Milan strive for top billing

By Marcus Christenson

Despite losing half the midfield which was instrumental in AC Milan leaving AFC Ajax's Amsterdam Arena with a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final a fortnight ago, coach Carlo Ancelotti remains confident that the Rossoneri will be the team celebrating at San Siro on Wednesday night.

'Among the best' 
"I know it will be a difficult game but we hope and think that we are good enough to be among the best four in Europe," said Ancelotti, who will be missing the energy of both the suspended Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf. The Dutchman's season was ended by a 26th-minute challenge by Ajax defender Hatem Trabelsi in the first leg.

Pirlo out
The loss of Seedorf, bidding to become the first player to win the Champions League with three clubs, will be even more keenly felt as Andrea Pirlo has also been ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury. Ancelotti added: "We have lost some important players over the past few weeks but there are others who are ready to step in and take responsibility."

Serginho injured
The most likely midfield deputies are Fernando Redondo and Cristian Brocchi, while Massimo Ambrosini and Rui Costa will retain their places. Brazilian winger Serginho was taken out of the reckoning after failing to recover from an ankle injury suffered in Saturday's shock 1-0 defeat by Empoli in Serie A.

'More focused'
A first home loss of the season may have dented morale, but Ancelotti hopes the reverse will instead provide a psychological boost. "The game against Empoli is a closed chapter for us and I don't think it will have an influence on Wednesday's match," he said. "And if it has, I think it will be a positive response and that we will be even more focused and determined to win and go through."

'We are ready'
Milan have now won just two of their last ten games, prompting Ancelotti to summon his players to their Milanello training retreat 24 hours ahead of schedule. He denied it was an act of "punishment", preferring to concentrate on the positives. "Those two wins came against Juventus [FC] and Internazionale [FC] - two of the best teams in Europe. Wednesday is another big one and we are ready."

'Pressure on Milan'
Ajax are also set for action, coach Ronald Koeman saying: "We have young players who like to attack and like to score and if we score I think we will have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals. We have done fantastically well to get here while it is different for Milan. I think they are the better team with more experience - but they also have more pressure on them."

Guessing game
Like his opposite number, Koeman will have to shuffle his pack. Talented forward Rafael van der Vaart is doubtful with concussion and midfield player Tomáš Galásek is troubled by a knee injury, while Maxwell is another doubt. Andy van der Meyde, who missed the first leg through suspension, could return to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic - though each coach will keep the other guessing to the last.