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Fans protest outside Milan training base

ROME (AFP) – AC Milan began pre-season training at their Milanello base just outside the city on Monday with jeers rather than cheers ringing in their ears.

A group of about 300 of the club’s ultras — the most hardcore supporters — gathered outside the training base to vent their fury at the club’s officials.

The supporters are angry that star player and 2007 world player of the year Kaka was sold to Real Madrid while no big name signings have arrived, despite the club banking 67 million euros over the sale of the Brazilian.

Fans let off bangers and smoke bombs while chanting against the club’s bosses.

But vice-president Adriano Galliani hit back against the fans by claiming they should be happy about what the club have already won.

“No-one else has won as many titles as Milan in Europe or the world,” he said at Milan’s first press conference of the new season, during which he also unveiled Massimo Ambrosini as the club’s new captain.

“It’s normal that some people protest because in life it’s allowed. Season tickets are down by only 20 percent with respect to last year so that shows that 80 percent of fans are right behind the club.”

Galliani was referring to Milan’s record 18 internationally recognised titles but among those there are five European Supercups and three now-defunct Intercontinental Cups.

It means that eight of Milan’s world record international trophy haul were won in one-off matches against single opponents, whilst they have also won the Club World Cup once, beating just two teams to earn that honour.

Those successes have still not appeased fans who feel they should have won more than a single Champions League crown (plus Club World Cup and European Supercup) in the last five years.

“No compromise: think first about Milan and then your own interests,” read one banner alluding to the fact that Milan’s president Silvio Berlusconi, the Italy Prime Minister, has spent little on the team in recent seasons.

Milan finished third in Serie A last season, 10 points behind city rivals and champions Inter Milan.

But since then they have sold their best player, lost talisman Paolo Maldini to retirement and seen former England captain David Beckham return to Los Angeles following the end of his loan spell.

And yet no recognisable signings have been made in return.

Milan have not won the title since 2004 and last season were oft criticised for being over the hill.

And yet while all their thirty plus players remain, 27-year-old Kaka, in his prime, has been sold.

But Galliani remained defiant.

“Milan are not breaking up. This is a period of renewal, we want to be more careful with the balance sheet and steer towards youth,” he said.

Tags: ac milan, bangers, captain David Beckham, champions league, cheers, club world cup, England, Europe, european supercup, honour, Intercontinental, international trophy, Italy, jeers, kaka, league crown, Los Angeles, MADRID, massimo ambrosini, Milan, paolo maldini, pre season training, real madrid, ROME, season tickets, Serie A, silvio berlusconi, smoke bombs, star player, world player of the year, world record

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D.C. United-Chalatenango to open 2009-2010 CONCACAF Champions League

MIAMI – Returnee D.C. United will host El Salvador’s Chalatenango on Tuesday, July 28 to start the 2009-2010 CONCACAF Champions League, one of three Preliminary Round matches scheduled to open the tournament.

The Canadian champion, either the Vancouver Whitecaps or Toronto FC, will host the Puerto Rico Islanders and Guatemala’s Jalapa will be home against Pachuca of Mexico in later games. San Francisco FC of Panama will be home against San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad on Wednesday, July 29, with Liberia Mia of Costa Rica hosting Honduran side Real Espana later that day.

The schedule was announced at the second annual CONCACAF Champions League Summit at the Intercontinental West Miami hotel, a gathering of all 24 participating teams to acquaint them with the other clubs as well as the tournament’s rules, regulations, requirements and protocols.

The first leg will finish on Thursday, July 30, with W Connection of Trinidad hosting the New York Red Bulls, followed by Cruz Azul of Mexico at home against Costa Rica’s Herediano, and Olimpia of Honduras against Arabe Unido of Panama.

The second leg will begin a week later with the Puerto Rico Islanders at home against either Vancouver or Toronto, and Chalatenango facing D.C. United in El Salvador on Tuesday, August 4.

The following day, the New York Red Bulls will travel to Trinidad to play W Connection; Pachuca will play at Jalapa; and Hereidano will play Cruz Azul in Mexico City.

The Preliminary Round will conclude with Arabe Unido at home against Olimpia of Honduras, San Juan Jabloteh hosting San Francicso, and Real Espana welcoming Liberia. The winners will advance to the Group Stage, which will begin with the first round of games the week of August 18-20.

PRELIMINARY ROUND SCHEDULE
(All Times USA Eastern; home teams listed first)
(Provisional)

FIRST LEG
Tuesday, July 28
D.C. United (USA) vs. Chalatenango (SLV), 8 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps or Toronto FC (CAN) vs.
Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 10 p.m. Jalapa (GUA) vs. Pachuca (MEX), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, July 29
San Francisco (PAN) vs. San Juan Jabloteh, 8 p.m.
Liberia (CRC) vs. Real Espana (HON), 10 p.m.

Thursday, July 30
W Connection (TRI) vs. New York Red Bulls (USA), 8 p.m.
Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m.
Olimpia (HON) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN), 10 p.m.

SECOND LEG
Tuesday, August 4
Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Vancouver or Toronto (CAN), 8 p.m.
Chalatenango (SLV) vs. D.C. United (USA), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, August 5
New York Red Bulls (USA) vs. W Connection (TRI), 8 p.m.
Pachuca (MEX) vs. Jalapa (GUA), 8 p.m.
Herediano (CRC) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 10 p.m.

Thursday, August 6
Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Olimpia (HON), 8 p.m.
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. San Francisco (PAN), 8 p.m.
Real Espana (HON) vs. Liberia (CRC), 10 p.m.

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Tags: canadian champion, chalatenango, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, cruz azul, d c united, D.C., El Salvador, group stage, Guatemala, herediano, Honduras, Intercontinental, jalapa, Liberia, Mexico, mexico city, Miami, miami hotel, New York, new york red bulls, olimpia, pachuca, Panama, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, San, san francicso, San Francisco, san juan, san juan jabloteh, slv, Toronto, toronto fc, Tri, Trinidad, USA, Vancouver, vancouver whitecaps, W. Connection, west miami

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Champions League Team Summit baptizes new teams, reviews for returnees

MIAMI – Some clubs made the trip last year; others were making the excursion for the first time.

The returnees to the CONCACAF Champions League Team Summit were there to refine their procedures; the newcomers were in Miami to get up to speed.

“With having done it before, this year we were able to include the Champions League in our season ticket packages and it improved branding to get fans interested,” said Jonathan Yardley, Houston’s communications manager and one of three representatives from the Dynamo, who advanced the quarterfinals of last season’s event.

“The team did well last year and we’re looking to do better this year. We have some off weekends this year so the schedule should not be as intense.”

The summit, held Monday and Tuesday at the Intercontinental West Miami hotel, was staged to give officials of teams making their debut — and remind the returnees — of the protocols, procedures, requirements and general plans for the tournament, which will begin its second season after replacing the Champions Cup on July 28.

After general welcomes by CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer and Deputy General Secretary for Marketing and Television Italo Zanzi, Deputy General Secretary for Operations Ted Howard spent Tuesday morning outlining areas ranging from television production to financial reporting to game operations.

Press officer Ben Spencer laid out media guidelines while Manager of Business Partnerships Pamela Galvis briefed the team representatives on sponsorship and the various programs surrounding the tournament. Director of Television and Production Broadcast Services Dario Boronat explained how the international television feed will be generated and maintained, with control monitored from CONCACAF’s television studio at its headquarters in Trump Tower in New York City.

Representatives from the 24 qualified teams were introduced to the various CONCACAF staff members, from the New York headquarters to the satellite offices in Miami and Guatemala City, who will interact with them throughout the season.

“This meeting served to answer the questions and doubts that we had,” Cruz Azul team manager Carlos Villar said. “As Chuck said, the tournament has improved a lot from the first year and will continue to do so as it progresses. It will continue to become more relevant, especially in Mexico.”

Blazer finished the session encouraging the teams not to be pre-occupied with all the rules, regulations and requirements swamping them in less than 24 hours.

“We’ve taken the initiative to show you the way to make it better,” Blazer said in remarks to teams to close the summit. “It’s so you will be able to say, ‘I was there in the beginning, and I remember the early days, and it makes a difference now.”

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Tags: Ben Spencer, broadcast services, business partnerships, Carlos Villar, champions cup, Chuck Blazer, city representatives, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, deputy general, galvis, game operations, guatemala city, Houston, Intercontinental, international television, italo zanzi, jonathan yardley, Mexico, Miami, New York, new york city, Pamela Galvis, s communications, season ticket packages, team representatives, team summit, ted howard, television feed, television studio, trump tower in new york city, west miami, york headquarters

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Van Basten asks De Boer to improve Ajax’ defense

Ajax Amsterdam manager Marco van Basten has asked former player Frank de Boer to be more involved with the club’s first team.

De Boer, who used to play in defense himself, is set to improve the overall quality of Ajax’ defense. Lately, the Amsterdam outfit have conceded an unusually high amount of goals.

Frank De Boer, twin brother of Ronald de Boer, played for Ajax from 1988 to 1998, and helped the club win a Champions League, an Intercontinental Cup, a UEFA Cup, five domestic league titles and two national cups.

De Boer is currently assistant manager at the Dutch national team.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Ajax, ajax amsterdam, amount, Amsterdam, assistant, Champions, champions league, Club, Cup, defense, dutch national team, Eredivisie, Frank De Boer, Intercontinental, intercontinental cup, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, League, league titles, manager, marco van basten, national cups, outfit, player, ronald de boer, roorda, twin brother, uefa, UEFA Cup, Van Basten

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Bianchi back at Boca Juniors

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – Former coach Carlos Bianchi is returning to Boca Juniors as general manager, the club has announced.The 59-year-old Bianchi guided the Buenos Aires side with whom Diego Maradona made his name, to four Argentine league titles, three Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups between 1998 and 2004.Carlos Ischia will remain as first team coach with Bianchi in charge of player recruitment and transfers. Boca have just won their 23rd domestic league title.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, aires, Argentina, Argentine, argentine league, Boca, boca juniors, BUENOS AIRES, carlos bianchi, Carlos Ischia, charge, Club, copa libertadores, diego maradona, former coach, Intercontinental, ischia, Juniors, league titles, Libertadores, name, player recruitment, side, team coach, title

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