Ancelotti backs big-match Milan

By Patrick Hart

Ancelotti plea
Ancelotti is confident his team will put aside the disappointment of their weekend defeat by Brescia Calcio and claim a ninth appearance in the final of Europe's premier club competition. The Rossoneri's 1-0 league reverse allowed Inter to move three points clear of them in the race for second place in Serie A. But Ancelotti insisted his players "have already forgotten about Brescia" and backed them to return to the form which has accounted for several European heavyweights this season.

'Wonderful journey'
"We always play well in big matches and I'm sure we will play well against Inter," he said. "We know it was a poor performance [against Brescia] but we cannot allow that to take away from our good work in the Champions League." Milan have beaten RC Deportivo La Coruña, FC Bayern München, Real Madrid CF, BV Borussia Dortmund and AFC Ajax en route to the last four, and Ancelotti called for one last victory against the old enemy. "To lose now would be to leave the wonderful journey we have taken together incomplete," he said.

Keep it tight
Following last Wednesday's 0-0 first-leg draw at the San Siro, Ancelotti is expected to keep faith with the defence that achieved a third shut-out in three matches against the Nerazzurri this term. "We know Inter's strengths and weaknesses and we have managed to keep things tight at the back," he said.

Final ambition
However, he has been forced to make a goalkeeping change after Dida injured his left hand in the Brescia game. Christian Abbiati now looks set to start the game, but whoever plays, Milan's goal will be unchanged: "The final in Manchester is the target for almost every club in Europe," Ancelotti said.

'Huge game'
Meanwhile, Inter coach Héctor Cúper described the showdown as "the biggest game of my career". Bigger even than the 2001 Champions League semi-final between his old club Valencia CF and FC Barcelona - "it wasn't a derby". "Milan playing Inter is something entirely different," he said. "It is a huge game for Italy and for the competition as a whole, and not just for the city of Milan. I am proud to be involved."

Cúper call
Cúper, who led Valencia to finals in 2000 and 2001, now wants to secure Inter's fifth final appearance - and their first since the 1971/72 European Champion Clubs' Cup. He predicted a game "just as tense" as the first leg but despite Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Parma AC, said he had noted "an improvement in our play in the last two or three games".

Coco question mark
The home side are expected to persevere with a 3-5-2 template, although that could depend on the availability of left-back Francesco Coco. Cúper "still doesn't know" about Coco, who took a heavy knock against Milan and skipped the Parma match. If he misses out, Stéphane Dalmat could cover the left flank - or Inter may even switch to a back four with Iván Cordoba operating as a conventional left-back. Elsewhere, central midfield player Cristian Zanetti is back from a ban.

Surprise, surprise
Whatever the personalities, the Argentinian coach hinted there would be "a surprise with one or two players, or even players in slightly different roles". An Inter win would also raise eyebrows - not to mention the roof off the San Siro stadium on Tuesday night.