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Ancelotti keen to avoid Milan
Source: Agencies |
December 12, 2009, Saturday
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CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti would like to avoid former club AC Milan in the knockout round of the Champions League.
A match against former rival Inter Milan wouldn't be ideal, either.
"Obviously if we draw Milan it would be very emotional," Ancelotti said in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.
Ancelotti spent five years at Milan as a player and eight as a coach, winning two European titles in both roles. In his first season with Chelsea, Ancelotti said he still talks to his successor at Milan, Leonardo, regularly.
"I confess that I would prefer to avoid a face-to-face with Leo. But if it happens, no problem," Ancelotti said.
"Football is full of these situations. It already happened to Kaka, who faced Milan with Real Madrid in the group phase."
Having won its group, Chelsea also has a chance of being drawn to face Inter.
"The only problem if we get Inter is that on technical terms it's a great team," Ancelotti said. "I think that of all the second-place teams, it's the strongest."
Ancelotti added that Chelsea doesn't need to purchase any new players in the upcoming transfer window, despite four players leaving for the African Cup of Nations in January ¨? Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Solomon Kalou and Michael Essien.
Younger players could fill the absences.
"I'm satisfied with the squad I have," Ancelotti said. "I've got some very promising kids ¨? like (Fabio) Borini and (Gael) Kakuta."
AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta is also desperate to avoid a meeting with Ancelotti and Chelsea in the Champions League last 16.
Milan could also be paired with holder Barcelona or 2008 winner Manchester United among others.
"Barcelona and Chelsea are the strongest, I really wouldn't like to meet them. We'll play all the others, even if Manchester United is still very good," Nesta, who has been superb this term having recovered from a year-long back problem, told reporters in Milan on Thursday.
A match against former rival Inter Milan wouldn't be ideal, either.
"Obviously if we draw Milan it would be very emotional," Ancelotti said in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.
Ancelotti spent five years at Milan as a player and eight as a coach, winning two European titles in both roles. In his first season with Chelsea, Ancelotti said he still talks to his successor at Milan, Leonardo, regularly.
"I confess that I would prefer to avoid a face-to-face with Leo. But if it happens, no problem," Ancelotti said.
"Football is full of these situations. It already happened to Kaka, who faced Milan with Real Madrid in the group phase."
Having won its group, Chelsea also has a chance of being drawn to face Inter.
"The only problem if we get Inter is that on technical terms it's a great team," Ancelotti said. "I think that of all the second-place teams, it's the strongest."
Ancelotti added that Chelsea doesn't need to purchase any new players in the upcoming transfer window, despite four players leaving for the African Cup of Nations in January ¨? Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Solomon Kalou and Michael Essien.
Younger players could fill the absences.
"I'm satisfied with the squad I have," Ancelotti said. "I've got some very promising kids ¨? like (Fabio) Borini and (Gael) Kakuta."
AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta is also desperate to avoid a meeting with Ancelotti and Chelsea in the Champions League last 16.
Milan could also be paired with holder Barcelona or 2008 winner Manchester United among others.
"Barcelona and Chelsea are the strongest, I really wouldn't like to meet them. We'll play all the others, even if Manchester United is still very good," Nesta, who has been superb this term having recovered from a year-long back problem, told reporters in Milan on Thursday.
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