SOCCER:The true cost of Arsenal and Liverpool's failure to win their qualifying groups became apparent in Nyon yesterday when the Champions League draw gave both Premier League clubs daunting trips to San Siro. Arsenal will face the holders, AC Milan, and Liverpool must overcome Internazionale in the first knockout phase of the European Cup.
Celtic will play Barcelona, but Manchester United and Chelsea can feel relatively content after being drawn against Olympique Lyonnais and Olympiakos.
Liverpool and Arsenal have to plan for trips to the arena where United were so clinically dispatched last season, by Milan in the semi-finals. Internazionale, the reigning Italian champions, lead Serie A again and will be onerous opponents for Liverpool. AC Milan are having a difficult domestic season but the Rossoneri retain such European pedigree that Arsenal will be on their guard.
Arsenal have happy memories of San Siro, having beaten Inter 5-1 in a group game there just over four years ago, but this year's draw has thrust arguably the continent's brightest young side against its most experienced.
Arsene Wenger admitted that a confrontation with Carlo Ancelotti's seven-times cup winners, who are fresh from defeating Boca Juniors in the final of the Fifa World Club Cup last week, represented the most awkward draw possible.
"On paper it is the hardest," the Arsenal manager said. "But it's interesting, exciting. Do I believe we can beat them? Yes. And, as we play the world and European champions, if we win we can call ourselves world champions.
"Milan can be really average in their domestic championship but they raise their game on big occasions. That is something that is really surprising. They look invincible in Europe but beatable in Italy. They have had an average championship, just as they did last season.
"We need to analyse what gets them up there on the special occasions and I might go and watch them play Internazionale on Sunday. I really don't think there is a lot of difference between those two sides."
Twenty-two Serie A points separate Milan, in 11th place, from Inter at present, with the reigning European champions having struggled at home, but the calibre of opponent Arsenal must overcome is clear.
The veteran defender Paolo Maldini will be keen to cap his final season with another European Cup and the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Kaka, the current world footballer of the year, pose considerable threats.
"Arsenal were among the most feared sides in this draw," said Ancelotti yesterday. "They are better than Liverpool technically, but they are less experienced.
"This Milan side have never faced a London team and it will be good to play there. Arsenal are a very young side, very promising and with great talent.
"They started the season very well and they are top of their league even if I think they are slowing down a bit now. However, they have a player like Fabregas, one of the best midfielders in the world right now, and we will have to be very careful with him."
Wenger added: "This is a similar run to two years ago, when we had to play Real Madrid and Juventus in the knockout phase. It might even be more difficult. But I believe we can knock Milan out and, if we have beaten the holders, why should we reduce our ambitions to win the tournament? "I still believe my squad can improve further up to the end of February and the beginning of March, when we play them. For now I want my squad to focus on the Premiership so we are in a comfortable position when we play Milan. Then, for those 15 days, we can focus completely on them."
This competition has twice been Rafael Benitez's saving grace at Liverpool and it was understandable to hear the Spaniard express concern on the day Internazionale emerged as his team's latest ominous opponents.
Liverpool enhanced their reputation for stunning cup comebacks in Marseille last week but there was always going to be a price for finishing second in their group and the Italian champions, the current unbeaten leaders of Serie A, are it. A second leg away in San Siro only adds to the task awaiting Liverpool.
Benitez had problems against the Italians as manager of Valencia in the 2002 Uefa Cup quarter-final and 2003 Champions League quarter-final. "We played them twice and lost and each time we had about 35 attempts on goal, it was unbelievable," said Benitez yesterday, offering a familiar complaint. "We could not progress because they had good players and a lot of European experience and Inter are the same now - Crespo, Zanetti, a lot of good players. But we do not fear anyone in the Champions League."
Liverpool's pedigree in this competition backs that argument, and it should not be forgotten how Juventus were defeated at Anfield, then held to a goalless draw in Turin in the quarter-final of the triumphant 2005 campaign.
While a domestic title challenge is demanded, two consecutive Premier League defeats, the second to Manchester United, would seem to suggest Europe provides Benitez with his clearest path to glory once again.
The Liverpool manager rejects that logic. "I don't think the Champions League is our best chance, not really. Our priority is to improve in the Premier League. Yes, we know how to win the Champions League but to win the Premier League means winning games and we know how to do that.
"We deserved more against United. In my opinion we played better than them but against a top side the difference is the small details and very often the small details depends on the players you have. We all know the money they have spent on players. We have some players who can change games, but they have more."
FIRST LEG
Tuesday February 19th
Schalke v Porto
AS Roma v Real Madrid
Olympiakos v Chelsea
Liverpool v Inter Milan
Wednesday February 20th
Celtic v Barcelona
Lyon v Manchester Utd
Fenerbahçe v Sevilla
Arsenal v AC Milan
SECOND LEG
Tuesday March 4th
Barcelona v Celtic
Manchester Utd v Lyon
Sevilla v Fenerbahçe
AC Milan v Arsenal
Wednesday March 5th
Porto v Schalke
Real Madrid v AS Roma
Chelsea v Olympiakos
Tuesday March 11th
Inter Milan v Liverpool
