Ancelotti casts aside demons
Friday 28 October, 2005
Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is looking to cast aside old demons as he prepares his team for the visit of Juventus on Saturday night.
Comparisons are being made with the previous match last May which ended 1-0 in favour of the Bianconeri.
That result effectively handed the Serie A title to Juve, who stole a vital march and three crucial points on their rivals with just three matches to go.
"That game was certainly a decisive one," said Ancelotti. "But this one isn’t. We were at the end of the season then, but now it is too soon to even begin to think of it in those terms."
Echoing the wise words of his opposite number at Juve, Fabio Capello, the message from Ancelotti is that there is a still a long way to go before any medals are handed out.
Nevertheless, Carletto knows that he can ill afford to let the Turin side extend any further their precocious five-point lead at the top.
"It’s a game against a side we must challenge all the way until the end of the season, like last year," he said.
"Tomorrow it is important to try to win. We must take to the pitch with the intention of taking control of the tie, imposing our game.
"We’re not looking to win at all costs but defeat would certainly affect us psychologically."
In the probable absence of Andriy Shevchenko, Ancelotti is happy to call upon Gilardino and Inzaghi, who are "in fine form" at present.
However, he did admit being wary of the midfield presence of Patrick Vieira and Emerson, which might force a change of midfield tactics.
"Kaka may have to make way for Marek Jankulovski," admitted the 46-year-old, who should also be able to rely on rested Paolo Maldini plus the fit-again Jaap Stam and Alessandro Nesta.