Frank Rijkaard doesn't want his team to sit back on their 0-1 advantages from the San Siro and made it clear on the eve of the big game that Barca would be staying loyal to their attacking philosophy.
The Barca boss knows all about Milan as an ex-player himself and warned that: "we'll have to be prepared to face a great Milan side who will be determined to turn the first leg result around. We know that and we know we have to do our job well. It'll be a real fight". Even so Rijkaard knows his team's style of play has held them in good stead all season: "we've played well and shown our strength all season and we'll not be changing our style of play now just to defend a result".
Goals on the agenda
Rijkaard reckons his team's priorities must be focussed on: "getting a second goal. We have to play with our heads though and be careful we don't concede ourselves. I think it's easier to prepare for this game than for the first leg, both tactically and psychologically". However, the boss disagreed with the players who compared the game with the Chelsea match citing a similar need for concentration, focus and attention to deactivate the Milan game: "no, I don't agree - you can't compare the two games, they are two different opponents".
Deco and Inzaghi back
Deco and Inzaghi were the two big absentees in San Siro, the Portuguese midfielder through suspension and Inzaghi through illness. Rijkaard insisted that the return of Deco: "is great news for us. He's a really important player for us", whilst Inzaghi : "is a player who always gets goals. He's always there on the mark - a born striker".
Yellow card threat
Just as Guillermo Amor missed the 92 final at Wembley after picking up a yellow card in the semi final against Benfica, so Carles Puyol, Rafa Marquez and Mark Van Bommel face the same threat going into Wednesday's game, being just one more yellow away from suspension. Rijkaard was adamant that this wouldn't affect the players' performances though: "they might miss the final that's true, but they are not players who commit a lot of fouls. They just don't have to think about that and concentrate solely on beating Milan. We hope to get to Paris without any cards being shown at all".
