Italians bitter at Champions League draw, happy for Becks

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ROME, Dec 18, 2009 (AFP) - Italy was cursing it's luck once again as Friday's Champions League draw pitted both Milan giants against English opposition.

In each of the previous two seasons, three Italian teams reached the knock-out rounds and every time they fell to English opposition.

Not since AC Milan beat Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final has an Italian team triumphed against English opposition in the competition's knock-out phases.

Italian champions Inter Milan have been defeated in the second round by Liverpool and Manchester United in the last two seasons while United beat AS Roma in the quarter-finals twice in a row before that.

Last year Roma were beaten by Arsenal, who beat Milan the year before, while Chelsea did for Juventus a year ago.

And this year with Inter facing Cheslea and Milan coming up against Man United, only Fiorentina escaped the English but they drew German giants Bayern Munich.

It left Italian media quaking in their boots.

"A bitter draw for the Italians," claimed news agency Ansa while Corriere dello Sport weighed in with: "A draw to make you shudder."

Gazzetta dello Sport was less perturbed but still cautious before focussing on both David Beckham and Jose Mourinho being paired with their former clubs.

"Once again we have the super-clashes between Italy and England which at the same stage last year proved lethal," said the newspaper.

"Tough also Fiorentina's draw as having won their group they fished out the toughest second placed team.

"An explosive mix of comebacks. Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge to face the team he took to the Premier League summit.

"A challenge doubled as on Chelsea's bench is the ex rossonero (Carlo) Ancelotti.

"Nyon granted David Beckham's wish and he can try to get one over the team that made him great."

But while the press were lamenting as tough a draw as was possible for the Italians, the clubs themselves seemed far calmer.

Not least AC Milan whose director Umberto Gandini pointed out that the last two times they have played United in the knock-outs -- 2005 and 2007 -- they went on to reach the final.

In particular Milan's 2007 semi-final second leg has gone down in folklore at the club as having lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, they produced a stunning performance to win 3-0 at the San Siro.

"We're ready, we're happy to be here, Man United are a great team who are made for these type of games," he said.

"We remember the semi-final in 2007 and our perfect match which took us to the final in Athens.

"It's great for Beckham to be going back to Manchester.

"I believe the relationship between (coaches) Leonardo and Sir Alex (Ferguson) is very good so it will be great for them to come up against each other.

"It will be a great match, fascinating, I remember that after our most recent matches against United, both times we went on to reach the final."

Inter Milan former player and worldwide ambassador Luis Figo insisted his team would not fear Chelsea.

"At this stage all the teams are strong but we have the quality to beat anynone," he said before dismissing concerns about Inter's European form despite having been knocked out at this stage the last three seasons.

"No two games are the same, the team is more experienced now, we have a group of players who have been dominating Italian football for years and now we have to transfer that into our European form."

Fiorentina administrative delegator Sandro Mencucci said his team would not be overawed against a team that helped knock them out of last year's group stages.

"We're playing Bayern again who last season knocked us out but this Fiorentina team has always shown itself able to compete with the big teams so we're ready and we're not setting any limits," he said.

"But just being here amongst the biggest clubs in the world makes us proud and happy."