Irureta savours San Siro sojourn

RC Deportivo La Coruña coach Javier Irureta believes the San Siro has become the team's lucky ground after they beat AC Milan to qualify for the second round of the UEFA Champions League.

Happy hunting ground
Two years ago, Deportivo drew 1-1 at the San Siro to qualify for the next stage and on Wednesday night, they went one better and beat the Italian side 2-1 after second-half goals from Diego Tristán and Roy Makaay.

Irureta overjoyed
A delighted Irureta said: "It is clear that this stadium likes us as we have now achieved great results here twice. It was a great win for us and proved how strong this squad is. We knew that we would qualify if we won. That is what we aimed for and that is what we succeeded in doing." rureta fielded three attackers with Tristán playing centrally, Roy Maakay to the right and Albert Luque to the left. His tactics almost paid off immediately as Luque, Fran and Tristán all went close within the opening 25 minutes. But it was Milan who took the lead in the 34th minute and, after the game, Irureta praised his team for the strength they showed in turning the match around.

'We started well'
"We started well and could have taken the lead before Tomasson's goal and the win is proof of the strong spirit that this squad has," continued Irureta. "And what makes it even more impressive is that we did it at the San Siro." Anchorman Mauro Silva did a tremendous job in the middle of the pitch to stop Milan midfield players Andrea Pirlo, Rui Costa and Serginho from feeding Andriy Shevchenko and Tomasson up front. In fact, when Milan took the lead through Tomasson, it was defender Kakha Kaladze who provided the cross.

Important goal
In the second half, Deportivo upped the tempo and two exquisite goals won the game for the Catalans. Makaay's winner was his seventh Champions League goal this season and Irureta admitted that it was an extremely important strike.

Dedicated to Molina
"Makaay's goal was decisive as we knew that we had qualified then and that gave us a lot of confidence to hold on," Irureta said and added that the whole team devoted the victory to goalkeeper José Molina, who has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Ancelotti takes stock
For Milan, meanwhile, it was a disappointing defeat, coming as it did three days after the league defeat against Juventus FC. But Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti did not look too downcast after the game. He said: "I think it was quite clear that Deportivo were more motivated than us and I can't be too disappointed when I look at the final table. But of course we want to win every game we play in and although we did some good things, we also did some bad things. But I am not worried about our current form."