Do or die for O’Neill’s Bhoys in San Siro clash
The Scottish champions go into the Group F match without recording a point from their previous six matches at this stage of the competition.
History also goes against them with no Scottish club able to score against the Milanese giants at the stadium.
But O’Neill acknowledges his players must right that record to have a chance of making the group stages.
“We knew how difficult the group was going to be at the beginning with two very fine club sides,” said O’Neill.
“If we are going to qualify then we have to knock out one or the other which is a hell of task. So it’s a simple equation - we have to try to get something out of the game to stay in the competition.”
But O’Neill is convinced his side can get off the mark after their defeat to Barcelona at Parkhead.
The Celtic boss is also boosted with the return of influential striker Chris Sutton following his hamstring trouble and Didier Agathe after a dead leg.
“Chris will be fit to start the game,” said O’Neill.
“He’ll do something later and although he might not do everything he is fit enough to play as we speak.”
And having dropped just two points on the domestic front and their recent exploits in the UEFA Cup, the Celtic boss is confident in his players.
“You have to respect them as an excellent team but if the respect turns into fear then that presents a bit of a problem,” continued O’Neill.
“I think we have enough belief in our side to come here and perform.”
The Northern Irishman believes Milan have also been given a boost with their weekend win at Lazio.
“They have some top-class players and are a very fine side. By their own high standards they have started the season a bit slowly but they have had a magnificent win in Rome.
“But we have to play our own game. That is not going to be easy but not impossible. Our record is not in the uppermost thoughts of the players,” he shrugged.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has concerns about the fitness of former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam. The Dutch international is struggling with an ankle injury and Ancelotti admits it would be a major blow if he fails to recover in time.
“Stam still has a problem with his ankle,” he continued. “Scottish teams are very physical. He would be the right defender for this game versus the Scottish forwards.”
The Italian must decide who to play alongside Andrei Shevchenko, with Filippo Inzaghi, on-loan Chelsea star Hernan Crespo and Jon Dahl Tomasson stating their cases.
: Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Pancaro; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Shevchenko, Tomasson.
: Marshall; Balde, Varga, Valgaeren; Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Juninho, Thompson; Hartson, Camara.
: G Veissiere (France).
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