Ferguson has faith in fair play

Tuesday, 1 May 2007

by Michael Harroldfrom Milan

Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the spirit in which AC Milan and his side play the game should ensure there is no repeat of the disciplinary heartache Paul Scholes and Roy Keane suffered in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League eight years ago.

'Tragedy'
Both players missed United's 2-1 victory against FC Bayern München in the 1999 final after collecting yellow cards in the second leg of their last-four triumph against Juventus. With United players Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze, as well as Milan veteran Paolo Maldini, all one booking away from a suspension that would rule them out of the Athens showpiece, Sir Alex hopes history will not repeat itself. "I think it's a tragedy to miss a final," he said, as his team aim to build on last week's thrilling 3-2 victory.

'Confidence'
"My biggest confidence is in AC Milan because I don't think they're a team who do anything bad to get players booked because there's no point to it. Neither team benefits because we don't play each other again. It's a semi-final so it can only help the opponents in the final. From what I've seen in the last two games against AC Milan - the last game, and the two before, two years ago [in the first knockout round] - there was absolutely no evidence of anything wrong.

Maldini praise
"You only have to go back a week and see the manner and spirit in which the game was played in Manchester. I think it was a credit to both sets of players and their professionalism, and I expect the same tomorrow. Paolo Maldini, I believe, is also on two yellows and I think if Milan were to beat us, I think everybody would want to see Maldini in the final. I would like to, because I'll be in Athens no matter whether it's with United or to see the final, and I think a tournament like that should get the best players. For me, it would be fantastic to see Maldini at 38 years of age playing in a European final."

'Thrilling spectacle'
UEFA President Michel Platini praised both clubs for the manner in which the first leg was played, describing the match as a "thrilling spectacle" and a "positive advertisement for European football". They are comments Carlo Ancelotti clearly took to heart. "I'm pleased he said that because, at the moment, it is very important to represent Italian football in the best way," said the Milan coach. "We need to follow the example of other countries in order to improve the situation at home."

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

Ancelotti aiming to live the dream

Tuesday, 1 May 2007

by Richard Aikmanfrom Milan

As AC Milan prepare to turn around a 3-2 UEFA Champions League semi-final deficit against Manchester United FC, coach Carlo Ancelotti has described the prospect of reaching the final in Athens as "a Utopian dream".

Utopian dream
Back in the autumn, Milan were languishing at the wrong end of Serie A. A league points deduction and a shortened pre-season had affected form and confidence; Athens looked a long way off. Now, though, the resurgent Rossoneri stand third in the table and one match away from booking their third final in five years. "At the start of the season I said that getting to Athens was a Utopian dream," said Ancelotti. "But now this dream is becoming a reality. This side showed great unity through the tough times. That has brought them this far and now we're confident because we're playing well and we're close to our objective."

Rooney danger
However, that quest has been made harder by the first-leg loss. Milan let a 2-1 advantage at Old Trafford slip, despite themselves rallying after Cristiano Ronaldo's early goal. The competition's top scorer Kaká scored twice only for Wayne Rooney to better the Brazilian with two strikes of his own, the latter coming seconds from the end of a thrilling contest. "Their most dangerous attacking player is without doubt Rooney," added Ancelotti. "But if we concede again it's not a disaster. We know we can score more than once because we've done so twice already."

'Huge achievement'
With the likely return of Filippo Inzaghi, Milan's attack should be all the more potent, the Italian international having registered 36 UEFA Champions League goals in 64 appearances, while morale is high after five straight league wins, culminating in Saturday's 1-0 success at Torino FC. Further good news for the Milanese giants is the return of Gennaro Gattuso (foot) although captain Paolo Maldini (knee) is "99 per cent" unlikely to recover. "Getting this far has been a huge achievement," continued Ancelotti. "We've made the cake, now we just need to put the cherry on top."

Treble vision
With the treble in sight, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be thinking similar thoughts. Having taken a five-point Premiership lead and advanced to the FA Cup final, Sir Alex knows he is within touching distance of repeating the triumph of 1998/99. His side showed resilience to turn defeat into victory last Tuesday, and did likewise at Everton FC on Saturday, somehow transforming a 2-0 reverse into a 4-2 win. "We've developed well this season," he said. "Success and confidence has helped the process and some players have done exceptionally well in their first season."

'Doing it our way'
The 65-year-old singled out Milan's Kaká, Gattuso and Maldini for particular praise but insists his team will not be cowed by the sold-out San Siro. The possible return from injury of defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić - who both trained on Tuesday - may also compensate for the loss of the suspended Patrice Evra. "This team thrives on the big occasions and tomorrow will be the biggest test yet," continued Sir Alex. "You would expect Milan to score at home but our safety net is an emphasis on scoring. Sitting on the edge of the penalty box doesn't do us any good and it doesn't do the fans any good. So I think if we're going to do it, we've got to do it our way."

Probable teams
Milan: Dida; Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini; Kaká, Clarence Seedorf; Filippo Inzaghi.

Man. United: Edwin van der Sar; John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidić/Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Gabriel Heinze; Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney.

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

Gattuso takes heart from Kaká class

Tuesday, 1 May 2007

by Paolo Menicucci & Richard Aikmanfrom Milan
Despite seeing his side succumb to a 3-2 defeat by Manchester United FC in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg, Gennaro Gattuso is convinced AC Milan will reach the final thanks to the "devastating" form of Kaká.

Kaká class
The Brazil forward inspired Milan's short-lived revival at Old Trafford with two goals in 15 minutes that gave the visitors a 2-1 half-time lead - and Gattuso has every faith that Kaká will continue his UEFA Champions League heroics on Wednesday night. "If he is as devastating as he was in the first leg, we will win," said the Italian international, whose excellent display last week was curtailed when he limped off after 53 minutes with a foot injury.

'Important player'
Gattuso has recovered in time for the rematch, though, and is raring to go. "I feel fine," the 29-year-old said. "I thought it was going to be a lot worse but instead I have managed to recover so I am delighted." Milan's rival manager at San Siro, Sir Alex Ferguson, is another Kaká fan - though he also has a word of praise for Gattuso himself. "The obvious threat was there for everyone to see last week in the shape of Kaká," Sir Alex told uefa.com. "Kaká is the obvious threat. I thought he gave a terrific performance and we have to pay attention to that. We know where their threat's come from. They also have important players like Gattuso. He brings a lot of energy to them, he's a very important player."

'Incredible hand'
The combative former Rangers FC midfielder is demanding similar commitment from the stands at the Giuseppe Meazza, calling for British-style support for the Rossoneri. "I noticed with Liverpool [FC] and Manchester United that the English never give up and it's thanks to their fans," he said. "It's not a criticism of ours, of course, they always get behind us and sing. However, this time they need to give us an incredible hand. We know it will be tough but that's normal in the Champions League semi-finals. All Rossoneri fans should be proud because it's a miracle we've reached this stage. No one expected it. Considering the way we started the season and what happened, it has been a great result to get here. But we don't want to stop now." Gattuso, for one, will not be stopping. "I know only one way of preparing for this kind of game: I think about running and running until I cannot run any more."

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

Penalty joy as Liverpool reach final

Tuesday, 1 May 2007
by John Mathewsfrom Anfield

Pepe Reina saved two spot-kicks as Liverpool FC knocked English rivals Chelsea FC out of the UEFA Champions League 4-1 on penalties to reach a second final in three seasons on a dramatic night at Anfield.

Chelsea denied
Daniel Agger's first-half shot had taken the semi-final into extra time but with no further goals and the aggregate scores locked at 1-1, a shoot-out ensued in which Dirk Kuyt struck the decisive conversion. After Boudewijn Zenden had tucked away Liverpool's first attempt, Reina guessed right to save Arjen Robben's effort. The next penalties were scored by Xabi Alonso, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard before Geremi was outsmarted by Reina and Kuyt stroked in the clincher.

Electrifying
Anfield had basked under a cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine at kick-off, but as darkness fell and the temperature dropped so it rose to boiling point inside the famous old stadium which, as expected, was full of song and passion throughout. Visibly lifted by the crowd, Liverpool started brightly and had most of the early possession without making inroads until the place erupted in celebration in the 22nd minute.

Agger goal
Gerrard fooled everyone with a low free-kick from the corner of the box which Chelsea expected to be curled up towards Peter Crouch and the mass of bodies around him; instead the Liverpool captain squared it to Danish international defender Agger, who sidefooted the ball past Petr Čech with power and precision. The aggregate equaliser was greeted by near pandemonium and Chelsea struggled to get into the match until Didier Drogba gave Liverpool a scare when he beat the offside trap but not Reina, who blocked his shot from a promising position.

Essien chance
The Premiership title-holders had another decent opportunity to equalise five minutes before the interval, however. Drogba climbed well to nod Lampard's corner towards the Kop End goal, yet Michael Essien could not apply the finishing touch with his header and the ball bounced to safety past Reina's right-hand post.

Off the bar
Although it seemed impossible at the time, the tension increased after the break as both teams went in search of goals. Crouch thought he had done enough to score when he towered above Paulo Ferreira and Essien to meet Jermaine Pennant's cross but his downward header was kept out by the feet of Čech. Soon afterwards, Kuyt went even closer with a header that came back off the crossbar. With so much at stake, errors were commonplace and what the game lacked in fluidity, it more than made up for with intensity.

Carragher scare
Determined to fight back, Chelsea went within a whisker of levelling matters on the night when full-back Ashley Cole raided down the left in the 75th minute and cut the ball inside from the byline; Jamie Carragher, in an attempt to deny Drogba, connected from three metres out and saw his clearance skim over the top. As play and the psychological pendulum swung this way and that, Zenden brought another save from Čech, yet the clocked eventually ticked down to 90 without further score, prompting extra time.

Offside decision
Kuyt found the net in the first additional period but an offside flag ruled his effort out after he had followed up Čech's parry from substitute Alonso's stinging drive. Čech frustrated Kuyt again after the stretching Drogba was centimetres away from turning in Shaun Wright-Phillips's enticing centre. Tired minds and weary legs failed to conjure a match-winner, however, and penalties beckoned at the Anfield Road End. Here, Kuyt did get his winning goal and, for the seventh time in their history, Liverpool are through to the European Champion Clubs' Cup final. Chelsea, beaten at this stage for the third time since 2004, still await their first.

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.