Frank Rijkaard said he was relishing the prospect of a Champions League final clash with Arsenal after watching his Barcelona side outclass AC Milan to book their date in Paris.
A goalless draw at the Nou Camp on Wednesday was enough to send Barca into the final 1-0 on aggregate and their Dutch coach paid tribute to his players.
"I'm very happy with the team because they did a great job over the two legs. We would have like to score in front of our own supporters but we were not able to do it against a very strong opponent," Rijkaard said.
"Milan are great team with a very strong mentality, so I am very happy that my team kept battling right to the end and never allowed them any chances to get back into the tie," he said.
The fact that the two most entertaining clubs in European football will contend the continent's biggest prize will delight football purists around the world.
Rijkaard's diplomatic nature prevented him from casting the May 17 final in that light, but he made clear his admiration for Arsene Wenger's young Arsenal side and the way they have defied the odds to make it to Paris.
"I think they did a great job this season. They are a very good team with a lot of youngsters and they deserved to reach the final. It means there will be a serious, really strong opponent for us. People can say we are favorites, but I don't agree. A final is always a unique, one-off game and there is no such thing as favorites," Rijkaard said.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was frustrated not to get the chance to make up for last year's traumatic final appearance, when his side blew a 3-0 half-time lead before losing on penalties to Liverpool in Istanbul.
"It is the little details that decide matches like these and tonight they went in Barcelona's favor and against us," Ancelotti said in reference to a second half header by Andriy Shevchenko, which found the net but was ruled off by German referee Markus Merck, who apparently felt the Ukrainian striker had fouled Carlos Puyol.
Although Barcelona failed to add to the 1-0 advantage they had established in the first leg at the San Siro, Rijkaard's side would have won the return match at a canter with better finishing.
Milan's chances were not helped by the loss of Alessandro Nesta to a groin strain, which resulted in Alessandro Costacurta being pressed into action in the center of defense, two days after his 40th birthday.
It was nevertheless the Italians who were first to bare their teeth in an encounter that had none of the caginess that disfigured the first leg.
Inside a minute, Jaap Stam's simple pass through the inside right channel caught the Barca back four allowed Brazilian midfielder Kaka to get clear and fire a shot across Victor Valdes that went beyond the far post.
That was to prove Milan's best chance of the night and Barca's response was swift, Ludovic Giuly and Andres Iniesta combining to send Samuel Eto'o into the area, where Dida had to be quick off his line to make a good block.
Striker Djibril Cisse scored twice and Liverpool beat West Ham 2-1 to keep the pressure on second-place Manchester United in the English Premier League on Wednesday.
Liverpool attacking midfielder Luis Garcia and West Ham defender Hayden Mullins are likely to miss the FA Cup final on May 13 after both were shown straight red cards in the 81st minute.
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