If AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has a broader than usual smile on his face as he runs his composite squad through their paces at the Hong Kong Stadium this morning, it could be because this place has happy connotations.
The 44-year-old, who has brought his superstar side for a footballing honeymoon after claiming the club's 17th domestic title, revealed that the SAR was the destination for his marital equivalent, after tying the knot with his wife Luisa.
'I first came to Hong Kong on my honeymoon in 1983. Because of that I always look forward to coming here,' he said. 'Actually it is so long ago my memory has got dim, but it's a honeymoon I was very lucky to have because for the past 20 years I have had a very happy marriage. And if I had the choice to do it all again I would. Hong Kong has brought me luck. For Italians the 25th anniversary is a very important phase. I'm considering coming back to Hong Kong to celebrate 25 years of marriage.'
That trip would take place in 2008 and if Ancelotti is still in charge of Milan then, he should consider bringing the other single-most important figure in his life along with him. Coaching careers live and die on the quality of strikers available, and Milan's success in persuading Ukrainian superstar Andriy Shevchenko to sign a new four-year deal - keeping him with the San Siro side until 2009 - may play a major part in deciding how long Ancelotti extends his three-year-long tenure with the club. Milan sealed the deal in face of a looming and aggressive approach from Chelsea's Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
'Shevchenko is a very important player for Milan,' the coach said. 'He's a great player. Milan is a great club. Naturally we want the great players to play for a great club.'
The 27-year-old suffered a bizarre interrogation during a shambolic press conference yesterday, once he and the six other players fielding questions had been besieged by journalists, several of whom were seeking autographs on replica shirts. Faced with several demands for comments by one reporter seemingly unaware that he had made the long-term commitment, Shevchenko was barely able to contain his bemusement at being grilled about the English club.