Emerson: Pato Is The New Bebeto

Emerson has dubbed Pato the new Bebeto in a homage to both the AC Milan youngster and, perhaps, the former Deportivo La Coruna legend.

Bebeto, who scored 42 goals for Brazil between 1985 and 1998, is still held in extremely high regard in Brazil, and Emerson has signalled that Pato could one day do the same.

"For a 17 year old he displays great personality, and great class... I'd compare him to Bebeto, for his class and his ability to score," 'Puma' Emerson said of Pato.

Emerson played alongside Bebeto in the 1998 World Cup finals squad, and could potentially do the same with Pato in three years' time.

For now, though, he is focused on AC Milan, complete with its own contingent of samba stars.

In an online chat session with fans on ACMilan.com, he said, "I'm feeling very happy here in Milan.

"And with all these Brazilians [Kaka, Pato etc.] I feel even more at home.

"[Carlo] Ancelotti is a great coach, too. He knows how to instill great calm and tranquility into the squad, says the right things, and does well by the players on the pitch.

"[Former coach at Real Madrid Fabio] Capello is a very serious boss, but Ancelotti jokes around with us players, and the atmosphere is generally more relaxed."

Emerson, 31, was accused by some Madrid fans of being over the hill last season, but the ex-Juventus midfielder insists that this is far from the truth.

"My physical preparation at the moment is fine," he claimed.

"My desire today is the same as it was with the club that launched my professional career, Gremio of Porto Alegre."

Emerson, looking back to his own days of a 17 year old, claimed that his own mentor growing up was Zico, who scored 66 goals in 88 appearances for Brazil.

PATO PLEASED TO BE OFF THE MARK

AC Milan youngster Alexandre Pato is delighted to have scored his first goal for the Rossoneri, albeit in a friendly.

The 17-year-old Brazilian, who joined the European champions in the summer, netted in his side's 2-2 draw with Dynamo Kiev in a match to mark the 80th birthday of the Ukrainian club.

Pato, who scored in the 44th minute, told www.acmilan.com from the Dynamo training camp: "It's not the first time I have scored with my head.

"I got a similar goal for the Brazil Under-20 side. I remain at the disposition of the team. I can play as an out and out striker and I also like to communicate with my team-mates in midfield."

Ancelotti Gushing Over Pato Debut

Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for Alexandre Pato following the Brazilian's impressive debut in a Milan shirt.

Alexandre Pato made a great debut in yesterday's friendly against Dinamo Kiev, even scoring with a first half header to spark Milan's comeback, and Carlo Ancelotti could not be more delighted.

"Alexandre played very well and immediately showed his quality," Ancelotti told Milan Channel. "You can see that he is a talented player, both with and without the ball.

"All he needs to do is gain experience as he is so quick, agile and cunning. Aerial balls aren’t his speciality, but he netted from a header.

"He can do anything in attack as he reads the game well and comes to get the ball."

Alberto Gilardino scored Milan's second goal, and the much-criticized striker was pleased: "It’s always nice to score, even in a friendly.

"We played well and Pato integrated quickly. He’s a great player with so much technical ability for his age."

Alexandre Pato Goal for AC Milan

Pato Scores As Milan Share Spoils With Dinamo Kiev

Dinamo Kiev celebrated their 80th anniversary by playing a friendly against European champions AC Milan, which finished 2-2.

Milan came from two goals down to secure a draw against Dynamo Kiev in the friendly to mark the 80th anniversary of the Ukrainian club.

With former Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko watching from the sidelines, much-hyped Brazilian wonder-kid Alexandre Pato made an impressive debut, even scoring a goal.

The Milan defence had serious difficulties at the start, as Dinamo opened the scoring after only six minutes with a header by Artem Milevskiy, who was found all alone inside the area.

After some more chances for the home side, with Brazilian defender Digao making a crucial goal line clearance, Pato fashioned a chance for Milan out of nothing in the 19th minute.

However, his assist found Alberto Gilardino in an offside position, so his 'goal' was called off.

Two minutes after that, it was 2-0 for the home side, as Goran Gavrancic fired a precise diagonal shot after a scrappy move.

Following the second goal Milan improved, and Pato had his first shot on goal, a left-footer which required the goalkeeper to make a good save, in the 23rd minute.

Shortly thereafter, Pato was again in the spotlight, as he played a nice one-two with Pierre Aubameyang, but fired his shot wide from a good position.

The impressive young Brazilian finally got his reward just before half-time, as he headed in a cross from the right by Daniele Bonera to give Milan a lifeline going into the second half.

Only five minutes into the restart, Gilardino finally got his long-awaited goal, as he controlled the ball with his chest, before dribbling past the goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net.

There were to be no more goals after this equaliser, although Pato continued to impress, distributing precise passes and showing strong overall technique. There were also some moments of glory for long-time Milan substitute keeper Valerio Fiori, who was on hand to prevent Dinamo making 3-2 on several occasions in the final part of the game.

In the final minutes, there was even some room for coach Carlo Ancelotti's son Davide, who plays with the Milan youth team and came in two minutes before the end of this match.


Starting Formations:

DINAMO KIEV (4-4-2): Rybka; Fedorov, Ghioane, Shatskikh, Milevskiy, Vaschchuk, Gavrancic, Ninkovic, Yussuf, Marcovic, Maikl.
COACH: Demyanenko.
AVAILABLE: Garmashi, Klèber, Belkevich, Aliev, Lutsenko, Eschhenko, Rodrigo.

MILAN (4-4-2): Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Digao, Favalli; Cafu, Brocchi, Emerson, W. Aubameyang; Pato, Gilardino.
COACH: Ancelotti.
AVAILABLE: Fiori, D. Ancelotti, Furlan, Caraglia, Rampinini, Cosner, P. Aubameyang.