Shevchenko urges Milan to learn from Istanbul
Striker Andriy Shevchenko says AC Milan must learn the lessons of their traumatic defeat by Liverpool in last season's final when they return to Champions League action against Fenerbahce on Tuesday.
Striker Andriy Shevchenko says AC Milan must learn the lessons of their traumatic defeat by Liverpool in last season's final when they return to Champions League action against Fenerbahce on Tuesday.
Memories of May's remarkable defeat, when Carlo Ancelotti's side threw away a three-goal lead before losing on penalties, are still fresh in the mind of the 'Milanisti'.
The fact that their Group E opponents at the San Siro are an Istanbul club hardly helps the attempt to turn the page.
"It is impossible to forget Istanbul but you can learn from the past and eliminate the errors made," said Shevchenko after the European Footballer of the Year shone in Saturday's 3-1 win over Siena in Serie A.
After making a shaky start to the season in a 1-1 draw at rain-drenched Ascoli, where Shevchenko got the equaliser, Milan looked much more relaxed as they dealt with Siena.
Shevchenko, on a high after helping Ukraine to their first World Cup finals as an independent nation, was at his best -- setting up Massimo Ambrosini for the opening goal and then blasting in the second from 20 metres out.
There was concern, though, that Milan's weakness from set pieces, already exposed in pre-season, led to another goal with Igor Tudor heading in from a corner.
"In the Champions League it is tough because you are up against teams who don't let you off with any mistakes," Shevchenko warned. "It is vital for us to get off to a good start at the San Siro to get a grip on the group."
Christian Vieri, suspended in Serie A, is available for Tuesday's game, but Ancelotti is likely to stick with Shevchenko and Alberto Gilardino in attack.
Brazilian Kaka, who started on the bench against Siena, is likely to come in for Rui Costa while Gennaro Gattuso, a surprise substitute for the opening two Serie A matches will compete with Ambrosini for a midfield slot.
Fenerbahce's confidence was boosted on Saturday by a 2-1 home win over Ankaraspor which lifted them to the top of the table after five games.
"I didn't make any changes to the side ahead of the Milan game so that they could be in harmony with one another," said their German coach Christoph Daum.
"We will play with belief...We will not allow the opponents time or space."
"We could spring a surprise there," Daum said. "We believe we can achieve something using our head and heart."
Probable team:
1-Dida, 2-Cafu, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 3-Paolo Maldini, 4-Kakha Kaladze, 23-Massimo Ambrosini (or 8-Gennaro Gattuso), 21-Andrea Pirlo, 20-Clarence Seedorf, 22-Kaka, 7-Andriy Shevchenko, 11-Alberto Gilardino.
Fenerbahce: 1-Volkan Demirel, 30-Serkan Balci, 19-Onder Turaci, 2-Fabio Luciano, 5-Umit Ozat, 21-Selcuk Sahin, 4-Stephen Appiah, 20-Alex de Souza, 15-Marco Aurelio, 11-Marcio Nobre, 39-Nicolas Anelka.