Print

Mail

wiki links

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Historic British clubs look to conquer Europe

Three of British soccer's most historic clubs will look to take a huge step toward the Champions League quarter-finals today when they play their second-round, first-leg clashes.

Both Arsenal and Celtic are at home to reigning champions AC Milan and previous titleholders Barcelona respectively while Manchester United travel to seven-time French champions Lyon.

The other tie sees Turkish outfit Fenerbahce host two-time UEFA Cup holders Sevilla.

Arsenal, like Premiership rivals Liverpool -- who take on the other Milan side Inter on Tuesday -- will be looking to bounce back from FA Cup disappointment at the weekend, in the Gunners' case a stunning 4-0 reverse to Manchester United albeit without several of their regular starters.

Arsenal's shrewd French manager Arsene Wenger confessed before the United reverse that the one thing he feared the most was losing and he is certain that another performance like the one they put up against United would give him another sleepless night.

"The targets are so big for us that you don't feel sorry for yourself," said the 58-year-old, who should be able to start Emmanuel Adebayor, Mathieu Flamini and Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia -- all of whom either didn't start or didn't play at all in the United match.

"We have a massive game in front of us on Wednesday night and I feel the immensity of the game makes you forget your disappointment," Wenger said. "What we have learnt is that that sort of performance will not be good enough against Milan.

"We have to bounce back quickly from our disappointment. We will need to be at our best."

Milan for their part have improved vastly in the league over the past few weeks, they have won six of their last nine Serie A matches, though have endured two tame draws in the past week.

However, they have been able to welcome back playmaker Kaka and hardman midfielder Gennaro Gattuso from injury and coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that despite their slightly waning form over the past two matches the two sides will be equally matched.

"We are coming into the match perhaps not under the best conditions, but neither are Arsenal," Ancelotti said.

Milan's veteran defender Paolo Maldini wasn't too concerned about the two successive draws.

"There are always the highs and the lows," the former Italy great said. "But we are in a much better situation than we were a month-and-a-half ago and as holders of the title we are not going to let it go easily."

Celtic know all about Milan as they went out to them at the same stage of the competition last season, and they will be looking to repeat the heroics of their predecessors in 2004 who overcame Barcelona in the UEFA Cup.

The Bhoys have won their last three home Champions League matches, but Barca have a pretty formidable away record in the competition having not lost their last five matches.

For Celtic's manager Gordon Strachan there could have been no better a warm-up for the visit of Barcelona -- who have named Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry in the squad for only the second time this season -- than the 3-0 win on Saturday over Hearts.

"The first 20 minutes against Hearts was the best football we played all season," Strachan said.

United go into their match with Lyon on the back of an even more satisfying and dominant performance against Arsenal and that with the luxury of not having had to field Ryan Giggs -- who could well make his 100th Champions League appearance -- or Cristiano Ronaldo.
This story has been viewed 1739 times.