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No room for sentiment for Anderlecht duo

RSC Anderlecht's UEFA Champions League tie against AC Milan carries huge significance – even more so for Silvio Proto and Massimo Bruno whose roots are firmly planted in Italy.

No room for sentiment for Anderlecht duo
No room for sentiment for Anderlecht duo ©UEFA.com

Playing in the UEFA Champions League stirs the emotions of any player, but for RSC Anderlecht duo Silvio Proto and Massimo Bruno, next week's crucial Group C visit of AC Milan will take on extra significance.

"My dad came from Sicily at quite a young age. He was living here in Belgium with my grandfather who worked as a builder," explained 29-year-old goalkeeper Proto. "On my father's side my family come from Sicily and they were football fans, like all Italians. My dad and my grandfather were Milan supporters. At the time they had players like George Weah and [Andriy] Shevchenko and I quickly became a Milan supporter too."

"I have a few uncles who are Juventus fans and others who follow Milan and Napoli," added teenage forward Bruno, who also has strong Italian roots. "It was a memorable occasion for them when we played our first group game in Milan." Indeed, matchday one's goalless draw at San Siro was a feat neither player will ever forget, although there is no room for sentiment ahead of next Wednesday's return fixture in Brussels. Not with just a point separating Milan in second from the third-placed Belgian champions.

"I think they will put a bit more pressure on us," said Bruno, 19. "But we must continue to play our own game." Proto continued: "They have gained a lot of confidence since the first game. It is very important we get a good result and we will give everything to achieve that. I hope the fans will push us on to victory." 

To hear more from Proto and Bruno, watch the video above