No holds barred for PSV

By Michael Harrold in Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Johann Vogel believes the Dutch side will reach the UEFA Champions League final if they can reproduce the quality they showed against AC Milan last week.

Good chances
Goals at the end of each half from Andriy Shevchenko and Jon Dahl Tomasson ensured Milan travelled to tonight's second leg at the Philips Stadion with a 2-0 lead. But PSV created enough chances against a usually rock-solid Milan defence to suggest the tie is no foregone conclusion. "It's not normal to have five or six chances in Milan, so I think it'll be more difficult than it was at the San Siro - but if we can create just three chances that could be enough to get to the final," Vogel told uefa.com.

'Played great'
Confidence in the PSV squad is undiminished by last week's reverse. Guus Hiddink's Eredivisie champions are unaccustomed to losing, and Vogel insists they will not be knocked off their stride by a Milan side often forced to concede ground in midfield last week. "We played great - we always had the ball," said Vogel of the first leg. "But we have to be patient because if we let in one goal the game is finished. Maybe we can get one goal in the first half and another in the second half - that would be enough."

Vogel impresses
Vogel impressed again in the centre of the PSV midfield in Milan, his awareness and crisp passing providing the basis for a disciplined team performance. Midfield partner Mark van Bommel may have caught the eye of some of Europe's biggest clubs this season, but he is quick to heap praise on his Swiss team-mate. "On and off the pitch we understand each other very well," Van Bommel said. "He's an extremely important player, not spectacular but totally efficient."

Beasley out
PSV's chances have been hit by a string of injuries. DaMarcus Beasley damaged knee ligaments in Friday's draw with FC Twente, so Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink returns, while Jefferson Farfán should start despite twisting an ankle in that game. The portents, too, are not good - PSV have not scored twice at home in the Champions League since putting five past FK Crvena Zvezda in the third qualifying round in August, while Milan have not conceded a goal in seven Champions League matches.

'Rare chance'
Statistics, however, mean little to a PSV side intent on showing again just how good they are. "We've proved it all season and we have to do it again. I don't think that'll be a problem for us," said Theo Lucius. "In your life you get this chance maybe once, twice or three times and you have to prove your own qualities."

Lucius strength
Lucius did just that after coming on as a half-time substitute in Milan and will have another chance on Wednesday when he replaces the suspended André Ooijer. But to emulate Hiddink's class of 1988 which lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the coach knows his entire squad will have to be at their best.

'Great performance'
Vogel expects nothing less. No one predicted Milan would throw away a 4-1 first-leg lead in the quarter-final against RC Deportivo La Coruña last year, or that FC Porto and AS Monaco FC would contest the final. In this era of the underdog, perhaps it is PSV's turn to shine. "It's been a great performance," Vogel said. "Normally it would seem strange to be in the semi-final, but we're here and we'll try our best to get to the final."