ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK

Last updated : 24 April 2007 By editor

Fergie:


"We can't ignore the age of the Milan defence. We will be expected to have a real go at them and create chances and score goals.
It is not going to be an easy, but the name of the game in these situations is to win and not lose a goal. That is our plan and, if we can achieve it, it would be a massive result for us. I don't have any fears about it. The mood in the camp pleases me. At this time of year, you are always looking for signs of nerves and, while we have concerns about the injuries, I don't see any nerves.


"The good thing is the important players are available. The problem we'll have is an inadequate bench, although it is inevitable you miss players like Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Louis Saha in big games. Since Wes has taken over from Nemanja Vidic he has been very, very good. He is a natural defender and the big-game occasion helps him, so I'm sure he will be OK.
Patrice did some training on Monday morning, maybe [he will play], possibly on the bench.

"I don't think we can ignore the abilities of many of the AC Milan players and I think we have to prepare with that awareness. But I do agree that everyone is expecting us to have a go at Milan and hopefully to score, which would give us a real chance. That's the name of the game in this particular situation. If we win and we don't lose a goal, that's our hope.

"Look at Maldini, what he does is an art and you cannot deny that kind of experience. The experience of Milan is that they have to be at the top all the time. There is no way a club of that size would carry Maldini at the age of 38 just because of his past. He has been one of my favourite players in Europe for the last 15 years. I watched him in the last round at Bayern Munich where he played for 90 minutes and did not tackle anyone. He has mastered the art of that.


"Gattuso is a player we have always admired. He's got a Glaswegian narkiness about him, he could start a row in an empty house like a typical Glaswegian and he's even got a Glasgow accent, but he's an excellent footballer who has matured a lot in the last two or three years with Milan. He has honed his skills and then you have Pirlo, a fantastic footballer. We know his quality.


"Milan are a well-run club and very professional. I look at my team and think I would like more experience in there in certain situations, but then they give encouragement for the future and they excite people. Maldini leaves a legacy, Rooney and Ronaldo give you a future, so it is difficult to say what is better at this moment in time.


"It is difficult to think we can get another standard of result like we got against Roma, that was a once- in-a-lifetime result, but we do expect another very good performance. The performance in the last round must give the players a lot of confidence. With the players we have at this club that is always the expectation and there is a desire within the players to do that because of the opposition and the occasion, but it is not going to be easy."



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