AC Milan and Liverpool have both arrived in Athens for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League Final. AC Milan, a side that has appeared in eight Champions League Finals over the past 20 years is slightly favored (+125 ml) in the match against Liverpool (+200) according to online sportsbook, Sportbet.com.
Prior to the team’s arrival in Athens, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti made some comments regarding his team’s preparation and line-up. “Following today’s training session the team is okay and we are ready to play on Wednesday. I have observed our men in the past few days, they are all doing well and we are going to Athens to offer our best performance. I have already decided who to field (the line-up) and I have told the players. It was a great objective to reach the final.”
“I think it (the match) will be very balanced. We are excited, but we need to control our tension until the final. I don’t feel any pressure, and we managing it as we did in the build-up to the game against Manchester United. There is no secret on how to win this game. We face a strong side and we will need to play very well in trying to impose our quality.”
There is no doubt the Reds will have plenty of incentive to wi n this match especially after Ancelotti’s insulting remarks prior to this mornings departure. Perhaps Ancelotti is a bit overconfident. After accusing Liverpool of abandoning its English roots, Ancelotti accused them of something a bit worse.
“Technically, Liverpool are the worst team of the three English sides who reached the semi-finals,” Ancelotti said. “But out of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United, I’d have preferred United in the final.” He added, “You could see from the two legs of our semi-final with them that they play and let you play. I don’t think it will be the same with Liverpool.”
Genarro Gattuso has already taunted the Reds by claiming they are not as good as Manchester United and Ancelotti has stoked the fires further with his latest comments.
He delivered a barb at counterpart Rafael Benitez and a policy he sees as decreasing the number of English players in the team.
"Milan is a strong Italian team. There is a strong Italian culture running through the team." said Ancelotti. "Liverpool does not have the DNA of an English side. It is more of a Mediterranean team because of the coach."
