GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conference by Bayern Munich and AC Milan ahead of their Champions League second leg match

Record ID: 765714

  • Title: GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conference by Bayern Munich and AC Milan ahead of their Champions League second leg match
  • Date: 11th April 2007
  • Summary: ANDREA PIRLO ARRIVING
  • Embargoed: 26th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3CXVLV6QSL19A61UAXFDBP4W7
  • Story Text: Bayern hold a slight advantage after the first leg ended 2-2 in Milan last week but injury worries are making life difficult for coach Ottmar Hitzfeld as he prepares for the return at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday (April 10).
    Milan's morale was lifted on Saturday when they beat Empoli 3-1 to close to within a point of Serie A's fourth and final Champions League berth.
    The outward confidence, however, masks anxieties over the state of their attack.
    Alberto Gilardino's suspension means Ancelotti is expected to start Filippo Inzaghi as a lone striker, though the 33-year-old has been struggling to shake off a hamstring injury.
    Milan's away form in Europe this season has also been far from impressive, with their sole win against Anderlecht being offset by scoreless draws against Lille and Celtic, and a 1-0 defeat to AEK Athens.
    "I think they will play smarter at home, because they will have fans behind them. But I could imagine that in this situation they would be more careful," said Ancelotti.
    Milan captain Paolo Maldini believes Wednesday's quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich could be his final Champions League appearance but he said it was not weighing on his mind.
    "I have been giving my all for 20 years so I am not worried about the fact that tomorrow could be my last match if we are knocked out. I will give my everything and normally i am someone who thinks positively, so i am not worried," said Maldini.
    He made his 100th Champions League appearance against Celtic in Glasgow in February, joining the likes of Raul, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham of Real Madrid and Bayern's Oliver Kahn in reaching the century mark.
    He was in the Milan side which beat Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the 1989/90 European Cup and has played a record 165 times in all UEFA competitions.
    Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld confirmed the absence of Demichelis, the Argentine who can play in defence or midfield, at his pre-match news conference.
    A decision on attacking midfielder Schweinsteiger, who is struggling with a knee injury, will have to wait until a few hours before kick-off on Wednesday.
    Hasan Salihamidzic, Owen Hargreaves and Lucio have more minor injures and will be available if they come through Bayern's final training session.
    "I expect Milan to be affected a bit harder, because I expect us to qualify. No matter with what score we qualify, we have the advantage of playing at home, the public can be 12th man for us and that is our advantage. And the last match has shown that with great support we can achieve great results," said Hitzfeld.
    Bayern, chasing a semi-final place for the first time since they won the Champions League in 2001, will be boosted by the return of Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel and goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, who were suspended for the first leg.
    "Milan is a team which is far from conceding defat and who will look for opportunities with their top players and I believe none of us are stupid enough to think that we can be successful with less than hundred percent performance," said Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
    Milan outplayed Bayern for much of the first leg but two goals from centre-back Daniel van Buyten, the second coming deep in injury-time, gave Bayern a valuable draw.

    Probable teams: Bayern Munich: 1-Oliver Kahn; 30-Christian Lell, 3-Lucio, 5-Daniel Van Buyten, 21-Philipp Lahm; 20-Hasan Salihamidzic, 17-Mark van Bommel, 23-Owen Hargreaves, 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger; 10-Roy Makaay, 11-Lukas Podolski AC Milan: 1-Dida; 44-Massimo Oddo, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 3-Paolo Maldini, 18-Marek Jankulovski; 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 23-Massimo Ambrosini, 10-Clarence Seedorf; 22-Kaka; 9-Filippo Inzaghi.
    Hitzfeld confirmed the absence of Demichelis, the Argentine who can play in defence or midfield, at his pre-match news conference.
    A decision on attacking midfielder Schweinsteiger, who is struggling with a knee injury, will have to wait until a few hours before kick-off on Wednesday.
    "Bastian is highly doubtful," the coach said.
    Hasan Salihamidzic, Owen Hargreaves and Lucio have more minor injures and will be available if they come through Bayern's final training session.
    Milan outplayed Bayern for much of the first leg but two goals from centre-back Daniel van Buyten, the second coming deep in injury-time, gave Bayern a valuable draw.
    "Milan have a great squad of excellent players but individuals won't decide the tie," Hitzfeld said. "It is about team spirit and we've shown we can step up our game against the biggest teams.
    "We'll see a lot of fight from the Bayern players and I hope that makes the difference."
    "Mark is a leader, a player with presence, and obviously I'm delighted to have him and Oliver back," Hitzfeld said.
    "We also have the great advantage of playing the second leg at home. The public can be the 12th man for us, and we've shown that with great support we can achieve great results."
    " I think they will play smarter at home, because they will have fans behind them. But I could imagine that in this situation they would be more careful" Ac Milans coach Carlos Ancelotti told reporters at todays press conference. Milans team captain Paolo Maldini, told reporters about his feelings regarding tomorrows game possibly being his last Champions league appearance "I have been giving my all for 20 years so I am not worried about the fact that tomorrow could be my last match if we are knocked out. I will give my everything and normally i am someone who thinks positively, so i am not worried". Bayern hold a slight advantage after the first leg ended 2-2 in Milan last week but injury worries are making life difficult for coach Ottmar Hitzfeld as he prepares for the return at the Allianz Arena. " I hope the team situation will improve. That Lúcio, Hargreaves, Salihamidzic will also be able to play. we will know after training today. Demichelis will definitely not play. We have to wait and see about Bastian Schweinsteiger, we are still unsure about him". A decision on attacking midfielder Schweinsteiger, who is struggling with a knee injury, will have to wait until a few hours before kick-off on Wednesday. Bayern Munichs team captain, Oliver Khan ended todays pre-game press conference by saying: " Milan is a team which is far from conceding defat and who will look for opportunities with their top players and I believe none of us are stupid enough to think that we can be successful with less than hundred percent performance ".
    Milan outplayed Bayern for much of the first leg but two goals from centre-back Daniel van Buyten, the second coming deep in injury-time, gave Bayern a valuable draw. Bayern, chasing a semi-final place for the first time since they won the Champions League in 2001, will be boosted by the return of Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel and goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, who were suspended for the first leg.
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