Defending champions AC Milan were cursing their misfortune on Friday when the draw for the Champions League knock-out second round pitted them against English Premier League leaders Arsenal.
It was a bad day all round for the three Italian sides left in the competition with Inter Milan drawing last season's finalists Liverpool and Roma pulling Spanish champions Real Madrid out of the hat.
With a host of, on paper at least, easier ties available to them, including the likes of Fenerbahce, Lyon, Porto, Olympiakos and Sevilla, the Italian teams are instead facing the toughest route possible if they are to progress to the latter stages of Europe's premier competition. "We could have had a better draw," Milan chief Umberto Gandini told Sky Sport. "We've drawn the toughest possible team.
"Arsenal are a great team who reached the final in Paris (in 2006) when we lost to Barcelona (who won the cup).
"They have a very experienced coach (Arsene Wenger) with players that are as young as they are talented. "They have a lot of players that have come through the French academy system and are a team with a strong presence and an incredible potential."
Roma were also disappointed with their draw having been paired with the record nine-time champions of Europe.
"We could have had a better draw. I would have preferred Porto or Sevilla," admitted Roma coach Luciano Spalletti. "But I believe in our ability because our players can match Real." The Roma contingent certainly looked disappointed with their draw but Spalletti denied they would be feeling any worse than their opponents.
"I'd like to see how Madrid reacted when they saw they had drawn us," he said.
Probably the happiest of the Italians are Inter, who have a two-legged tie against Liverpool to look forward to.
In their current form the nerazzurri would probably fancy their chances against anyone. "All-in-all it's a good draw for us. Like always in the last 16 there are no easy teams to play," said coach Roberto Mancini."Probably we will be seen as the stronger team: there were possibly easier ties but if you want to win the cup you have to beat everyone." But despite his satisfaction at the draw, Mancini acknowledged that he is coming up against an opposite number in Rafael Benitez who has enjoyed a lot of success in Europe, winning the title in 2005 before guiding Liverpool back to the final last season.
"There are no easy games in football, especially in the Champions League. All the other second round ties look difficult," added Mancini."We will play a strong team, with the mentality and aggressiveness of the English and the tactics of a very clever coach."
The first legs will be played on February 19/20 with the return matches on March 4/5.
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