 Now That is a Friendly...and Other General Observations
Yes, this World Football Challenge match between Chelsea and A.C. Milan was less of a challenge and more of a friendly. However, managers Carlo Ancelotti and Leonardo took that term literally while conducting the rare simultaneous press conference.
Ancelotti, only months after his whirlwind departure from the Rossoneri for the Premier League powerhouse, sat next to his pupil Leonardo, alternately taking question in English and Italian.
"It was very special," Leonardo said of sharing the pitch with Ancelotti. "We worked together for so many years."
Apparently, their work together was not complete though, as Leonardo often served as translator for Ancelotti. (A nice gesture, but leaving the poor girl from the Center for Italian Studies in Baltimore looking a little confused and out of place sitting next to the Italian football legends).
Ancelotti left A.C. Milan minutes after its victory over ACF Fiorentina in May, after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. Less than 24 hours later, he was named the new Chelsea manager.
Leonardo and Milan players said they could already see Ancelotti’s imprint starting to show on The Blues, as they control the ball more and make the defense move. It paid off with Chelsea claiming their first trophy under Ancelotti, going 3-0 in the World Football Challenge.
USA! USA!
Those were the chants that broke out after Oguchialu Chijioke "Oguchi" Onyewu entered the game for Milan. The chants only broke out after the crowd serenaded him with a guttural "Goooooooch" in his honor when his number flashed on the referee’s substitution board.
As one of the first non-keeper Americans with a premier club, it was an important moment to many of the U.S. soccer supporters, but it may have meant even more to the supporters of Maryland youth soccer. Growing up in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Silver Spring, Md., he played for the Montgomery County youth program, MSI, and went on to play for elite travel teams representing Sherwood High School in nearby Olney, Md.
And for a moment in the waning seconds, it looked as if he might have lived out the fairytale ending in front of his hometown fans.
The 50 Million Dollar Question
For a friendly, it seemed there were plenty of story lines after the match from Chelsea’s perspective. How is The Blue adapting to Ancelotti’s styles? How about the goal-scoring Man of the Match performance of Yuri Zhirkov? What about the future of the rapidly disappearing Andriy Shevchenko?
However, all the British press wanted to know was "What’s the status of captain John Terry?"
Terry spent a month mulling a $50 million (£30 million) bid from Manchester City that would have made him the highest paid player in the Premier League.
Ancelotti may still be grappling with his English, but seemed prepared to cobble together a simple statement, "You’ll have to wait. I can wait."
The next question went to Leonardo to ask the status of Rossoneri legend Andrea Pirlo, who is rumored to be on his way to Chelsea. Learning from his mentor, Leonardo merely repeated the response, "You’ll have to wait."
Ancelotti didn’t make the press wait long, as Terry announced his return to Stamford Bridge. As for Pirlo, we are still waiting.
Chelsea and Milan fans on their way to the match, walking by the iconic American baseball stadium Camden Yards.
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