Serie A

AC MILAN boss Stefano Pioli bizarrely claimed that two of his stars were “feeling, smelling and kissing each other” – before joking that kisses them too.The Rossoneri have been criticised over recent weeks for their poor defensive displays but they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Napoli on Sunday.
Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez were in stunning form for AC Milan as they beat NapoliCredit: Getty
Manager Stefano Pioli had some bizarre comments about the duo afterwardsCredit: AP
Theo Hernandez scored the only goal of the game after 25 minutes.
It was a result of the partnership between the 26-year-old French international full-back and left winger Rafael Leao.
The Portuguese forward brilliantly picked out Hernandez’s run behind the defence, with the ace racing through and making no mistake with his finish.
And speaking to DAZN after the game, Pioli had many supporters in stitches as he spoke about his star duo.
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When asked if they both looked to be back to their best, the 58-year-old Italian said: “Yes. Out of necessity Theo had made himself available to play as a central defender and in my opinion he did it brilliantly.
“On the wing they hear each other, they smell each other, they know each other, they kiss each other, I kiss them too when they score a goal (laughs).”
Pioli then added: “I think Theo had difficulty last year in getting over the disappointment of the World Cup final, the fatigue of the World Cup in that period.
“This year when we restarted the season I found him to be very positive, very proactive.
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“He has become a leader of this team, he doesn’t talk much.
“The games he played as a central defender made him understand how much more attentive and active he can be in the defensive phase.
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“He has such great potential that he absolutely must continue like this.”
That result saw third-placed Milan open up a 17-point gap over Napoli in fourth.
They sit a point behind Juventus, who have a game in hand, while they are eighth behind Serie A leaders Inter. More

JUVENTUS, Inter Milan and AC Milan are pushing to kick two clubs out of Serie A, according to reports.The proposal was initially put forward by Italian federation [FIGC] president Gabriele Gravina and has received the backing of the trio.
Juventus and Inter Milan are pushing to have two clubs kicked out of Serie ACredit: Rex
Serie A has 20 teams and the changes could see that number reduced to 18 – but several clubs oppose the plan.
Club bosses from both Milan teams and Juventus have met to discuss the proposals and are all in favour, report Sky Sports Italia.
The Serie A expanded from 18 to 20 clubs in 2004, equalling the number in the Premier League.
But Italy’s big three argue a reduction would ease a busy fixture list while increasing the quality of football on offer.
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The potential restructure is set to be debated by the FIGC during a meeting on March 11.
Italy’s big three dominate Serie A with Napoli’s title success last year the first time one of the trio did not win the league since 2001.
All three clubs were also involved in plans to form a Super League in 2021.
Even after plans were killed off Juventus refused to back down from the project along with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
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Inter Milan are running away at the top of Serie A this season having lost just one match all season.
Juventus are seven points adrift with rivals Milan a further four points back – Inter have won their last seven games in all competitions.

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BITTER Jose Mourinho left Roma on a sour note… quite literally.The Portuguese was sacked by the Serie A side last month amid a dismal run of form and a string of baffling outbursts.
Jose Mourinho was sacked by Roma last monthCredit: Rex
Mourinho, 61, was tearful as he left Roma’s training ground for the final time.
Following his departure he posted a video montage of his period at the club to social media.
He captioned it: “Sweat, blood, tears, joy, sadness, love, brothers, history, heart, eternity.”
According to reports in Italy, his leaving message for his players was remarkably more cold.
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After winning the Europa Conference League in 2022, Mourinho received a ring from his players.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager was thrilled to have returned to winning ways following his side’s final victory over Feyenoord.
But according to Italian outlet Il Messaggero, following his sacking, he gave the ring back.
They claim that Mourinho left the ring in skipper Lorenzo Pellegrini’s locker on his way out.
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It’s even added that he accompanied it with a note reading: “When you are men, give it back to me.”
Just weeks after his Roma sacking, Mourinho snubbed a quick return to management with Saudi side Al-Shabab.
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Over the weekend, disgruntled Chelsea fans sang his name during their side’s dismal 4-2 defeat to Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
According to his old mate Alan Pardew, Mourinho would be up for a third stint at Stamford Bridge, should the job become available.
His former player Mario Melchiot, however, believes it would take the England job to tempt Mourinho back to these shores.
The Dutchman, 47, told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “Do I see him coming back to England? I’m not sure. Why would he? He has done so many great things in this country.
“He had two spells in charge of Chelsea and was successful in both, he’s also managed Manchester United and Tottenham before going out to Italy.
“I just don’t know what else he’d need to prove in England. What is he going to do next? Go to Liverpool? Probably not. I suppose the only job he might take in England, now, is the national job.
“It’s something that has been spoken about in the past and, personally, I think that would just come down to what the FA want from their next manager.”
Inside Jose Mourinho’s last days in RomeBy Kealan Hughes and Etienne Fermie
Jose Mourinho hit out at officials and managers towards the end of his tenure, which was marred by ill discipline.
He received three red cards in 2022-23 and three more this term, including in a feisty Rome derby defeat to Lazio.
The Portuguese was sent off in the match prior to that against Atalanta and also against Monza, after which he told opposite number Raffaele Palladino: “You talk a lot and then you cry.”
Last term, Mourinho tore into Serie A whistler Daniele Chiffi after claiming to have “worn a wire” in order to protect himself from sanctions.
The former Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham boss said of Chiffi: “He is the worst referee I have met in my life.
“He is the worst. Technically he’s horrible. Zero empathy. Zero communication. Zero awareness.”
As his tenure began to unravel, the Italian media also found themselves in Mourinho’s firing line.
Following a 2-1 win over Sassuolo in December last year he refused to speak Italian after the match, despite being fluent.
Instead, he bizarrely only spoke Portuguese, with an interpreter translating for confused local reporters.
A few weeks later things spiralled even further, with Mourinho snubbing the media altogether after his red card against Atalanta.
Mourinho received incredible backing from the Roma fanbase, but some began to tire of his antics this season.
With unrest growing further after Lazio dumped his side out of the Coppa Italia, Mourinho bizarrely compared himself to a fictional wizard.
He said: “The Roma fans are the most incredible I have seen. Their coach is Jose ‘Harry Potter’ Mourinho and he raises expectations.” More