Carlo Ancelotti is looking forward to an open and entertaining UEFA Cup tie, as Milan and Wolfsburg battle for the top spot.
“Seeing as we are both already qualified, our objective is to secure first place in the group so that we can have a softer round,” noted the tactician.
“Wolfsburg have good quality, but seem to lack consistency, so they peak and trough. They were the toughest opponents in our group and I think they can carry on in the competition.”
Among the familiar faces are Italy’s World Cup winners Andrea Barzagli and Cristian Zaccardo.
“We know them well and, because so few Italians go abroad to play club football, we keep a special eye out for those who do. I would say that German football is currently a step below Italy, England and Spain, though.”
Kaka is still sidelined after missing the 4-2 defeat to Juventus and Ancelotti looks back over that massive Scudetto setback.
“We lack solidity. Sometimes the defence is left very open and the responsibility can never be for just one area of the team. We aren’t united enough and have to all work on the defensive movement.
“There are times in a season when certain deficiencies emerge and others in which they are hidden. This year the team shows its faults when it is not suitably unified.”
Ancelotti had praised his side for its work ethic mixed with quality when stringing together a long run of positive results, including a derby win over Inter, but complacency has taken over.
“Hard work and sacrifice for the team has to be a constant. We don’t need to redesign the whole squad, especially as it is not easy midway through the season.
“We have to replace a very important player like Gennaro Gattuso and that is why we signed Mathieu Flamini, so he could be there in case of problems.”
Gattuso is out for six months following knee ligament surgery, but Flamini was also injured for the Juve game with a sprained ankle.
The former Arsenal midfielder remains sidelined for the UEFA Cup along with Emerson, Daniele Bonera, Marco Borriello and Kaka, while Christian Abbiati and Paolo Maldini are rested.
Milan squad: Dida, Kalac, Antonini, Darmian, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Senderos, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Pedrocchi, Fondrini, Ruggeri, Inzaghi, Pato, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho
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