Stam awaits PSV's last stand

By Adrian Clarke

Jaap Stam is convinced AC Milan will book their place in the UEFA Champions League final if they score at the Philips Stadion in tonight's semi-final second leg. Carlo Ancelotti's side lead PSV Eindhoven 2-0 after last week's first leg and are overwhelming favourites to progress through to the showpiece final in Istanbul on 25 May.

'I am confident'
"I am sure now that one away goal will be enough to take us through," Stam told uefa.com. "It will mean PSV need to win 4-1 and that is an unlikely scoreline. It's not impossible but I am confident our defence will be able to prevent four goals being conceded in Eindhoven."

Late goal
A late strike at the San Siro broke PSV hearts, and helped ease Milan's nerves. "Jon Dahl Tomasson's goal at the end of the first leg was priceless," added Stam, a former PSV player. "It puts us in a position of strength that a 1-0 win might not have afforded us. The difference it makes to this tie is huge."

Tough task
However, Stam is wary of a backlash from the Eredivisie champions. The imposing centre-half was given a torrid time by PSV's strikers at the San Siro, and expects nothing less this time around. "PSV shocked a lot of people with that first-leg display but not me," he said. "They can count themselves unlucky to have lost the game, let alone by a two-goal margin. In the second half they created more chances than any other team we have played against this season.

PSV belief
"Our 2-0 lead makes us worthy favourites but that doesn't give us a single guarantee that it will happen. Guus Hiddink will make sure that his side gives us a real fight. They've proved they can carve out opportunities against us, so they will believe that this time they will finish them off."

Attacking policy
Stam expects PSV to attack Milan from the start - tactics he thinks could play straight into Milan's hands. He said: "PSV don't have too much time to be cautious, so I expect them to throw bodies forward relatively early on. Hopefully, this will suit us because we are not the sort of team to sit back and invite pressure.

Milan traits
"Italian teams are renowned for that approach, but our squad of players doesn't play the game that way. Our way is to attack and score as many goals as we can. You can't ever guarantee that will happen, but this AC Milan team wants to win every match it competes in. Our players are good enough to produce attractive, entertaining, attacking football and that is what we try to do."

English date
If Milan progress they will face Liverpool FC in the final. Yet, having already seen the back of another of his old clubs, Manchester United FC, in this season's competition, Stam is not scared of facing Premiership opposition. He concluded: "Our total focus is on getting to Istanbul. Once we are there we will worry about Liverpool - It would be tough, but we'd be confident of winning."