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发信人: football (自由诚可贵·爱情价更高^_^), 信区: ACMilan
标  题: dida nb
发信站: BBS 水木清华站 (Tue Mar  8 18:15:08 2005), 站内


Dida sets the No1 example
Monday, 7 March 2005
By Paolo Menicucci

  

Dida has been in superb form for Milan


AC Milan are on course to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions
League after Hernán Crespo pounced on an error by Manchester United FC
goalkeeper Roy Carroll to give his side a deserved 1-0 first-leg victory at
Old Trafford.

Heavy price
The Northern Irish international paid a heavy price for his mistake. Sir Alex
Ferguson recalled Tim Howard against Portsmouth FC three days later and he is
expected to stick with the American for the return leg in Milan. "When you
get pressure from the media and that sort of attention, sometimes it's better
to take the player out the team," said the United manager. "It was time to
see how Tim does again, so we can be sure about who will play in Milan."

Dida impresses
But Howard too has struggled in the Champions League this season and has made
just one appearance since conceding a soft goal against Olympique Lyonnais on
Matchday 1. In contrast, as Sir Alex wrestles with his goalkeeping dilemma,
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has no doubts over his No1, Dida.

Draw inspiration
The 31-year-old Brazilian has established himself as one of the best
goalkeepers in the world over the past three seasons, but he knows just how
it feels to make a costly mistake. Carroll and Howard can draw inspiration
from his reaction to it. Against Leeds United AFC during Milan's 2000/01
Champions League campaign the little-known Brazilian, in his first season at
the club, dropped the ball into his own goal after saving Lee Bowyer's
innocuous last-minute shot. It cost Milan the match and Dida his place in the
side.

A mistake is only a mistake

Nelson Dida


'Proved myself'
"If I made that error now, everything would be much easier for me because
I've already proved what I can do. A mistake is only a mistake," he said. "It
was a different situation in those days because it was one of my first games
with Milan and nobody knew me. Many people jumped to label me a very bad
goalkeeper."

'Second chance'
It was the beginning of a very difficult period for Dida, who was later
suspended for using a false Portuguese passport to gain European Union
status. "I never lost my confidence despite that mistake, and despite the
problem with the passport," Dida said. "I continued to train hard and learn
as much as I could. I have been lucky to work with a lot of good coaches. I
was just waiting for another chance to prove I could play in a team like
Milan." That chance came in a Champions League qualifying game against FC
Slovan Liberec in August 2002.

'Mentally ready'
Milan defeated the Czech side on away goals, the first hurdle on a run to the
final where they defeated Juventus FC on penalties. Dida was the star of the
show. "I was mentally ready to play against Liberec and I played well," Dida
said. "After that I didn't look back. We got to the Champions League final
and I saved a few penalties. Then everybody knew me."

Safe hands
Dida was excellent again last season when Milan won the Scudetto, and is now
considered the best goalkeeper in Serie A, alongside Juve's Gianluigi Buffon.
The Brazilian is in superb form and has conceded just one goal in his past
five appearances. How Howard and Carroll would like to put a run like that
behind them. Tuesday would be the perfect time to start, and either, given
the chance, will hope to grab it - preferably with a safe pair of hands.

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