Stefano Pioli hailed the growing maturity of his Milan players in the absence of injured striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Rossoneri strengthened their grip on top spot in Serie A with a gritty 2-1 victory at Sampdoria on Sunday thanks to goals from Franck Kessie and Samu Castillejo.
Milan secured the win without talisman Ibrahimovic, who is nursing a hamstring injury but expected to return soon.
The experienced Swede has scored 10 goals in six Serie A games this season, and his presence was missed against Sampdoria, but Milan managed to get the job done in Genoa.
I continue to be surprised by the maturity of these players, Pioli told Sky Italia.
Even though it was probably the youngest side we ve had all year. They never let themselves get downhe…
As speculation mounts on the futures of Yann M Vila and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, head coach Roberto Mancini admits the duo may leave Inter.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini refused to rule out the possibility of Yann M Vila and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo departing San Siro during in January.
Both players joined the Serie A club on initial loan deals from Rubin Kazan and Southampton respectively during the last transfer window.
However, the duo have struggled for regular first-team football since Mancini returned to Inter in November, while Osvaldo was reportedly involved in a bust up with strike partner Mauro Icardi.
And Mancini confirmed there is a possibility that M Vila and Osvaldo could depart the club this month.
M Vila needs to play, he said. In the p…
Valencia s Spanish international midfielder David Silva will undergo surgery on his injured left ankle on Tuesday, the first division club announced.
After the latest tests carried out this morning and a meeting with the coach and players, we have decided to operate on the player. The surgery will take place in Barcelona on Tuesday, the club said Friday.
Silva, 22, played 34 matches in La Liga last season before helping Spain to Euro 2008 glory.
…
Antonio Conte says he has had a fantastic season at Chelsea, dismissing suggestions of a drop in mentality from the Premier League champions.
Manchester City s runaway campaign has left the rest of England s elite in their wake, including the Blues, who are 19 points behind the leaders and look certain to surrender their title.
Of the previous six managers to win the league, only Manuel Pellegrini has stayed in the job throughout the following campaign, the Chilean lasting two years at City before he was replaced by Pep Guardiola.
Conte has a contract at Stamford Bridge until the end of next season but has been regularly linked with a departure when 2017-18 concludes – reports he has routinely batted away.
Chelsea have only won one of their last four …
With Andre Schurrle set to join Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen are on the verge of signing his replacement, Australian Robbie Kruse.
The 24-year-old from Brisbane has enjoyed a breakout season at German outfit Fortuna Dusseldorf, starting 27 of a possible 31 Bundesliga matches.
He has chimed in with four goals and six assists off the wing and Leverkusen were impressed enough to exercise his reported release clause of 1.5 million euros.
It s true, (we have) agreed terms and it s all about the details now, Kruse said.
I love the Dusseldorf club and the fans, but I want to develop myself as a player.
With Schurrle set to fetch a big fee from the current European champions, it would be unfair on Kruse to place the same levels of expectations on him.
But he will play a similar role a…
Bruno Guimaraes will not leave Newcastle this transfer window, says Eddie Howe, with the Magpies boss stating he will not sell his best players among links with Real Madrid.
Reports have suggested the Champions League holders are sizing up a raid for the Brazil international, who moved to St James Park last season from Lyon, with Madrid facing the potential loss of Casemiro amid Manchester United s push for the midfielder.
Under Howe, Guimaraes has emerged as one of the club s most essential players, and is anticipated to play a crucial role in his first full season in charge.
Asked if Newcastle would consider selling the playmaker if a suitable offer was lodged, Howe was unequivocal that they would not part with his services.
Absolutely not, he stat…
Ernesto Valverde revelled in having hat-trick hero Lionel Messi at his dispoal from the start in Barcelona s 3-1 win over Leganes.
The Argentina forward suffered a muscular problem while away on international duty at the end of March, forcing him to miss the friendlies against Italy and Spain.
Messi came off the bench to spare his side from defeat against Sevilla last weekend, helping his side rally from a two-goal deficit to grab a draw, and played the full 90 minutes in the midweek Champions League win over Roma.
Valverde decided against resting his star player for the LaLiga clash with Leganes on Saturday – and watched on as the club s all-time leading scorer bagged a treble.
We think he s fine and scoring goals always helps everything, Valverd…
Ligue 1 side Rennes are set to complete the signing of French goalkeeper Christopher Dilo from St Mirren, Ouest France can reveal.
Les Bretons are on the lookout for a third-choice goalkeeper and they have offered the 20-year-old a trial at Stade de la Route de Lorient.
Dilo has arrived at the club on Monday and will remain until Thursday, when he is expected to sign a contract with the Ligue 1 side.
The talented goalkeeper left Paris Saint-Germain youth academy to join Blackburn in 2012, but he has failed to make a single appearance for the Rovers, albeit enjoying a loan spell with Conference side Hyde.
Dilo joined St Mirren on a free transfer last summer and went on to make 13 league appearances, but he in turn rejected a new contract offer from the cl…
PSV Eindhoven have signed Karim Rekik on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.
The 18-year-old defender has been with the former Premier League champions since 2011, but has been restricted to just three senior appearances and has instead spent time out on loan at Portsmouth and Blackburn.
Rekik will now continue his development in the Eredivisie and the young Dutchman is relishing the prospect of playing in his native Netherlands.
I m very happy with PSV, he told the club s official website.
I also want to be a better player at PSV.
We have a fantastic trainer and talented players. I m looking forward to it.
Rekik is capped at both Under-17 and Under-19 level for the Netherlands.
…
Veteran Spanish international defender Michel Salgado is to part company with Real Madrid after ten years with the club, the Primera Liga giants said on Tuesday.
Real Madrid and Miguel Angel Salgado (Michel Salgado) have agreed to end their collaboration, the club said on its website.
The 33-year-old arrived at Real from Celta Vigo in 1999 and had a contract until 2011, but played little last season.
The announcement comes after the news that the club have agreed to buy Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso from Liverpool.
Salgado won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid in 2000 and 2002, the Intercontinental Cup in 2002 and four Primera Liga titles in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
…