ROSSONERI’S REVENGE
AC Milan have made no secret of the fact revenge is their principal motivation as they prepare to take on Liverpool in the Champions League final on May 23.

The Rossoneri are still traumatised by their collapse in the 2005 final in Istanbul which saw them squander a 3-0 half-time lead and eventually lose on a penalty shoot-out and Milan president - and former Italian prime minister - Silvio Berlusconi has been candid about his club's determination to avenge their heartbreak.

He said: "We will win the cup which we handed to Liverpool two years ago.

"Their goalkeeper (Jerzy Dudek) will not make us lose concentration again with his dances (during the shoot-out), we are training specifically for this.

"This is the chance for revenge we have been waiting for."

Berlusconi's stance is not surprising, with his club adopting a siege mentality for much of this season.

Milan were embroiled in the match-fixing scandal which hit Serie A last year and, having been hit with an initial 30-point penalty - reduced to eight on appeal - slipped from second to third in the final 2005-06 standings.

That meant they had to qualify for the Champions League, although a 3-1 aggregate victory against Red Star Belgrade presented few problems.

The club maintain their innocence in the whole affair, with Berlusconi hinting it had brought the club closer together.

He added: "We are stronger than jealousy, stronger than misfortune and stronger than injustice.

"After a difficult start to the season, where we were punished for not doing anything wrong, we have not forgotten our main mission, which is to win (the Champions League)."

Milan head into the game in Athens in confident mood.

A recent fine run of form in Serie A has seen them all but secure a Champions League spot for next year and their form in Europe has been equally impressive.

Having topped Group H, they squeezed past Scottish champions Celtic in the first qualifying round.

The first real test came in the quarter-finals when a resolute second-leg display in Germany saw the Rossoneri overcome Bayern Munich while in the last four they proved too strong for Manchester United.

The architect of their win against Sir Alex Ferguson's men was Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who netted three goals in the tie and is the top scorer in the competition with 10.

"This year I have scored many beautiful goals and many important ones," he said.

"And the joy of being the top scorer is added to the happiness of knowing that I have helped my team-mates and my club.

"I reiterate, however, that I am not playing at my top level. I still have a lot to improve on."

The 25-year-old clearly sees his best days ahead of him, while Milan captain Paolo Maldini is close to the end of one of the game's glittering careers which has seen him claim four winners' medals in Europe's premier club competition.

Such is 38-year-old Maldini's desperation to play in the Greek capital that he has postponed a knee operation to take part.

The former Italy skipper is another Milan player eager to beat Liverpool to erase the memory of the defeat two years ago.

"I thought about the final in Istanbul for at least a year," he said, before praising the Merseysiders, who beat Chelsea in their last four clash.

"Liverpool are a team that have no fear," Maldini added.

Milan have been crowned kings of Europe on six occasions, a record bettered only by Real Madrid.

The Liverpool rematch is also the third time in the last five years they have advanced to the final.

"This record shows you have to be convinced of your own abilities to do well and to find the right balance and the necessary calmness and focus you need to go on and win," said coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose job was under threat until the team's league form picked up and they continued to challenge in Europe.

"We are very happy to be playing in the final and equally happy to face Liverpool," he added.

"What happened two years ago has no weight on the upcoming final. We want to win it."

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