Peter Crouch believes the hostile Fratton Park atmosphere can lead Portsmouth to a famous win over AC Milan in the FA Cup holders’ historic UEFA Cup meeting with the Italian giants.
Milan’s megastars travel to England today needing a win to guarantee their passage from the group stages.
But England striker Crouch has warned Ronaldinho and company that playing at Portsmouth’s ramshackle 20,500-seat stadium will be like nothing they have ever experienced during their many European campaigns.
“Our fans have played a major part for us so far this season — home and away — so there is more to come,” Crouch said.
“I don’t think anyone expected to see Milan at Fratton Park but we can make it difficult for them, get the supporters behind us and hopefully that might give us an edge to cause a surprise,” he said.
Even Portsmouth’s own players admit the club’s cramped facilities could do with an update and there has been much speculation about how Milan’s huge entourage of back-up staff will manage to squeeze into the away team’s changing room.
“The changing rooms are a bit smaller than most, but after Thursday Paolo Maldini can say he has now done it all,” joked Crouch.
The beanpole forward is on a personal revenge mission after being part of the Liverpool side beaten by Milan in last year’s Champions League final.
Crouch, who has scored 12 goals in 38 career European games, says being paired with the seven times Champions League winners shows he was right to move to the south coast.
“To play against Milan is a dream come true, certainly for the fans and the people at Portsmouth and for the players as well,” Crouch said.
“They were expected to be in the Champions League and it is a fantastic challenge for us. The fact we are playing against teams like this and testing ourselves against the best in the world is a credit to what the club has achieved,” he said.
Portsmouth are facing a striker crisis with Crouch’s regular partner and joint-leading scorer Jermain Defoe ruled out with a calf injury. Nigerian pair John Utaka and Kanu are the only other forwards available to manager Tony Adams.
In defense, former Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell returns after a toe problem.
Veteran Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has warned his San Siro teammates not to take Portsmouth lightly despite the Premier League side’s limited European experience. Adams’ side were thrashed 3-0 in Braga in their opening group game while Milan were narrow 1-0 victors at home to the Portuguese side earlier this month.
“I have seen them on the highlights on TV and it will be a tough game. They have some experienced players like Sol Campbell, who is an excellent defender,” Seedorf said.
“The crowd will be very vocal in a small stadium and they will make a great atmosphere. I am looking forward to it,” he said.
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