Ancelotti: defeat not a disaster

AC MILAN boss Carlo Ancelotti maintains defeat against Arsenal tonight would not signal the end of the road for the champions.

“It is important to understand that we can still do it even if we lose this first leg. We can win the return match,” Ancelotti insisted.

“The success of AC Milan in the last few years has always been about finding that personality and character. We still have a lot of motivation to do well in this competition, and we are very determined to get through. We have the qualities to get through this tie.”

Milan have something of a goal-keeping crisis, with Zeljko Kalac a major doubt because of a dislocated finger.

With regular number one Dida already out with a back injury, 38-year-old Valerio Fiori is likely to be thrown into the thick of the action, even though he has not played in an official match for the Rossoneri since December 2003.

“We have full trust and confidence in Fiori. I won’t lose sleep tonight on that front,” said Ancelotti.

Added veteran captain Paolo Maldini: “It will be difficult. Arsenal are top of the Premier League, they have been growing a lot, full of young players and enthusiasm. They play the ball quick and, up front, have a real striker in (Emmanuel) Adebayor.

“But we arrive here as champions of Europe — that makes me optimistic, while our tradition, our history, makes me feel confident.”