AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday that he was looking forward to see his team perform well in the friendly against Birkirkara next Tuesday so that it would turn out to be the ideal gift for all the club’s fans and all Italian football enthusiasts on the island.

Addressing a news conference at the Radisson Golden Sands Resort, he thanked the organisers for their great hospitality on what he described as “the beautiful island of Malta”.

He added: “This seems to be the ideal place for a club like Milan to stage a training camp at this time of the year. Moreover, we were impressed with the great welcome we received from the numerous fans at the airport. Never before have we encountered such tremendous fans,” he remarked.

Ancelotti also paid tribute to the Milan club in Malta (though there are three) saying that it was the biggest of all the existing Milan clubs. “We were all surprised to see such a big crowd at the airport. They certainly made us feel at home. In return we hope to be able to offer them a spectacle next Tuesday when we play against Birkirkara,” he added.

I asked him about his future and if that will be at Milan, Ancelotti said: “Right, you said it, at least I hope so,” he answered.

With regard to the January transfer market, Ancelotti said it was of primary importance to the side to see that the injured players return to full fitness as quickly as possible. “With the players in our squad, we are strong enough to challenge for the honours,” he said. Responding to other questions from the Maltese and Italian press, Ancelotti said, among others, that the prime objective of the team this season, as usual, will be that of winning the Champions League. “It is the most important competition on the continent although we will still try to get back in contention for the Serie A title,” he said.

The Rossoneri boss added that he thought it would have been a better Serie A campaign with Juventus in the field. “Juventus’ place is in the Serie A, whatever anyone might say. It is true they have given a good lift to the Serie B. We are all looking forward to meet them next Saturday for the Berlusconi Trophy. I still believe it will be a keenly contested match and we will do everything to win,” he said.

Yesterday evening, the TV station Milan Channel announced that national team players Gattuso, Gilardino, Pirlo and Inzaghi will not be returning to Malta on Saturday night after the match. On Monday they are to be presented with an award by the President of Italy in Rome because of their World Cup win.

However, a Milan spokesman in Malta yesterday evening confirmed to Birkirkara that all four players will be facing the Stripes on Tuesday night, suggesting that they might arrive in Malta on Monday evening.

Captain Paolo Maldini and Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf also answered questions from the floor both saying that they were back to full fitness after their recent injuries.

Maldini also said that he felt that fellow defender Fabio Cannavaro deserved the title of FIFA Footballer of the Year. He also said that he felt the Rossoneri could not be ignored in the race for the title despite the big gap with leaders and great rivals Inter. “The season is still mid-way and a lot can happen till May. We must wait and see what happens between now and then,” he said.

Veteran Maldini added that he still had to take a decision on whether to quit the game at the end of the season.

Seedorf seemed to have been the more impressed with the welcome given to the squad on its arrival at the airport. He said: “The fans were simply great. I have never seen anything like it before. Maybe, the club should bring them over to Milan every time we play at home. We certainly need that kind of added support to push us further in our efforts,” he remarked.