None of them are scared, apparently
Staff and agencies
Friday December 17, 2004
football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200405/story/0,15008,1376140,00.html
English clubs will be looking to settle old scores after the draw for the Champions League knock-out phase paired some familiar names together.
Premiership leaders Chelsea face Barcelona, currently top of the Primera Liga in Spain, while 1999 winners Manchester United come up against Italian giants AC Milan, who have lifted the famous trophy six times.
Arsenal and Liverpool both have German opponents in Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.
The tie of the round is probably the one which pits Jose Mourinho against Frank Rijkaard and will be a good measure of just how far the Stamford Bridge club have come since their last meeting in this competition in 2000.
Having won 3-1 at home the Blues were trounced 5-1 in the second leg of the quarter-final.
However, Chelsea secretary David Barnard said his club, which is entering a new era under Champions League-winning coach Jose Mourinho, feared no one.
"It is an exciting tie. We respect Barcelona. We have got a bit of history with Barcelona in the Champions League, having been knocked out in 2000.
"But we don't fear them because we are playing with so much confidence in our own ability. Jose was [assistant coach] at Barcelona with Bobby Robson and knows the Spanish mentality.
"But you have to bear in mind Barcelona are the fourth-most successful team in Europe since the competition was put in place."
Liverpool are the other side looking to exact revenge after they were dumped out of the Champions League quarter-final in 2002 by the Germans.
Leading 1-0 after the home leg, Gerard Houllier's side fell apart in the face of a Michael Ballack-inspired Leverkusen who won 4-2 in the return tie. However, though the German side finished top of their group in the current campaign, they are not in the same class as the 2002 team and Liverpool could have been given a much tougher prospect.
"I think we are happy enough," said the Anfield club's chief executive Rick Parry. "We don't fear any team at this stage. Hopefully, we can do a bit better against Leverkusen than the last time we played them.
"It is not easy but we will get on with it now. I'm pleased we didn't get one of the Italian clubs - you have to play them at some stage but it (the draw) is OK."
Parry also admitted progressing to the knock-out stage was crucial for the club for more than just finanical reasons.
"It is a massive boost to be through to last 16. People have been talking about finances but it is a pure football boost," he said. "It keeps the second half of the season alive. We are really looking forward to the knock-out phase."
Manchester United's task against the 2003 winners Milan should not be under-estimated. The teams have only met twice and both times the Old Trafford were knocked out by the Italians.
In the 1958 semi-final - after the Munich air disaster - United won the first leg at home 2-1 but lost 4-0 in Germany.
In 1969 the Red Devils were defending champions but they lost 2-0 away and although a Bobby Charlton goal gave them a 1-0 home victory it was not enough to save their campaign.
It will be the first time Sir Alex Ferguson, who somehow predicted his side would get Milan, has met the Italians in his lengthy managerial career in England and Scotland.
"It is a really, really tough draw but at this stage of the competition whoever you play will be a top team," said Manchester United secretary Ken Merrett.
"We were sat next to AC Milan - it seems to be fatal if you sit next to them in the auditorium you draw them.
"AC Milan are everything you think about when playing in Europe. We feel we have got a chance this year. They don't come any harder than AC but who knows?"
Arsenal have struggled to find the fluency in Europe that they have enjoyed in the Premiership and Bayern Munich will provide a stern test.
"It was always going to be tough and Bayern are top of their domestic league, have won the European Cup four times in their history and it will be two exciting games," said Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein.
"Whoever it was it would be two sell-outs and it will be great for television. We have got a talented squad and I would like to think we could progress in the competition. We are looking forward to it."
