© EuroFootball.com
FC Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was satisfied with the result after the first Champions League quarterfinal match ended in a draw with AC Milan and praised his players for their fighting spirit.
"It was truly a great match, full of excitement and surprises. In the first half, Milan was clearly the stronger team, but our goalkeeper Michael Rensing showed his class by repelling several dangerous shots. But I think we deserved the draw because we fought hard until the end," the coach said.
The German champions in Milan fell behind twice, but Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten equalized in the final minute (2-2) to give Bayern a good position for the return leg.
"At home, a 0-0 draw will be enough for us, but we must score at least one goal," emphasized the Munich team's strategist.
Hitzfeld noted that the Italian team seemed tired in the second half: "There's no doubt about one thing - Milan's players significantly reduced their pace in the second half. But we are more of a 'second half team' and this time we played it well. Christian Lell and Lukas Podolski also contributed to this."
However, the match cost Bayern dearly - defender Willy Sagnol is likely to miss the rest of the season due to a meniscus injury.
Meanwhile, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was disappointed: "This is a cold shower. After what the team did, we deserved to win. We are very disappointed, but we hope for success in the return leg. Bayern now has better chances, but today we were the better team."
The strategy of Milan's team admitted that his team ran out of steam: "We just got tired. We worked hard in the middle of the field, and at crucial moments of the match, we lacked energy and clarity in organizing attacks."
In the return leg in Munich, Milan will have to do without striker Alberto Gilardino, who received a yellow card in the second half and will have to miss the next match.
