SOCCER:AFTER THWARTING Lionel Messi and Barcelona, AC Milan believe they can oust the title-holders in the second leg of the quarter-final at the Nou Camp next week.
Messi was harried, hounded and pushed by the Milan defenders who often used a rotation system, where defenders take it in turns to give away free kicks, to bring his trademark runs at the heart of their defence to an abrupt end.
Despite playing at home and managing only 38 per cent of possession, coach Massimiliano Allegri was delighted with Wednesday’s 0-0 draw and, above all, his side’s commitment. “I’ve always said that I’m lucky enough to train a great group of professionals . . . they’re always ready when they’re called upon,” he said.
Midfielder Massimo Ambrosini, standing in for the intimidating Mark van Bommel in midfield, Luca Antonini and 36-year-old Alessandro Nesta, who replaced the injured Thiago Silva at the heart of the defence, were excellent as Milan, seven-times European champions, held firm.
Nesta seemed happy to accept a yellow card as the price for ending one of Messi’s runs and Milan believe they can sneak an away goal next Tuesday. “This draw should give us trust and courage,” said Ambrosini. “There was the right spirit tonight, before, during and after the match. We’ll go to Barcelona with trust in ourselves . . . we have to be honest, we’re facing a team that has defined their era of football but we’ll go there and play.”
Ambrosini was showered with praise by his team-mates. “Ambrosini was a real gladiator, he fought for every ball both in defence and attack,” said Antonini, who had something of a journeyman career, being loaned from club to club before joining Milan in 2008.
“I saved a goal from Alexis Sanchez as I had the timing and the reflexes to slide in on time and take the ball away from him. It was a bit of skill and a bit of luck.
“We faced them on equal terms and that gives us the strength to go to the Nou Camp and play for a place in the semi-finals,” he added.
When Barcelona did break through, they were foiled by Christian Abbiati who pulled off several fine saves in the Milan goal.
Messi also had to struggle with a dreadful San Siro pitch, at one point slipping as he went to take a free kick. His frustration appeared to boil over with an uncharacteristic late tackle on Clarence Seedorf, for which he was lucky to escape a yellow card.
Barcelona are expecting to face more of the same at home next week, knowing that if Milan can sneak an away goal they face a struggle to retain the title.
“We know how experienced they are . . . they defend so well,” said Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano. “But we have a lot of players in attack that can . . . score goals and win us the match.”
PITCH IMPERFECT: Barca cry foul over San Siro surface
BARCELONA HAVE lodged an official complaint with organisers Uefa about the condition of the San Siro pitch for the quarter-final first leg draw with AC Milan.
Players continually slipped on the surface and chunks of turf came loose at regular intervals as the Serie A outfit frustrated the holders ahead of the return leg at the Nou Camp.
“ passed the matter over to Uefa delegate Mikalai Varabyov at the post-match meeting,” said the Spanish team yesterday.
“Varabyov has included the complaint in his report and Uefa will demand an explanation from the Italian club. In the end we adapt to everything . . . but it’s clear that this was a problem for the spectacle,” said Barca coach Pep Guardiola in his post-game news conference.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani acknowledged the pitch needed resurfacing and said they were in talks with Inter Milan, the club with whom they share the stadium, to find a solution. “At the end of the season if we have an agreement it can be done,” Galliani told Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’ll fight for this new pitch.”
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