Statements by Pellegrini
 
“Monreal’s absence only adds to that of Toulalan, Baptista, Sergio Sánchez and Buonanotte; they’re all important players, but we’ve already shown that we can perform well without them.  The players know exactly what they’re doing.”
 
“The pitch has been attacked by a type of fungus.  I hope it continues to improve by tomorrow.”

“I can’t really give an opinion on Milan at the moment; they’re not having a great run in the League right now, but in the Champions League, they’ve got four out of six points, so they’ll be a tough team to beat.  Milan is going through an important change, with a lot of new players since last season, which has shown in their League games.  They played well against St. Petersburg in the Champions League though, so we need to be at the top of our game in order to win tomorrow.”

“The best thing we can do is to continue playing like we did against Zenit and Valladolid, and any of the other matches we’ve won, impose our style of play whilst at the same time, taking into account our rival.  We’re not expecting a different Milan; we’re expecting Milan.  We’re not focusing on their recent matches, just how tough they can be.”

“Maintaining concentration in every match is fundamental.  Every player needs to remain focused on the game in these competitions.  Then the players’ individual skills come into play.  Hopefully we’ll excel in both in order to win tomorrow.”


Statements by Joaquín
 
“I’m pleased we’re up against a big team like Milan, and although they’re not going through their best time right now, they’ve been performing well in the Champions League.  We’re performing well in home matches, but have the utmost respect for Milan, who have some great players with a lot of experience.”
 
“We’re fully aware of the significance of tomorrow’s match.  It’s the most important match in the history of this Club, and we need to continue playing with the same commitment and attitude we’ve shown in recent matches in order to keep moving upwards.  I hope we can continue with our recent good run of results in the Champions League, and achieve another victory for our fans.”

“I think we’re definitely capable of winning tomorrow, and will then be in touching distance of the next round.  We need to play the best football we can, and make it as difficult for Milan as possible.  I hope we enjoy the match too, as the fans always do!  We need to be quicker on the pitch than the other team, perform as well as we can and avoid making mistakes.”

“League victories always help, when it comes to morale and motivation, especially with matches like we’re facing tomorrow.  A win gives a team confidence, though it will be a bit different in tomorrow’s game.  The atmosphere in the stadium will be amazing, so I hope we put on a good show for the fans against an experienced team like Milan, who are used to playing at this level of competition.”

“I’ll make the most of every moment.  When a player reaches a certain age, you learn to appreciate every day; not just the matches, but every training session, every trip, being with your team mates, and when things go well, it’s even better!  I feel like I’ve got more freedom and am more relaxed than I have been in the past, so I enjoy things a lot more.”

“We know Pellegrini so well, and the wealth of experience he has behind him.  We all like and respect his philosophy of the game and his method of work.  With Iturra aswell, though perhaps we don’t know him as well as Pellegrini, but he’s adapted perfectly to the team, and is definitely at the high level needed to play for Málaga.  They’re both crucial to the team, and I hope they’ll be here for many more years.”

“Robinho is a player of exquisite quality, and very determined on the pitch.  When players like him are unable to play in these sorts of matches, it’s better for the opponent.  But Milan have other players at a very high level, and anyone of them could determine the result of the match.  We’ll concentrate on our own style of play, attack the match in the best way we can, and hopefully create crucial opportunities for us throughout the game.”

“We’ve already played some very important matches, like the play-offs, and the euphoria surrounding the team, and the atmosphere amongst the fans was incredible.  I hope our desire to win against a team like Milan will see us achieve a victory for our fans, and move Málaga further on amongst the best teams in Europe.”