UCL Final - Milan vs. Liverpool... Athens, May 23rd

Original Source http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=309185

Silvio Berlusconi told television station Telelombardia that he is certain that the final outcome on Wednesday will be in favour of Milan due to a superior class than Liverpool.

"Milan will win in Athens, we will succeed because we have a superior class than our opponents," commented confidently the Rossoneri's President.

Berlusconi is not afraid of a possible penalty shoot-out like the one occurred two years ago as he was informed by Coach Carlo Ancelotti about a special training for those eventual penalty shooters.

"The penalty takers trained specifically against moving 'dancing' goalkeepers, to avoid any surprises which occurred during the final in which Milan were protagonists.

"Since Milan have already beaten Manchester during the season and Manchester having beaten Liverpool, the football rule wants that now Milan beats the same Liverpool," theorized Berlusconi.

I hope Berlu isnt gettin too carried away with all this

Moratti is coming to Athens to watch us, maybe he and Berlu can sit together lol.

Originally Posted by remote2book

"My little paolo gets to do a big final once more" ------Cesare Maldini




"It is the team of my heart and colors of my soul"---Cesare Maldini


these are quotes from maldinis father today from uefa.com makes me wanna cry ..forza milan forza milan

Finals...Player................................ Club
8.........Francisco Gento................... Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966)

7.........Paolo Maldini.....................AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005)

7........... Alfredo di Stéfano Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5............ José Zárraga Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
5............ José Santamaria Real Madrid (1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5.............Fernando Cruz Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5.............José Augusto Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Mário Coluna Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Phil Neal Liverpool (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985)
5............ Alessandro Costacurta AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2003)
4............ Clarence Seedorf Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998), AC Milan (2003, 2005)


http://www.lequipe.fr/Football//C1_F...DINI_2007.html

Originally Posted by ginoformaggino

Finals...Player................................ Club
8.........Francisco Gento................... Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966)
8[/b]Paolo Maldini.....................AC Milan [/b] (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005, 2007) I think it should be smth like this now

7........... Alfredo di Stéfano Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5............ José Zárraga Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
5............ José Santamaria Real Madrid (1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5.............Fernando Cruz Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5.............José Augusto Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Mário Coluna Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Phil Neal Liverpool (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985)
5............ Alessandro Costacurta AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2003)
4............ Clarence Seedorf Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998), AC Milan (2003, 2005)


http://www.lequipe.fr/Football//C1_F...DINI_2007.html

Maldini has 8 finals with this last one!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Hasan Rossonero

"They're a smashing team, Milan, and maybe they didn't know what was going on," Crerand concluded. "Or would some of them have known? You'd have to ask them. Obviously the players want to win the top trophy, but if you do it unfairly, is it worth it?"

What does he mean??? Unfairly??? If we win this trophy - it will be very fair, as Milan used twice more energy than anyone else this year to win it...Noone in the CL this year had as many problems as Milan...we had injuries of goalkeepers several times throughout the year, we had to adapt to playing without our main attacker - Sheva, we could not even simply buy new players, coz almost noone wanted to go to Milan b'coz of calciopoly...we had to start with -8 points and shame, and work much harder than anyone to get to this final and 4th position in Serie A.
We deserve to win the CL - and we will win it.

Originally Posted by Egoistka

What does he mean??? Unfairly??? If we win this trophy - it will be very fair, as Milan used twice more energy than anyone else this year to win it...Noone in the CL this year had as many problems as Milan...we had injuries of goalkeepers several times throughout the year, we had to adapt to playing without our main attacker - Sheva, we could not even simply buy new players, coz almost noone wanted to go to Milan b'coz of calciopoly...we had to start with -8 points and shame, and work much harder than anyone to get to this final and 4th position in Serie A.
We deserve to win the CL - and we will win it.

I wouldn't let it get to you Egoistka. Other previews have also flaunted this sort of nonsense.


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From Sunday Times:

Time will tell in Athens on aged Milan
An ageing AC Milan will start as favourites on Wednesday but Liverpool have youth and determination on their side, qualities that give them a definite edge
Joe Lovejoy

“Five times, we won it five times. In Istanbul we won it five times.”

The Kop choir will have to change the words of their favourite hymn of praise on Wednesday if Liverpool overcome Milan in a reprise of the 2005 European Cup final. “In Athens we won it six times” doesn’t scan quite as nicely. “By the Acropolis”, perhaps? Such trivial concerns presuppose that Liverpool are going to win again, which is some presumption, given the style with which Kaka and company saw off Manchester United in their semi-final, but there is a decent case to be made for such an outcome. Milan are favourites with the bookmakers, with Ladbrokes offering 6-4 on, but although they do parade an impressive Who’s Who of European football, Maldini, Nesta and Seedorf are well into the autumn of their careers in a young man’s game. Youth is a significant weapon in the underdogs’ armoury - all the more so in the temperatures expected in Athens.

Reasons for Liverpool supporters - and for the rest of us wishing England’s representatives well – to be cheerful do not end there. Apart from younger, more energetic legs, Steven Gerrard and his team take into the fray that terrific, indefatigable spirit that served them so well against the same opponents two years ago. In the most dramatic final of modern times, they clambered out of the grave at 3-0 down to emerge triumphant. Milan remember it bitterly. Seven of the players who had their hearts broken on that never-to-be-forgotten night in the Ataturk stadium will be on duty this time, and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has articulated their desire to avenge the worst experience of some long and very distinguished careers.

The bookies rarely get it wrong, but careful analysis of Milan’s season provides more grounds for Scouse optimism than may be superficially apparent. The Rossoneri are fortunate even to be in the competition after last year’s match-fixing scandal in Italy that initially had them deducted so many points that they failed to finish high enough to qualify. Only on appeal, when the punishment was reduced to eight points, did they get in, and then it was at the preliminary stage.

They decided almost from day one that their handicap in Serie A precluded a realistic chance of winning the scudetto, so they concentrated on Europe. That explains a league table going into the weekend that has them an embarrassing 32 points behind the champions, Internazionale, who clinched the title on April 22 with five games to spare.

Focusing on the Champions League did not ensure smooth progress, however. Milan were beaten by AEK Athens (1-0) and Lille (2-0) in their group before making hard work of eliminating Celtic at the first knockout stage, when Liverpool, in contrast, were accounting for Barcelona. The problems Milan encountered with the obdurate Scottish champions, who held them 0-0 in Glasgow and conceded only once in the San Siro, augur well for Liverpool. Celtic, ruggedly competitive, threatened to cause an upset with a destructive game, and Rafael Benitez’s team is better equipped to disrupt the slick passing of Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf and to strike powerfully on the break.

Milan were scarcely irresistible in the quarter-finals. They drew 2-2 at home to Bayern Munich before finally playing up to their stellar reputations and winning 2-0 in Bavaria. Liverpool, meanwhile, were steamrollering PSV Eindhoven. The Italians’ status as favourites is largely down to the quality of their performance against United in the semis, but mitigating factors need to be borne in mind when assessing its true merit. Foremost among these must be the injuries that fatally weakened the United defence. In the first leg at Old Trafford, Kaka scored two fine goals, but the Reds’ rearguard, shorn of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, parted more like the Red Sea. The formidable partnership of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger are unlikely to be so obliging. In the return, Vidic was back but nowhere near match-fit and he was the only one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first-choice back four to play.

Similarly, it was key that when they were beaten 3-0 in the San Siro, not only were United missing important individuals, but those who did play were fatigued by playing their fifth match in 16 days. Critically, on the Saturday before the decisive return in Italy, they needed to come from behind and win at Everton to secure their lead in the Premiership. Milan, in dressing-room parlance, were different class, but they were not playing the United that thrashed Roma 7-1. Liverpool can take heart from that fact, as well as from their own notable success in the semis against Chelsea when Pepe Reina emulated Jerzy Dudek’s shootout heroics in Istanbul two years ago.

Benitez, a Spaniard whose brain is more attuned to Europe than to the Premiership, believes Milan have their weaknesses, especially at the back, where the Brazilian goalkeeper, Dida, is fallible under crosses, as demonstrated by Cristiano Ronaldo’s headed goal at Old Trafford. Massimo Oddo and Marek Jankulovski are vulnerable at full-back and the veteran centre-halves, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, are showing their age. The Milanese strength lies in midfield, with Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini ferreting relentlessly for possession in the knowledge that Pirlo, Seedorf and Kaka can use it to devastating effect.

It will be interesting to see if Benitez chooses to mirror Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-4-1-1 formation or plumps for good old-fashioned 4-4-2. The temptation must be to use Gerrard “in the hole” behind Dirk Kuyt – the position in which he transformed the game in Istanbul – but sources close to the Liverpool manager suggest that he is more likely to deploy his inspirational captain on the right side of midfield.

Those same sources have it that Liverpool will not man-mark Kaka but will leave it to Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso or Gerrard to pick him up on an as-and-when basis. Second-guessing Benitez is a fraught business, but if it is to be 4-4-2, the only areas of selectorial doubt would appear to be left midfield and second striker. On the left, Bolo Zenden (fitness permitting) will probably get the nod, ahead of the ephemeral Harry Kewell, and up front the choice is between Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy to partner Kuyt. The Welshman’s pace would worry those suspect full-backs and ageing central defenders, as will Kuyt’s waspish persistence, but the grapevine indicates a preference for Crouch.

Good enough? Maybe. Milan’s one orthodox striker, Alberto Gilardino, has the look of meat and drink for Carragher, and if the lines of supply to Kaka from the pass-master, Pirlo, can be disconnected by Mascherano and Alonso, a second tour de force in three seasons is not beyond Liverpool. You can get 9-1 against them winning 2-1. For what it’s worth - a measly tenner - I’m on.

I just watch 'Football Focus' on ESPN ( http://www.espnstar.com )
The English host called John Dykes with 4 other peple who were suppose to be football pundits. 3 of them were English & One Malaysian. Their names are:-
Shebby Singh (ex-Malysian soccer player)
Paul Masefield (ex-soccer player at some lower league)
Jamie Reeves (ex-EPL player of 70's)
and an ex-EPL refree of the recent times

These were their predictions for the match b/w AC Milan and Liverpool
Paul Masefield - Liverpool to win on penelties
Jamie Reeves - Liverpool to win in extra time ( 2-1 )
The stupid ex-EPL refree - Liverpool to win in normal time ( 2-1 )
Shebby Singh - Liverpool to win easily ( 2-0 ) because AC Milan is an aged side and Liverpool will go at them from the beginning and blow them apart

I think I will have a nerveous break down unless some one tells me here the speciality of this Liverpool side. Are they that special ???? Is this Liverpool side that great to beat AC Milan that comfortably ???? Are we talking abt the Ral AMdrid side of 1998-2002 ?????
That is exactly the reason why I m sick of EPL English pundits. Fair enough , u r English so naturally ur heart will be with Liverpool but what they said abt AC Milan is too much to take in for a Milan fan.
According to them, Macherano will stop Kaka' from playing, Gerrard would be too quick for Gattuso to match plus gattuso's mind is more in the revenge than the match itself, Maldini can't handle Bellamy, the surpirize inclusion of Harry Kewel could take AC Milan by surpize & they think Gila are not good enough against the Liverpool defence. Alonso will run the show from the deeper positions. Milan player are afraid of the Big-Crouch......................... They talked abt Kyut, Zenden, Sissoko, Riise's possible effect on the Final but not abt Nesta, Seedorf, Pippo, Kaladze and Serginho
Not for a single second they said that AC Milan could also have some sort of strategy. Plus they thought Istanbul night would effect ACM players. Now the general impression in Asia would be that the MIGHTY Liverpool would eaisly win th final
They have made me sick by saying these sort of mind blowing things. I can't simply wait to see the final. I am not saying that Liverpool can't win but the way they were putting Liverpool ahead of AC Milan in every department of the pitch has just screwed me up. Plus that Malaysian pundit & ex-refree deserve a slap in their faces. I can't believe he said that considering that he said same sort of things ab Man Utd. He was sure that ACM would not b able to handle the pace of Ronaldo and Rooney

Jim_UK and Stezagud sorry I am not against English teams, but u tell me is this fair what they said in the programe which is being watched by 1000's of AC Milan fans in Asia??????

Originally Posted by Xudong

I don't know about 1958.
we won in 1963 (white)
we won in 1969 (red and black)
we won in 1989 (white)
we won in 1990 (white)
we lost in 1993 (red and black)
we won in 1994 (white)
we lost in 1995 (white)
we won in 2003 (white)
we lost in 2005 (white)
??? 2007 ???

however, Liverpool's all final appearance in red, they won;
if they wore white, they lost.

we decided to challenge that in 2005, unfortunately we lost, so 1995 and 2005 were two years that we lost in white.

i think it makes some sense from Liverpool's perspective in 2005, as they are a young team, and young teams are usually more subject to outer environment. for example, milan might not care so much, but had we played Man United at SS first then OT, it might not be as smooth. when their morale is up, it is hard to cope with. that's my opinion. Gerrard mentioned the same thing in 2005, he said 'red' helped their team a lot when they were in difficulty.

so i hope and I am sure that we will wear red and black this time, as we are the "home" team.

No hun it will be all white again!

http://www.acmilan.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=45875

Originally Posted by Egoistka

We deserve to win the CL - and we will win it.

I don't think any of the teams have a right to say they deserve to win the final. We've both got to the final deservedly. It's a bit premature to say it.
But we will win.

Originally Posted by mzk57

I just watch 'Football Focus' on ESPN ( http://www.espnstar.com )
The English host called John Dykes with 4 other peple who were suppose to be football pundits. 3 of them were English & One Malaysian. Their names are:-
Shebby Singh (ex-Malysian soccer player)
Paul Masefield (ex-soccer player at some lower league)
Jamie Reeves (ex-EPL player of 70's)
and an ex-EPL refree of the recent times

These were their predictions for the match b/w AC Milan and Liverpool
Paul Masefield - Liverpool to win on penelties
Jamie Reeves - Liverpool to win in extra time ( 2-1 )
The stupid ex-EPL refree - Liverpool to win in normal time ( 2-1 )
Shebby Singh - Liverpool to win easily ( 2-0 ) because AC Milan is an aged side and Liverpool will go at them from the beginning and blow them apart

I think I will have a nerveous break down unless some one tells me here the speciality of this Liverpool side. Are they that special ???? Is this Liverpool side that great to beat AC Milan that comfortably ???? Are we talking abt the Ral AMdrid side of 1998-2002 ?????
That is exactly the reason why I m sick of EPL English pundits. Fair enough , u r English so naturally ur heart will be with Liverpool but what they said abt AC Milan is too much to take in for a Milan fan.
According to them, Macherano will stop Kaka' from playing, Gerrard would be too quick for Gattuso to match plus gattuso's mind is more in the revenge than the match itself, Maldini can't handle Bellamy, the surpirize inclusion of Harry Kewel could take AC Milan by surpize & they think Gila are not good enough against the Liverpool defence. Alonso will run the show from the deeper positions. Milan player are afraid of the Big-Crouch......................... They talked abt Kyut, Zenden, Sissoko, Riise's possible effect on the Final but not abt Nesta, Seedorf, Pippo, Kaladze and Serginho
Not for a single second they said that AC Milan could also have some sort of strategy. Plus they thought Istanbul night would effect ACM players. Now the general impression in Asia would be that the MIGHTY Liverpool would eaisly win th final
They have made me sick by saying these sort of mind blowing things. I can't simply wait to see the final. I am not saying that Liverpool can't win but the way they were putting Liverpool ahead of AC Milan in every department of the pitch has just screwed me up. Plus that Malaysian pundit & ex-refree deserve a slap in their faces. I can't believe he said that considering that he said same sort of things ab Man Utd. He was sure that ACM would not b able to handle the pace of Ronaldo and Rooney

Jim_UK and Stezagud sorry I am not against English teams, but u tell me is this fair what they said in the programe which is being watched by 1000's of AC Milan fans in Asia??????

All those things those pundits said, sound more like prayers than statements.

>>I think I will have a nerveous break down unless some one tells me here the speciality of this Liverpool side. Are they that special ????

As individuals, a few are special

As a team, for the most part, our attackers each do one thing very well and we're very hard to prepare against. This makes us flexible if things aren't working. One sub can mean players moving to different parts of the pitch and it's rarely like for like.

Add that to a very solid defense (normally/hopefully) and strong central midfield and it makes us very hard to beat.

I'm as surprised as you on those pundits though - I would have expected Milan slightly favoured 3/2.

It's going to be whoever scores first as we can really struggle to break down defending sides but we're very good at shutting up shop when we are happy with the score.

24 May 1995. The only time tears have escaped me, as we lost 1-0 to a late Kluivert goal, in a play where one of my heroes, Rijkaard, caused our downfall.

Fast forward to 2006, June and we hear the verdict of calciopoli after the great victory of Italy in the world cup. Milan fans throughout the world left in shock as the verdict is nothing short of scandalous in itself.

July is a month rushed through, the players are rushed back to prepare for a CL qualifier no one expected, the management struggling to cope with what’s laid on our laps. Sheva’s decision to leave still smarts, among those within the club, and those who follow the club.

Signings were less than impressive, considered negative even, as the most high profile name is Giuseppe Favalli, an experienced veteran, but someone who adds little extra to our squad. Gourcuff, the other name on our cards is relatively unknown, with little confidence amongst the fans in his ability to replace Rui Costa in our ranks. Bonera’s name was later announced, bringing a little more joy, but still a far from the world class talent expected to greatly improve the squad.

August came around; punishments were lightened by now, yet remain scandalous in the eye of all stakeholders in the club. Signings looked non-existent; desperation was rife at the thought of having to qualify for CL to make that one big signing to replace our former icon. Rumours were wild, the fans expectant, and the club hopeful. In the end, a signing was made, a talent brought in, Oliveira. Shock was the feeling, sadness at the thought that though a talented player has been signed, it’s not someone who will ever really be able to fill Sheva’s boots.

Rumours continued to fly around, top stars of the club repeatedly linked with moves away, other clubs openly unsettling our star player, the mood was one of uncertainty and fear. By the time the season started the players fitness was already wavering, after a strong few opening weeks, the team slumped heavily as the play looked more lethargic, we clearly weren’t popular with referees and lady luck had deserted us. Things were grim, so much so that our dismal record at home was the worst patch for 20 years.

CL was hardly much better. Inconsistency was the word that would best describe Milan. With the emphatic wins where Kaka racked up some vital goals, came the lows where we struggled to open up the opposition. Eventually, though we had already qualified for the next round, the loss against Lille came, which resulted in some of the harshest criticism the side had faced all season. Making things worse, we struggled in a group considered arguably the weakest in the round.

At this point, there was no way but up. Most clubs would struggle in that situation; few would be able to avoid a relegation battle, which was the same for us for a number of weeks. Furthermore, injuries had decimated our squad, with us struggling to field a competitive first team. However, as the year end neared, we began to claw our way back. First came a couple of results, hard fought, but they were points, and finally, some of our important players were starting to see the light. Finally, the winter break came, one spent in the warmth of Malta, a haven for the squad this season.

Along with that trip came back fitness. Finally the players could pick themselves up without worrying about injury, in came some new signings, adding greater depth. However, most importantly, Ronaldo came. Questionable weight and motivation stirred many rumours and jokes, but soon after joining he had his impact. Finally, the replacement for Sheva was found.

As form and results picked up in the league, gaining pace, in CL we were now in the knockout stages. Next up, Scottish giants Celtic. At this point in the league we began fighting strongly for European places. We had continued to claw our way up the table, no matter how much pressure there was to keep us down.

Celtic was renowned for an impressive home record in the CL, taking some big scalps along the way. We were considered the weakest side left in the tournament, the team everyone hoped to meet. It’s no coincidence the bhoys from Glasgow felt confident ahead of the first leg.

However, that match was the beginning of a new found hope. Just as our form picked up in Serie A, the CL form was solid, though still lacking that killer edge. After a dominant performance in Celtic park, the team looked confident about the return leg. The match came, and again Milan dominated, but once again Kaka had to step up to provide the result during extra time.

League form had improved drastically now and Bayern were drawn in the CL. Again, we were considered the underdogs, the team all wanted to face at this stage. The first leg was a very dominant performance, taking the lead, only to have it thrown away due to two unfortunate moments, putting Bayern as overwhelming favourites.

But this was the moment the players and coaches started to have a glint in their eyes. Realising what they could do, belief grew, support grew and hunger was creeping into the club. We had already done more than expected of us to reach the ¼ finals, but now the desire to get into another semi-final to face either Man U or Roma was growing.

The second leg approached as we closed in on the CL positions in the league. Bayern were confident, few could believe of our chances. The night came, and on that night the first miracle came. We didn’t just dominate, but we steamrolled Bayern, with Seedorf being the mastermind. The man who had come under as much scrutiny as anyone this season put in a devastating display.

The CL spot in the league was finally reached. Another miracle in the season, considering the position we were languishing in at the winter break. Ronaldo provided the extra impetus in the League, but in the CL, Kaka became the guiding light. We drew Man U in the semis, and again, were the underdogs.
However, unlike Celtic, who are good but not great, and Bayern, a huge club but little success in Europe for years, Man U was a team few could doubt the quality of. Dominating what was at this point considered the strongest league in Europe, with 3 English sides in the semis, an all English final seemed inevitable.

The first leg was approached in a positive mood, as we looked strong in the league, close to achieving our aim of securing the CL spot. Old Trafford was considered an impossible task, a place few could win. We went, let past an early goal against a side who destroyed Roma 7-1 just a couple of weeks before.

Great character was shown, the match controlled and Kaka showed why he is considered the best player in the world, scoring 2 to help us take the lead. However, misfortune struck not once but twice, as at half time Maldini went off injured, and the soon after the kickoff for the second half, Gattuso went off, with our stability lost as well as the result as Rooney capitalised.

Again, like Bayern, we were down and out in most people’s minds, Man U were buoyed by their second half performance and were clear favourites to progress. However, a person’s character is shown in the hardest times, and the build up to the second leg was monumental. Milan fans came together from all over the globe to show support to the side. The players began believing that another miracle could be pulled off and rallied all Milanisti. Even fans of other teams began supporting Milan, for reasons of their own.

Matchday came, nerves were high, but the third miracle of the season came as the heavens brought hell to Milan! The performance was legendary, EVERY single player becoming a lion, a monster. EVERY single fan bringing the fury that had built up over the nightmare year to push their team forward. Milan brought a storm and Man U couldn’t cope. The team considered the best in the world this season were given a football lesson.

Now, we’ve secured our CL spot for next season and have Liverpool left to beat. This year after all that’s happened is very special, and especially emotional. Very few teams can achieve anything like what we have and we can take pride.

We have shown the same spirit and determination Italy showed last summer. We are representing Italian football on an International level. It’s not Milan alone now, but it’s about regaining the respect that Italian football lost last summer.

This spirit I talk about is the reason why we support Milan! After relegation in the 80’s, no one could ever imagine we’d come back to produce one of the greatest sides in history!! In 88/89, We beat Steaua 4-0 after overcoming the odds against the great Madrid side 5-0!! In 89/90, we had to struggle through to first get past Bayern and then beat Benfica in the final!!

1994, a season when Barca were considered the kings of football, we produced another miracle and humbled them 4-0 in Athens!!! That season, like this, Milan struggled in CL, inconsistency and poor goalscoring records epitomising most of that campaign, until the semis where we produced a top quality performance against Monaco, much like Man U this year.

Again, in 2003, we were far from being considered amongst the football elite. We came from no where on one of our most memorable runs to victory, producing the miracle last minute goal against Ajax, the victory of the first Euro Derby with Inter and finally beating Juve in the final, again as the underdogs.

Milan are a club rich in history, has a passion like no other. WE ARE DETERMINED, especially when the odds are against us. That is our character! This season we’ve had the hardest of seasons, but that Milan spirit has shone through once again. This match isn’t about revenge for 2005, it’s bigger than that! It’s not about sticking it to Inter in their season of triumph! This match isn’t even much about the pride of Italian football anymore!

This match is about us showing the world precisely who we are! This match is to show that we aren’t the so called cheaters we’ve been portrayed as, but a quality side who DEMANDS the respect we deserve!

This match is to show that no matter how hard anyone ever tries to kick us down, we will always claw our way back and drag ourselves out of the dirt with ALL the strength we have! Our march to Athens has been long and hard, and our every step of the way we’ve suffered. Now this is our final battle to make our history greater!!!

The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant. That few stood against many. And before this battle was over, that even a god-king can bleed.

MILANISTI, PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR SOON WE SEE THE CONCLUSION OF OUR GREAT STORY!

23 May 2007, I hope to see tears escape me once more, this time for the right reasons.

FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+ rep points

Nice post Dev; very inspirational.

From channel 4:

Ancelotti: Forget Istanbul
Tuesday 22 May, 2007
Carlo Ancelotti insists there is no desire to avenge Istanbul when Milan face Liverpool again. “This is a whole other game.”

The Rossoneri had one of their most heartbreaking nights in 2005 when they lost a 3-0 lead in the Champions League Final, eventually defeated on penalties.

“It will not be easy, but I have no doubts we will give everything. All my decisions have been made,” stated the Coach.

“The Istanbul story is finished and has nothing to do with this match. This is a whole other game.

“On a purely technical level perhaps Milan were stronger two years ago and for that side it was almost ‘normal’ to reach the Final. For today’s team it is extraordinary and we want to end this year on a high.”

Both Milan and Liverpool had to go through the preliminary round to reach the Champions League this season, although for the Italians it was only after the Calciopoli trial had initially ruled them out of the competition altogether.

“We deserved this Final more than any other side because we suffered like nobody else. We had points penalties and had to rush our pre-season training to prepare for the preliminary round. If we have the fortune to lift the trophy, then it will be absolutely and totally deserved.”

Milan had just two weeks to prepare for the opener in August and rushed many of their World Cup stars back early from their summer holidays.

“This has been the most difficult season in my time at Milan,” added Ancelotti. “We ran into problems we had never encountered before, but the great unity between myself, the team and club proved decisive.

“We never sought alibis or scapegoats, we just tried to resolve our problems together, so what we have been through makes us stronger for this Final. We feel very strong in these days leading up to the match.”

The tactician and former midfielder has been criticised by some sections of the Italian Press for being too close to his players, but he maintains that is more of a strength than a weakness.

“I don’t see myself as the leader of the group, but rather a part of the group. We all come together to answer questions and solve problems. We have worked well and I hope it will be considered even better tomorrow.”

Considering the lessons of 2005, will Ancelotti change his system to avoid another Reds pitfall?

“In a Final the important thing is to imprint your quality on the game through good football. For us possession is as crucial as defending and counter-attacks are for Liverpool.

“Steven Gerrard is charismatic, but you cannot base your match on one player. Liverpool, like Milan, have many other qualities. Our opponents are Liverpool, not Gerrard.”

There were three English semi-finalists, but the trophy could go to the only remaining Italian representative.

“Milan’s presence in this Final shows the strength of Italian football and we do feel ourselves a very Italian side,” concluded Ancelotti.

24 hours to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!