Milan promise night to remember against Real
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti insists his team will take the game to European champions Real Madrid when the two meet in their mouth-watering Champions League Group C opener at the San Siro on Tuesday.
The Italians have played some of the most adventurous football seen for some time in Italy this season and Ancelotti says he is not about to change his approach against the Spaniards.
"We are not going to go out there to try to limit the qualities of Real -- we know they are the European champions -- but we want to show what we can do and to impose our game," Ancelotti said.
Real are without injured midfielder Claude Makelele and a 'flu bug means that Brazilian Ronaldo will miss the chance to return to the San Siro, where he played with Inter.
But Ancelotti says those absences will hardly weaken the nine-times European champions.
"They will miss important players including Ronaldo and Makelele...They won't be at their best considering their injury list, but Flavio Conceicao and Guti are not to be underrated as replacements," he said.
MEDIA ATTENTION
Milan will be without central defender Alessandro Nesta, with Alessandro Costacurta deputising alongside captain Paolo Maldini in the heart of the defence.
Ancelotti said that while much of the media attention had been focused on players such as Real's Zinedine Zidane and Milan's Rivaldo, the Spaniards also deserved credit for their teamwork.
"Real are a great team with their own identity that play in an organised manner. Even though they have so many top quality players that is not their only winning weapon -- they are a team," said the Milan coach.
Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who had a spell with Real earlier in his career, says the match between two clubs with 14 European titles between them is sure to be an occasion to remember.
"For such games we don't have to focus on motivation -- it comes by itself," said Seedorf.
"It will be an attractive, fascinating game between the two sides who have won more than anyone in Europe and can count on so many stars in their squads. A show is almost granted.
"The second stage of the Champions League is difficult in every group and if you want to win, you have to defeat all your rivals -- even if they are Real Madrid."
