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Leonardo praises AC Milan pride
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-22 09:26

ROME: AC Milan coach Leonardo praised his players' pride following their labored 1-0 home win against Bologna but said he wouldn't get carried away with the result.

Milan sit five points behind leaders Sampdoria and Juventus and three behind champions Inter Milan in the Serie A table after their second win in four matches.

Both of those have been narrow successes against minnow opposition with this win added to their 2-1 victory at Siena on the opening day of the season.

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Between those two matches, though, came a pair of disappointments: a 4-0 defeat to Inter and 0-0 draw at Livorno so Leonardo believes that these three points have helped put the club on the right track.

"I'm not using triumphant tones for this victory, there's still many things to do," he said. "My triumph was the commitment the team showed against Bologna. The players did a lot, they showed their pride from the beginning to the end.

"Now there is a fighting mentality; talent mixed in with desire and organization."

Milan have been starved of domestic success since 2004, their last scudetto triumph, despite twice since reaching the Champions League final, finishing runners-up in 2005 and winning it in 2007, both times against Liverpool.

AFP