Xabi Alonso has fond memories of facing Milan, namely lifting the 2005 Champions League trophy following a miraculous comeback after being 3-0 down and winning on penalties but on Tuesday night, the Spaniard finds himself on the sidelines.
The Italian side – coached by Paulo Fonseca – pose a different kind of threat that Bundesliga opposition would. Milan are ready to defend deep, and Alonso is ready for a difficult game against the Lombardy club.
“We expect high game intelligence,” said Alonso at Monday’s press conference. “They are prepared to defend deep but they can also dominate possession. We have to be prepared for any situation.”
The Spaniard added: “It’s a match against a big team in the history of football. AC Milan are a top side with a lot of individual quality. They have dangerous players who work well together on the pitch. Therefore, we will need to produce our best performance levels and play with high concentration as usual.”
