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发信站: BBS 水木清华站 (Tue Mar  8 18:14:39 2005), 站内

United target Rossoneri rearguard
Tuesday, 8 March 2005
By Ivan Carvalho in Milan

  

Milan's Alessandro Nesta (right) slides in on Ruud van Nistelrooij


AC Milan will look to their formidable backline to keep them in the
ascendancy when they take on fellow former European Champions Manchester
United FC in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout
round tie.

Defensive encounter
Hernán Crespo's solitary goal at Old Trafford two weeks ago has left Carlo
Ancelotti knowing a draw at the San Siro would be enough for his side to
advance into the quarter-finals, and he expects another defensive encounter
tonight. "I think Manchester United will play the same type of match as in
the first leg," the Milan coach said. "But I don’t expect either team to
create a lot of scoring opportunities."

'Latter stages'
Ancelotti's defensive mindset can be excused as his squad has been less than
stellar going forward in recent weeks. During the team's current seven-match
winning streak, Milan have relied on goals in added time to secure victory on
three occasions. "We have been creating a lot of opportunities in the latter
stages of games," Ancelotti explained. "That shows that even if we play with
more vehemence while the opposition lose their rhythm.

'Not impossible'
Sir Alex Ferguson seems to agree with Ancelotti, insisting he wants his
United side to keep strong at the back for as long as possible and rely on
their own knack of scoring decisive late goals to seal their progress. "It is
not the easiest task but it is not impossible," said Sir Alex. "That's the
key to the game. If we can keep Milan out that gives us a great chance. Even
with 20 minutes left and the score at 0-0, I would be happy."

This is probably the hardest task we have had to face

Sir Alex Ferguson


Memories of 1999
United scored twice in the dying moments to win the Champions League final in
1999, having overturned Ancelotti's Juventus FC in the last four. After a
drawn first leg, Sir Alex's side went 2-0 down early on in Turin but rallied
to win the match 3-2. Despite that remarkable turnaround, the United manager
insisted: "This is probably the hardest task we have had to face. At this
level an away goal counts for a lot and you saw that in the faces of our
players after Milan scored [in Manchester]. We hope we can do the same."

'Big boost'
Helping the situation for United this time around will be the presence of
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooij in the starting lineup. Although used as a
second-half substitute in the first leg, the Dutchman is now match fit
following his achilles injury. Aware of the challenge ahead, Van Nistelrooij
said: "If we can get a good result from this game then it will be a big boost
for our confidence.

Physically I am at my best

Ruud van Nistelrooij


Van Nistelrooij improving
"We have a massive task ahead of us but I feel I'm improving. I had 20
minutes against Milan two weeks ago but I've had two full games since then
and all the training as well. Physically I am at my best and hopefully I can
show that."

Inzaghi presence
United's leading scorer may be back in the frame, but Milan striker Andriy
Shevchenko is still sidelined after suffering a broken cheekbone during a
Serie A match against Cagliari Calcio in February. Should United break the
deadlock at the San Siro, expect Filippo Inzaghi, back from injury against
Atalanta BC at the weekend, to make another appearance from the substitutes'
bench. "Inzaghi has trained very little," warned Ancelotti. "But he showed in
Bergamo he can come on and get into the game."

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