1/5: Latest News…
Guardian: Nemanja Vidic has recovered from a broken collarbone and could return to the Manchester United defence for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in Milan tomorrow.
Vidic, who last played against Blackburn on March 31, passed a fitness test and should return alongside Wes Brown in the San Siro tomorrow.
Milan, however, could be without their captain and centre-back Paolo Maldini. Kakha Kaladze, available again after suspension, is the obvious replacement if Maldini fails to recover from the knee injury he sustained at Old Trafford and has prevented him from training normally since.
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Sun: KAKA reckons Manchester United will feel the heat in AC Milan’s San Siro cauldron.
The brilliant Brazilian scored twice before United came back to win 3-2 on an amazing night at Old Trafford last week.
But he is convinced the atmosphere in Milan is better than in Manchester — and that will make United’s stars stumble in the Champions League semi-final second-leg.
Kaka, 25, said: “The support of the fans will be vital. The stadium will make United feel the heat. That’s the way we can beat them.”
Kaka revealed Milan are still frustrated by the way that they slipped to defeat in the first leg.
Wayne Rooney’s second goal in injury-time capped another brilliant United comeback.
Kaka said: “I have to admit we left Old Trafford a little bit disappointed.
“I only say that we were sad because of the late goal we conceded.
“It’s frustrating to let in another late goal.
“I do not want to take anything away from the quality of Manchester United’s play, and Rooney’s goal, though.
“It was an incredible finish from Rooney.
“But losing the first leg is not the end of the world by any means.
“I believe that we stand a great chance to turn the tie around in the San Siro.”
Kaka also jumped to the defence of his goalkeeper and Brazil team-mate Dida.
He said: “In no way would I rest any blame on Dida for failing to stop it.
“The timing of the shot was absolutely perfect.”
The first leg was yet another dramatic night of European football at Old Trafford after United’s 7-1 win over Roma last time out in the quarter-final. And Kaka has predicted another classic in Italy.
He added: “The game in Manchester was a real spectacle and I am convinced the second leg will be another amazing game.
“Perhaps it could be even more amazing than the first match!
“It was a wonderful show for the fans and it could be another one on Wednesday.”
United fans have been urged to arrive early at the San Siro — as they have a lung-bursting 600metre climb to their seats.
The 4,500 travelling support will be housed in the top tier.
The Italian authorities fear the club’s fans will stick to their usual ritual of arriving at the stadium just minutes before kick-off.
And with a demanding climb up a spiral staircase to the away enclosure, United officials have pleaded with the fans to get there early.
Spokesman Ken Ramsden said: “Our fans have a tradition of arriving late at away grounds but we urge them to get to the San Siro much, much earlier.”
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Sky: Manchester United star Paul Scholes insists he will not be worried about picking up a booking against Milan which could rule him out of the UEFA Champions League final.
Scholes is one of three United players along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of the trip to Milan.
Former England international Scholes missed the Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in 1999 on account of suspension, but he insists he will not let the threat of another ban worry him at the San Siro.
“I won’t let the bookings situation bother me,” said Scholes.
“It is just another game and another chance to get to a Champions League final.
“I don’t think of it being more important to get through because of what happened to me last time.
“It is a major tournament, one that every team in Europe wants to be involved in.
“It still feels the same as the semi-final was in 1999. We all want to get there and we all want to win it if we do.”
Scholes is expecting another rollercoaster ride against Milan after their dramatic 3-2 win in the first leg last week.
“We never seem to do things the easy way, so there is probably more excitement to come,” added Scholes.
“The goal we scored in the last minute of the first game certainly gave us a boost and I suppose there is a possibility it might disheartened Milan a little bit.
“I can’t really see that happening though. It is going to be a very tough game. I just hope we can do a bit better than we did last time.”
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Mirror: SIR ALEX FERGUSON claims the secret of his Manchester United Treble chasers is hunger.
The Old Trafford boss cites Ryan Giggs as an example of the club’s insatiable appetite for success.
The veteran winger is desperate to get his hands on more silverware - even though he is already the most decorated player in United’s history. And Ferguson takes great heart from his side’s intense desire to win as they prepare for the toughest test yet of their Treble credentials against AC Milan in the San Siro tomorrow.
The United boss said: “It’s a great squad and what I like about the bunch of lads we have is their hunger and spirit.
“We have a good young team, who are starting to mature and they have that all-important desire to win.
“Look at Giggsy, he’s 33 and he’s been in the first team since he was 16.
“He’s made his money, he doesn’t need to play the game anymore, but this is what he lives for. He’s lost none of his appetite.
“The players have an attitude and desire to score all the time. They are desperate to win games and score goals, which is a fantastic attitude to have.
“You see the atmosphere in the dressing room and that’s a great help to me.
“I see enthusiasm, camaraderie and team spirit and I can go to bed at night knowing I’ve got a great team.”
Fergie says this hunger is also evident in Cristiano Ronaldo and claims the Portuguese is the world’s best player because he works so hard at his game.
“The truth is there is no short-cut to becoming a great player,” he said.
“Like anything else in life, if you want anything bad enough, then it is hard work and sacrifice that will get you to the top.
“What makes Ronaldo such a great player is his commitment to succeed and the sacrifices he has made. The best sportsmen practise and practise and Ronaldo is still practising after an hour’s training session. That’s his sacrifice.”
The San Siro was the graveyard of United’s Champions League hopes two years ago when Milan won 1-0 to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate victory.
Ferguson, who hopes to have Rio Ferdinand back from his groin injury, says the likes of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were boys then, but are men now.
United take a slender 3-2 lead into the semifinal return and Ferguson said: “Players such as Rooney and Ronaldo were not ready for those kind of nights two years ago and found it difficult against experienced and accomplished opponents.
“How different they look now. The boys have become men.”
Rooney, 21, is on a double mission - in order to win a wager with his boss.
The England striker bet Fergie he would score 25 goals and needs just two more after bagging eight in his last eight games.
Rooney said: “There’s not a lot of money involved, but it’s a nice incentive.”
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Mirror: SKIPPER Gary Neville is out for the rest of Manchester United’s season in a bitter blow for the right-back and boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Neville has been recovering slowly from the ankle injury he picked up against Bolton in March and new scans have revealed worse damage than first thought.
The defender has ligament trouble and bruising that means he will be laid up for over a month more - which ends his United campaign.
It is a desperate setback for Neville who will miss the run-in for the title, a possible Champions League final and the FA Cup showdown with Chelsea.
Neville’s injury also makes him a major doubt for England’s end-of-season double header with Brazil and Estonia. United would not be keen for him to play in those fixtures after being out for so long.
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Reuters: ROME (Reuters) - Carlo Ancelotti has urged AC Milan to produce a repeat of their quarter-final victory against Bayern Munich when they host Manchester United in the return leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
Trailing 3-2 after the first leg of the tie, Milan need to beat the Premier League leaders at the San Siro stadium to reach the 10th European Cup final of their history.
Milan showed an ability to overturn an unpromising first-leg result in the last eight, when they followed up a 2-2 draw at home with an impressive 2-0 win in Munich.
“It’s all about our mentality. When we were in Munich I was thinking about the semi-final, and now I’m thinking about the final because that’s what we are aiming for,” Milan coach Ancelotti was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“You always have to raise the barrier a little. If you’re playing a semi-final the best way to go forward is to think about the next objective.
“As far as United are concerned, I’m not thinking about the errors we need to avoid, but about the things we need to do. I see the match in a positive light.”
The match is likely to see the return of Filippo Inzaghi to the starting line-up. The 33-year-old striker missed the first leg due to injury, but has a knack of scoring in crucial games as he showed by getting Milan’s second goal in Munich.
Inzaghi’s return strengthens a team that is enjoying its best run of form this season and rose to third in Serie A on Saturday by beating Torino 1-0.
Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who limped off with a sore foot early in the second half at Old Trafford, is also expected to start, and Ancelotti has not given up hope that team captain Paolo Maldini - aiming to reach the eighth European Cup final of his career - can play through the pain of a swollen knee.
“It will take a great Milan performance to beat United, but we’re ready,” said Inzaghi.
United received a huge boost at the weekend when they moved closer to wresting the Premier League title away from Chelsea after they came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Everton.
Manager Alex Ferguson said his side would need to produce their best away performance in Europe this season to thwart Milan.
“We have to step up a gear,” he told the club’s Web site (www.manutd.com).
“There’s a chance that we will concede over there, so we have to score. And we will be going over there with an attitude to score.”
Brazilian Kaka gave United’s patched-up defence a torrid time at Old Trafford but the Premier League leaders are set to welcome back England central defender Rio Ferdinand.
Probable teams:
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.
Manchester United: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 22-John O’Shea, 6-Wes Brown, 4-Gabriel Heinze, 5-Rio Ferdinand; 24-Darren Fletcher, 16-Michael Carrick, 18-Paul Scholes; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 8-Wayne Rooney, 11-Ryan Giggs
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
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Telegraph: AC Milan cannot afford to let their concentration slip against Manchester United tomorrow night, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti.
We can’t allow Manchester to take the game in hand, not even for a quarter of an hour,” he warned.
To beat United, Ancelotti said, Milan will have to “repeat the first hour of the game at Old Trafford. We must succeed in doing that for 90 minutes. We must try to stop them developing their game”.
Milan captain and defender Paolo Maldini, who picked up a knee injury in the first leg, is struggling to be fit.
“If he’s all right, he’ll play because in this kind of match you count not only on physical condition but also more the personality and experience,” said Ancelotti.
Brazil playmaker Kaka said: “You only beat Manchester United if you play as we did in the opening half at Old Trafford. We have to show character, personality and have confidence.
“Manchester United are a strong team, they have a fast counter-attack, they have strikers that make great moves up front.”
It is the second round in succession that Milan have gone into the second leg scrapping to stay in the competition.
In the last eight they drew 2-2 at home to Bayern Munich in the first leg but won 2-0 away to go through.
Kaka said: “We will need to give a mighty performance, just as we showed against Bayern Munich. But this time we are playing at home and it will be a great show.”
