By Anna Italia

The shining sunshine is right on top of AC Milan after the dark cloud that followed Milan in Palermo and the Champions League match Celtic - AC Milan.

It seems the good news for the men of Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti are just flowing ... well, beside DIDA's UEFA punishment with a suspension of 2 UEFA Champions League matches.

Anyway, let's keep talking about the sunshine starting with the return to goal by striker Alberto Gilardino in Lazio 1 - 5 AC Milan, to the return after four months of beloved captain and symbol of AC Milan Paolo Maldini.

Captain Paolo Maldini said during his inteview with Milan channel. 'The friendly against Athletic Bilbao will give me the chance to play maybe one half, at most an hour."

Maldini continued saying that "It will be a match against a team who will give us problems, in a stadium full of enthusiasm, so it's a match that will present some difficulties, also because we are not with many. But it will be a test for those who have played less, who haven't been playing for a while, like me, Serginho, and Pato, who has merged himself well within the group and now needs to play real matches.'

Naturally, not only Milan coach Ancelotti is concerned about Maldini's health conditions, but also Milan fans. Therefore, when Maldini was asked about his condition, he responded:

"I haven't made any controls, in reality I should have had one done by professor Martens, but considering I train everyday I've only spoken to him on the phone; he trusts my feelings very much, so he didn't feel there was a need to meet with him. I've been working hard, first with an individual preparation: I did my whole preparation on my own and in the last week I worked almost always with the team. It has to be said that playing an actual game requires a different effort and that can't be simulated during a training session.

When asked about the victory of AC Milan at the Olimpico against Lazio, Maldini said,

"The match at the Olimpico was crucial, because the standings clearly said that we needed to get points, and from that point of view the match against Lazio was very important. I'd say we have made some mistakes so far but we should have had the three points at Palermo and then the standings would have looked better for us. Now it's tougher but certainly not impossible.'

After Defender Daniele Bonera, Captain Maldini shares the same opinion that Dida made a mistake during the UEFA Champions League Celtic - AC Milan.  "I think he made a mistake and he realises that, but our trust in him does not change. He remains a great goalkeeper, he's our first choice and will remain so until the end of his contract.'

WHAT:  Friendly Match Athletic Bilbao - AC Milan

WHERE: Stadio San Mamés at 20:45.

WHEN:   Friday, October 12, 2007

DEFENDERS: Bruscagin (37), Cafu, Cosner (41), Darmian (36), Favalli, Maldini, Nesta, Serginho

MIDFIELDERS: Ancelotti D. (39), Brocchi, Caraglia (38), Emerson, Gourcuff

ATTACKERS: Aubameyang, Gilardino, Pato