Milan: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be hoping for a better Champions League debut than his first Serie A match with AC Milan after missing a penalty in a loss to a newly promoted team.
Milan hosts Auxerre in Group G on Wednesday, four days after a 2-0 defeat at Cesena in which Ibrahimovic hit the post from a late spot kick.
"Cesena had two chances and took them both," Ibrahimovic said, "but I'm still convinced we can win everything."
The result leaves Milan in seventh place following a 4-0 win over Lecce on the opening day of season.
"We never expect to come second, neither me nor the players," coach Massimo Allegri said. "I am sure we won't make the same mistakes we made on Saturday.
"Auxerre is a good team that above all concedes few goals away from home and so we need a big game. Our confidence is fine. We have spoken about and analyzed the match against Cesena.
"Ibrahimovic has been thrown in the deep end," Allegri said. "It is a new team and a new system, but he has worked hard to get used to how things are done here."
Milan may be without central defender Thiago Silva. The Brazilian came off at halftime after straining a muscle in his right leg and will be monitored ahead of the match.
"Just before halftime I felt pain in my right leg," he said. "So we decided it would be better if I went off as we had an important match on Wednesday. I was a bit concerned because I haven't felt a pain like that for some time."
Alessandro Nesta is expected to return to the line up after missing the Cesena match with an inflamed sciatic nerve, with Daniele Bonera ready to step in if Silva is unable to play.
"It won't be easy against Auxerre tomorrow night," Allegri said. "We have to ensure we are more concentrated in defense. We will keep checking on Thiago Silva's condition and then make a decision."
Clarence Seedorf is likely to return to provide the midfield with a more attacking edge, in front of Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini.
Auxerre, meanwhile, goes into the game struggling for form in the French league, sitting in 17th place with four points from five matches.
"Football can be cruel sometimes," Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez said after Caen equalized in the last minute to earn a 1-1 draw Saturday.
Auxerre will be without suspended forward Roy Contout, and striker Alexandre Licata is out with an ankle injury.
Auxerre reached the group stage for the first time since 2002 with a 2-1 win over Zenit St. Petersburg in a playoff, but will carry the underdog tag after being drawn alongside Milan, Real Madrid and Ajax.
"The Champions League is a machine that is quite capable of crushing you," Fernandez said. "But nevertheless it is an incredible thing for a club like us. We are not set up to compete at this level.
"We set out to survive in the French league and do as well as we possibly can. Our aim in this group is just to make sure we are not ridiculed. That is not a lack of ambition, we are just being realistic."
The Milan trip will bring back good memories for Fernandez, though. The coach spent several days at Milan's training base in his formative years, meeting with celebrated manager Arrigo Sacchi.
"I had a great time there," Fernandez said. "Arrigo Sacchi was one of the masters of total football and of attacking football. I was never the same after I came away from there. My philosophy of football changed."
Comments
0 comment