CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AC Milan v Barcelona:AC MILAN have discarded the possibility of adopting a defensive approach when they face free-scoring Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final, coach Massimiliano Allegri yesterday said Tuesday.
Milan’s city rivals Inter Milan, at the time led by Jose Mourinho, managed to beat Barcelona over two legs two seasons ago with the help of ultra-cautious tactics but Allegri implied that was not his team’s style.
“It’s difficult for us to play a match in the style of Mourinho’s Inter, they were a more physical side,” Allegri, whose side host the European champions at San Siro in tonight’s first leg, said.
“We will face Barcelona with courage, motivation and serenity . . . We have to try and make as few mistakes as possible and play with an attacking mentality.”
Allegri suggested that striker Robinho, who has been out of action for two weeks with an ankle injury, could be fit in time to start the game but said that right-back Ignazio Abate – a key player throughout the season – had been ruled out.
“We will have to evaluate the condition of Robinho, but we also have Maxi Lopez and Stephan El Shaarawy,” he said. “I have my solutions for the defence,” he added, referring to the injury to Thiago Silva, the linchpin of the central defence, who limped out of Saturday’s win against AS Roma in the first half having been passed fit to play.
“I took a decision,” said Allegri. “If he hadn’t started and we had played badly, I’d be criticised for that as well.”
Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic was inevitably asked about his relationship with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola following his acrimonious departure from the Nou Camp 18 months ago.
“Will I extend my hand to Guardiola? I don’t know, we’ve other things to think about. It’s not a big problem, I’ll do my thing and he’ll do his,” the Swede said. “There’s no time to think about the past.”
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is on the brink of yet another record in the tie. He needs one more goal to break the Champions League season record of 12 goals, set by himself last season and Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003, and also notch up his 50th goal of the competition.
Last week, Messi broke the Barcelona scoring record with his 234th goal for the club and his tally of 55 goals this season in all competitions is already a Spanish record with two months still to play. Barcelona have not lost in their last 14 Champions League games and are unbeaten in their last five against the Italians.
But Guardiola, whose side trail Real Madrid by six points in La Liga, dismissed Milan’s injury problems. “If we are expecting Milan to play below their usual standard, then we’re wrong,” he said after the draw was made.
“The fact that we did well in the group stage doesn’t mean we are going to win this tie.”
One person expecting Barcelona to progress is Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has dismissed Milan’s chances of winning this season’s Champions League.
The Frenchman, whose side were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate by the Rossoneri in the first knockout stage, praised their attacking flair but, writing in his column for Eurosport, he maintains Milan do not have what it takes to win their eighth European Cup.
“I know Milan very well; they play very well as far as collective work is concerned, but I do not think they are up to the task of winning the trophy,” he said.
Wenger feels home advantage could, however, hold the Italians in good stead for the first leg. “Milan know what to do to win at the San Siro,” he said. “I hope the condition of their pitch has improved because against us it was a disaster.
“They have some weak points, although they have a player with the quality of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Robinho can also be very dangerous in attack, but ‘Ibra’ can score a lot of goals on a good day.
“Everyone looks at Milan with respect, but I think they have no chance of winning the Champions League,” he said.
Teams ( probable)
AC Milan: Christian Abbiati; Daniele Bonera; Philippe Mexes, Alessandro Nesta, Luca Antonini; Antonio Nocerino, Massimo Ambrosini, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Urby Emanuelson; Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Maxi Lopez.
Barcelona: Victor Valdes; Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol; Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez.
