Ancelotti praises Rossoneri

By Patrick Hart in Milan

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti paid tribute to his players after the Italian side defeated Internazionale FC on away goals to reach the UEFA Champions League final.

'More than pleased'
A 1-1 draw in tonight's semi-final second leg at San Siro was enough for Milan to book their tickets to Manchester, where they will meet either Real Madrid CF or Juventus FC on 28 May. "I am very happy," Ancelotti said. "I have to thank the players because they are the ones who have got us to Manchester. It was a good game, very even, and I am more than pleased with the result."

'Quality midfield'
The tie shifted decisively in Milan's favour when Andriy Shevchenko broke clear to score an away goal in first-half stoppage time. Ancelotti believed the strike was just reward for his team's "quality midfield, who were able to control things". However, he was not surprised by Inter's fightback, which was capped by an 84th-minute equaliser from substitute Obafemi Martins.

'Just delighted'
"You didn't know which way the game was going to go," Ancelotti added. "I wanted us to carry on playing as we had been [in the first half] but Inter always put up a fight. You probably didn't see the best of either team because it was tense out there. Milan and Inter will probably never meet again in a Champions League semi-final so it was a huge game for both clubs. I am just delighted to be going to Manchester."

Final wishes
Ancelotti also had a word of sympathy for Inter, saying: "Inter are one of the best teams in Europe. They reached the semi-finals which is something the likes of Manchester United [FC] couldn't do." When asked which team he would prefer to face at Old Trafford, he replied: "Real Madrid [CF] or Juventus [FC] would be a great game, although it would be intriguing for Italian football if we played Juve."

Lobanovskiy honoured
Meanwhile, Milan hero Shevchenko dedicated his goal to Valeriy Lobanovskiy, his former FC Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine coach who died a year ago to the day. "I wanted to score this goal for Lobanovskiy. He was a really important figure in my career and in my life." Shevchenko added: "It is a special feeling. I think this is the most important goal I have scored."

Cúper downcast
Inter coach Héctor Cúper praised his team's efforts but refused to bemoan their luck after a late cavalry charge failed to yield the all-important second goal. "We had more clear chances on goal but the ball wouldn't go in. But I am pleased with the performance. We played well in the second half and created openings.

Chances missed
"We had the misfortune of conceding a goal at the end of the first half but came back and could even have won the game. But there's no point talking about luck in a semi-final - we had our chances and couldn't put them away."

'Hard work'
Yet Cúper refused to write off his team after their second semi-final loss in a UEFA club competition in as many years. "We haven't won anything in the two years I have been here but to reach a semi-final takes a lot of hard work. It is an achievement in itself."

'Fantastic support'
Meanwhile, Inter captain Javier Zanetti insisted the club had "deserved better". "Milan scored with their first real chance," he said. "We came back well but it wasn't enough. We are sorry for the fans who gave us fantastic support tonight, but I am sure our moment will come."