Maldini savours 'special' blend

Despite having won six Italian Scudettos, as many European trophies and appeared in both the final of the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship, AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini has acknowledged that there is something "even more special" about his side's UEFA Champions League semi-final against Internazionale FC.

Milan gripped
Tonight will see two clubs from the same city meet in the last four of club football's greatest competition for the first time since the 1958/59 semi-final between Real Madrid CF and Club Atlético de Madrid, and the 34-year-old Maldini, who tonight equals Giuseppe Bergomi's record of 44 derby appearances, has urged his team-mates to maintain their composure ahead of a match which has not only gripped Europe's premier footballing city but Italy as a whole.

’Worked up’
"A derby against Inter is always an extraordinary event but the fact that we now play them with a Champions League final place at stake makes it even more special," said Maldini, who played a record 126 times for Italy prior to retiring after last year's World Cup. "It is easy to get too worked up about these games, but we have to stay calm and try to play our own game. Too much tension can do bad things to you."

Recent victories
Tension is certainly rife as the red and blue halves of Milan prepare to meet for the 254th time. Milan, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, who won European Champion Clubs' Cups alongside Maldini in 1988/89 and 1989/90, have won the last two of those in Serie A this season, 1-0 both home and away. Maldini, also a Champions League winner in 1993/94, is adamant Milan can continue that streak in their home first leg.

Playing for second
"We are all very aware of how important this game is and you just have to spend some time in the city to sense that," he said. "We believe in our own abilities and we are convinced that we are not inferior to Inter in any way. We have beaten them this season, but they are ahead of us in the league." Inter have 60 points from 31 matches, Milan 58. With three games remaining both are realistically vying for second place behind Juventus FC.

Born in Milan
Maldini made his Rossoneri debut against Udinese Calcio in January 1985, and has subsequently played more than 500 league matches for the club and 122 in European competition, a European record. Being one of only two likely Milan-born starters on the pitch, along with team-mate Cristian Brocchi - Christian Abbiati and Alessandro Costacurta were both born on the fringes of the city - Maldini has extra motivation to succeed.

Maldini 'proud'
He said: "I am proud to have played for this club so long and that I will be able to represent AC Milan in a game like this. I am honoured to be in this situation and we will do everything we can to reach the final. Ahead of a semi-final there is always the same buzz. You know you are very close to reaching the final but there is no way you can relax because then you will be punished."