Milan travel to Amsterdam to take on Ajax amidst uncertainty over who exactly is going to start the match. Many expect Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri to drop Ronaldinho and opt for a 4-4-2, which would see Clarence Seedorf behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho. Filippo Inzaghi may also come on to play a role, but what is almost certain is that midfielder Kevin Boateng will get a rest after his committed outings for the club.
Though Milan defeated Genoa 1-0 over the weekend, the sceptics are still suspicious of the effectiveness of the team. The same old problems of lapses in concentration at Milan persist, as the Lazio game exemplified. After taking the lead against Lazio, Milan relaxed and allowed the equalizer, which had an air of inevitability about it.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has always immodestly claimed that the Champions League is the "natural habitat" for Milan. There is an element of truth to his bravado. Milan almost always play a different game when given room, and the format of the Champions League urges adventurous play on part of even the smaller teams. When given space, Milan can be a hard team to beat, and it is precisely space that is at a premium in Serie A.
Therefore, there should be no alibis for a Milan defeat against Ajax. When your strike force contains Ibrahimovic and Robinho amongst others, you forfeit the right to complain.
This Group G encounter also has special significance because Milan duo Seedorf and Ibrahimovic used to play for Ajax.
Fullback Problems
Notwithstanding the addition of world class talent over the summer, Milan are still struggling to find full-backs even remotely redolent of Serginho and Cafu. The latter was certainly a more illustrious and complete option than Serginho, but both Brazilians provided speed, guile and defensive solidity between them. The likes of Ignazio Abate, Luca Antonini and an ageing Gianluca Zambrotta simply do not provide guarantees. Zambrotta used to be a superb player in his pomp, but he is now well into his thirties and struggling to maintain his erstwhile standards of play.
The fullback issue, then, is one that should be addressed by Milan, and against Ajax their weaknesses could be exposed.
Ajax Team News
Defender Jan Vertonghen makes his Champions League debut for Ajax, while Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez returns after missing the first match against Real Madrid.
Prediction
Both Clarence Seedorf and Ibrahimovic have been cautiously optimistic ahead of the tie against Ajax, stressing the need to respect the Dutch club. It has become commonplace for footballers to utter the platitude of "we respect them, but we do not fear them," but there is genuine respect in the Milan camp for Ajax, not least because of the Dutch club's accomplishments in Europe, which include a European Cup triumph against Milan in 1995. However, Milan are slowly starting to look like a well organized team, and they may win this tomorrow 2-1.
