Italians Serie-As players
AC MILAN will host Inter Milan in the San Siro tonight to showcase the Italian renaissance in European club football and the new generation of stars in Serie A.
When these city rivals last faced each other in the semi-finals in 2003, the Italian league was still arguably the strongest on the continent and Carlo Ancelotti’s AC Milan went on to beat Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford.
Clarence Seedorf, who provided the pass for Andriy Shevchenko’s crucial away goal in that semi, feels the resurgence of the two Milan clubs in Europe is long overdue.
“Now Milan and Inter deserve to have reached this milestone again,” said the Dutchman. “I expect two exciting derbies, I can’t wait. Italy will once again have a team in the Champions League final.”
Since AC Milan’s 2007 victory over Liverpool for their seventh title, only Inter in 2010 have won the continent’s top club honour while Juventus lost in two finals.
However, there were six Serie A sides in the last eight of the three European competitions this season, with Roma in the semi-finals of the Europa League tomorrow.
Italian dominance at the turn of the century was based on the wealth of Silvio Berlusconi (AC), Sergio Cragnotti (Lazio) and Calisto Tanzi (Parma).
Now the money is with state-owned clubs and in the Premier League, although seven Serie A clubs – including AC Milan and Inter – now have foreign owners.
Clubs have had to be smarter, with new champions Napoli signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae from cheaper markets.
AC Milan have followed a similar path by signing Rafael Leao, who faces a late fitness test on a thigh injury, and goalkeeper Mike Maignan for modest fees from Lille.
Both clubs have found form recently to set up what promises to be an intriguing encounter.