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02/03/2008 10:25
Wenger: We Won't Be Out To Kill Kaka!
While commenting extensively on the hotly anticipated return-leg at the San Siro between Arsenal and AC Milan on Tuesday, Arsene Wenger has insisted that his team will not resort to he same type of henchmen tactics that so many Serie A teams have adopted to try to deal with the threat of Kaka - especially after seeing one of his own players literally almost lose his foot as the result of that type of 'take no prisoners' defending.
The Brazilian World Player of the Year has become an obvious target for defenders, man-markers, and hardmen of the game, and there are growing fears that he could pay the ultimate price by way of an early retirement if something isn't done to protect him.
Despite the fact that Kaka could kill Wenger's best laid plans for Champions League glory with a solitary stroke of genius, the French tactician shudders at the thought of resorting to violence to counter his brilliance.
Wenger said: "In Italy, what do the teams do who play against Milan? They take Kaka, get him out of the game.
"We will play zonal and will not mark him man to man. We will be faithful to what we do usually.
"We will try to get him out of the game by cutting the connections with him.
"If you kick the great players out of the game, why should people go to watch football?
"Great players make football a bit special, they make it art. If you are there to kill them, it is not acceptable."
The tie is on a knife's edge as a result of the scoreless stalemate at the Emirates Stadium, but Wenger knows that Milan can be a different kind of monster at home.
"We have to be tight defensively, because they tore Man United apart in the first 20 minutes of the second leg at the San Siro last season," he added.
"It is important for us to start strongly in defence, but also not to hide.
"What is good from the first result is we know every time we get the ball we are incited to go for a goal.
"I do not like to go away from home thinking your team just has to defend. With a 0-0 result, we know that we have to attack as well.
"From the first game, we have the belief we can beat them because we dominated the game - that always has an impact on the second game.
"We will need patience against them, but our pace can be a good asset.
"Milan have shown in Europe that they can deal with all sorts of opposition, they can slow the game down," Wenger reflected.
"What Milan do well is put you to their pace, and when Kaka gets the ball they can have sudden acceleration which can kill you.
"We will have to adapt to that because we like to play always at a high pace."
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
Wenger: We Won't Be Out To Kill Kaka!
While commenting extensively on the hotly anticipated return-leg at the San Siro between Arsenal and AC Milan on Tuesday, Arsene Wenger has insisted that his team will not resort to he same type of henchmen tactics that so many Serie A teams have adopted to try to deal with the threat of Kaka - especially after seeing one of his own players literally almost lose his foot as the result of that type of 'take no prisoners' defending.
The Brazilian World Player of the Year has become an obvious target for defenders, man-markers, and hardmen of the game, and there are growing fears that he could pay the ultimate price by way of an early retirement if something isn't done to protect him.
Despite the fact that Kaka could kill Wenger's best laid plans for Champions League glory with a solitary stroke of genius, the French tactician shudders at the thought of resorting to violence to counter his brilliance.
Wenger said: "In Italy, what do the teams do who play against Milan? They take Kaka, get him out of the game.
"We will play zonal and will not mark him man to man. We will be faithful to what we do usually.
"We will try to get him out of the game by cutting the connections with him.
"If you kick the great players out of the game, why should people go to watch football?
"Great players make football a bit special, they make it art. If you are there to kill them, it is not acceptable."
The tie is on a knife's edge as a result of the scoreless stalemate at the Emirates Stadium, but Wenger knows that Milan can be a different kind of monster at home.
"We have to be tight defensively, because they tore Man United apart in the first 20 minutes of the second leg at the San Siro last season," he added.
"It is important for us to start strongly in defence, but also not to hide.
"What is good from the first result is we know every time we get the ball we are incited to go for a goal.
"I do not like to go away from home thinking your team just has to defend. With a 0-0 result, we know that we have to attack as well.
"From the first game, we have the belief we can beat them because we dominated the game - that always has an impact on the second game.
"We will need patience against them, but our pace can be a good asset.
"Milan have shown in Europe that they can deal with all sorts of opposition, they can slow the game down," Wenger reflected.
"What Milan do well is put you to their pace, and when Kaka gets the ball they can have sudden acceleration which can kill you.
"We will have to adapt to that because we like to play always at a high pace."
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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