© EuroFootball.com
Coach Carlo Ancelotti doesn't need any reminders that today's opponent in the Champions League, the team he leads, can win in Italy, despite all the predictions.
Six years ago, Ancelotti was the coach, and his team reached the Champions League semi-finals against the Manchester team in England. However, in the return leg, the "Rossoneri" lost at the Delle Alpi stadium with a score of 3-2.
AC Milan's performance in the first leg is slightly better - they won 1-0 away, but Ancelotti insists that the final result has not been reached: "I remember perfectly what happened last time. We know that only half the job has been done," he said at Old Trafford.
United manager Alex Ferguson said that a victory against Milan would be an even greater achievement than winning at the Delle Alpi stadium: "It was the best performance of the team in the time I've been in charge," he said. - Winning on Tuesday would improve this achievement."
"Cautious" and "defending calmly" will probably be the words that commentators will use to describe Milan's game at the San Siro stadium tonight. Ancelotti's team knows that a draw is enough to advance to the next stage, but the coach states that they will play for the victory: "We don’t want to just defend because it can end sadly," he said. - We want to play like we did in Manchester."
Italian champions are in excellent form, emphasizing their defensive strength. After two harsh defeats in January, Milan won their last seven matches, four of them with a 1-0 result. On Saturday, after a victorious goal, Ancelotti's team defeated [opponent].
On Tuesday, Milan's forward and former Man Utd defender Jaap Stam returned. Inzaghi will likely start the match on the bench, as Ancelotti's secret weapon. The coach still cannot rely on the abilities of Andrei Shevchenko, as he is still recovering from a cheekbone injury sustained last month. The Georgian [player] is also not in optimal sporting form, so he could be replaced in the starting lineup.
Manchester United failed to win away over the weekend and finished the match without one player. "Red Devils" will need more insight in attack if they want to cause problems for the Milan club.
Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy returned to the pitch for the first time after an injury, but he still lacks playing practice, so Wayne Rooney is likely to take his place in the starting lineup. The goalkeeper, whose mistake was capitalized on by Hernan Crespo at Old Trafford, will be replaced by American Tim Howard.
In defense, after English national team player Gary Neville's shin injury, Sir Alex Ferguson will have to make some adjustments. Injured defender's place on the right will be taken by Wes Brown, while the Frenchman will shift to the center.
The speed and threat from the wing of young talent W.Rooney are the main weapons of the English team against Milan's defense. Frenchman Louis Saha could have heightened this threat, but he is out of the lineup due to injury.
Ferguson hopes that his team will show character and achieve the required result: "Tuesday evening will be a great player evening," he said. - We will have to defend better than we have ever defended. If we don't concede a goal, and the match goes to the end, our chances will increase. I think the team that wins this match should win the championship trophy. I know there are good players in other teams, like [player], but there is strong moral preparation in our team and Milan's team."
Predicted line-ups:
"Milan" (4-2-3-1): Dida; Cafu (or Jaap Stam), Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Kakha Kaladze; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Rui Costa, Kaka; Hernan Crespo
"Manchester United" (4-1-4-1): Tim Howard; Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre, Gabriel Heinze; Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Quinton Fortune, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney
The match will be officiated by referee Helbert Fandel.
