AC Milan v Ajax, San Siro, 7.45AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti says he is confident of his team's chances against Ajax in tonight's Champions League, quarter-final, second-leg match despite the absence of a trio of key midfielders.
"We will be missing some important players, such as Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso but we have the replacements and we will have a competitive midfield and I believe we can do well," Ancelotti told a news conference yesterday.
Seedorf and Pirlo are out until the end of the season with injuries picked up in the 0-0 draw in the first leg in Amsterdam, while Gattuso is suspended.
To add to Ancelotti's selection problems, Brazilian winger Serginho is doubtful for the game and captain Paolo Maldini is not yet certain to be fit.
Serginho picked up a knock in the surprise 1-0 loss to Empoli on Saturday and Ancelotti said it would be "difficult" for the Brazilian to be fit in time for the game. Maldini broke his nose in the Milan derby 10 days ago and Ancelotti said his captain had struggled in training as he had respiratory problems while wearing a protective mask.
Ajax also have injury problems with a 4-2 win over Roda JC Kerkrade on Saturday resulting in Rafael van der Vaart, Brazilian Maxwell and Finn Jari Litmanen being added to the injury list.
Coach Ronald Koeman's biggest worry is playmaker Van der Vaart, who suffered concussion.
Thomas Galasek, Steven Pienaar, Hatem Trabelsi, Andre Bergdolmo all have knocks of varying degrees but joined Ajax's last training session before their departure to Milan.
