Birkirkara FC chairman Victor Zammit welcomed AC Milan yesterday and said the club felt honoured to be hosting such a famous club worldwide.

“We thank Milan for having chosen Malta for this training camp. It is a special event for us, the same as those when Juventus and Manchester United visited us in the summers of 1999 and 2000 respectively.

“Next Tuesday’s match will be a great occasion for the numerous fans of Birkirkara FC as well as all Maltese fans of AC Milan and Italian football enthusiasts. This match has created a lot of enthusiasm and this was already evident on Tuesday evening when the Milan contingent arrived at the airport,” he said.

Zammit augured success for Milan, “especially after their visit to Malta’.

Club coach Stephen Azzopardi also thanked Milan for accepting the invitation to play next Tuesday’s friendly. “It is an important experience for all of us. We will not be looking at the result. But we will try to give a good account of ourselves, albeit knowing our great limitations in comparison with such a team replete with so many famed stars,” he said.

Speaking about his own players, Azzopardi said: “Antoine Zahra will definitely remain out and Argentine striker Dario Larrosa and Jonathan Holland are still doubtful. Goalkeeper Nadriy Bledzewski has started training again and I can also say that even Adrian Ciantar is now available after being declared fully fit.”

He added: “It should be a great day for us all – our own gift to the club’s numerous fans. It should be a spectacle for all sports-loving persons on the island,” he said.

DOORS OPEN – The Ta’ Qali training ground doors were opened for the numerous fans to watch their favourites yesterday afternoon.

The order came from boss Carlo Ancelotti himself who said he sympathised with the fans.