal penalty area on his chest, before turning to fire the ball over Szczesny and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Van Persie's cut-back was blocked as the Gunners captain got clear down the left, before Laurent Koscielny's flicked header from a floated 25th minute free-kick was straight at Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Arsenal, however, were soon again giving possession away far too easily, inviting the hosts on.

However, despite having plenty of the ball in the final third, AC Milan failed to carve out any real openings.

Thomas Vermaelen lost out to Robinho, who darted clear but then then failed to cross for Ibrahimovic - who was clear in the middle - as Koscielny made a saving block.

It was 2-0 in the 38th minute when Ibrahimovic charged down the left channel and squared for Robinho to nod in from six yards.

Two minutes before the break, Koscielny hobbled off and was replaced by Johan Djourou - and another change followed at the start of the second half as Theo Walcott was replaced by the departing Thierry Henry.

However, before the World Cup winner had a chance to make an impact, Milan extended their lead.

Vermaelen slipped, which gave Robinho the space to shoot at the edge of the box, and the Brazilian - whose £32.5million transfer to City in 2008 shattered the British record fee - slammed home what looked to be a tie-clinching third goal in the 49th minute.

It was now a case of damage limitation for Arsenal - and it could have been worse but for a complete miskick by Luca Antonini when he was set free following another swift counter.

The value of an away goal, however, meant the tie would still be alive were the English side to fashion a meaningful opportunity of their own.

Abbiati produced a brilliant one-handed save to turn around van Persie's volley after a flick-on by Henry on 65 minutes.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Kieran Gibbs as Alex Song dropped into the back four.

However, any hopes of comeback were ended in the 78th minute when Djourou bundled over Ibrahimovic to concede a somewhat soft penalty, which the big Swede slotted into the bottom right corner, leaving Arsenal a mountain to climb in the return leg at Emirates Stadium on March 6th.

Muntari Milan Loan Move

AC Milan have signed Ghanaian international midfielder Sulley Muntari on loan from city rivals FC Internazionale Milano until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old's contract with Inter is due to expire this summer, bringing an end to Muntari's four-year stint at the club. He played for Udinese Calcio from 2002 before spending the 2007/08 campaign at Portsmouth FC, winning the FA Cup. He returned to England last term for a loan spell with Sunderland AFC.

He has scored seven goals in 66 Serie A appearances for Inter, but did not play in the UEFA Champions League this autumn. Milan take on Arsenal FC in the round of 16 on 15 February and 6 March, playing the first leg at home.

Sneijder Returns for Milan Derby

Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder is set to return after two months out with a thigh injury to play in Sunday's eagerly anticipated Milan derby.

AC Milan lead Juventus by goal difference at the top of Serie A but they face a serious test from Inter, who have won their last five matches.

Inter coach Claudio Ranieri said: "Milan have more to lose because they are fighting for the title.

"We will try to win but what's important is to have a lively game."

Inter have surged up the table to fifth place, eight points behind the top two, but Milan are also on a long unbeaten run, dating back to their only league defeat of the season against Juve on 2 October.

Sneijder's return to action will be a further boost for Inter, who have been rejuvenated since Ranieri's arrival at the end of September.

But Milan were also given a lift in the build-up to the game when striker Alexandre Pato committed his future to the Rossoneri after speculation he was set to join Paris St Germain.

That added a twist to the race to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, with Inter president Massimo Moratti conceding defeat hours before Milan abandoned negotiations with City, apparently following Pato's decision to stay.

The Tevez saga has added extra spice to the clash at the San Siro, where Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri will try to defend a 100% winning record against his neighbours.

Milan have won the last three derby matches in all competitions, with former Inter hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring in two of them.

According to Allegri, the Swedish striker is one of the most charged up players in his squad ahead of the weekend clash.

"Gennaro Gattuso incarnates the spirit of the derby,'' Allegri said. "And then there's the hard core, Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Ambrosini, as well as of course Ibrahimovic in that how he also looks at the game as an ex-Inter player.

"Sometimes I even get angry with Zlatan. He loves the battle because he likes being stimulated. He gets very angry with the others, but also with himself.''