++ [ originally posted by china man ] ++
Andrea Pirlo insists that his Milan side will be the team to beat at both home and abroad this season.
"It is only right that we are considered as the favourites in Serie A and the Champions’ League," he stated.
"We are the side that everybody will be looking to defeat because we have strengthened the team after two great campaigns already."
He added: "We know that it will be difficult for us to win because of the competition from Juventus, Inter and Real Madrid.
"The pressure? It won’t be a problem for us because we have already shown in the past that we can handle difficult situations."
The Rossoneri convincingly won the League last season but Pirlo knows it will be a tough ask to retain their crown.
"Our biggest rivals are Juventus, Inter and Roma," he noted. "There is no doubt that Juve are a better side with the acquisitions of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Cannavaro.
"In Europe I fear Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid in particular. But before meeting them we must get through our group which is difficult."
The Milan giants have been drawn in Group F with Barcelona, Celtic and Shaktar Donetsk.
olympic heroes speak!!!!!what u guys think about this article??