Boateng doubtful for buoyant Milan
Reuters - Sunday 06 March 2011, 12:03
MILAN - Injured AC Milan midfielder Kevin
Prince Boateng is doubtful to face former side Tottenham Hotspur
in Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg but the
stretched Rossoneri still go to London with renewed confidence.
The Serie A leaders were crestfallen after the 1-0 home
defeat in the first leg last month when fiery midfielder Gennaro
Gattuso's post-match clash with Spurs assistant coach Joe Jordan
summed up the frustration of the seven-times winners.
Three weeks on and all seems rosy again after deserved
domestic wins over Chievo, fellow title challengers Napoli and
arch rivals Juventus. Boateng's ankle problem, which forced him
off in Saturday's 1-0 victory in Turin, is the only negative.
"We will try to have him back," coach Massimilano Allegri
told reporters while chief executive Adriano Galliani said they
were "worried" for the Ghanaian.
Boateng's fitness is key as midfielders Andrea Pirlo and
Massimo Ambrosini are injured long-term while Mark van Bommel is
ineligible and Gattuso is banned.
A makeshift midfield of Clarence Seedorf, Mathieu Flamini
and German youngster Alexander Merkel may be an option while
with Antonio Cassano ineligible, Alexandre Pato should recover
from 'flu to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho upfront.
"To win we need to attack. You can't only stay back and
defend, you must always attack," defender Thiago Silva said.
Milan's good form as they seek a first scudetto since 2004
and a first European Cup since 2007 looks to have saved Juve
coach Luigi Del Neri's job with the faltering Turin club almost
resigned to Saturday's defeat before kick off.
"We move forward with this solution," Juve sporting director
Beppe Marotta cryptically said when asked if Del Neri might be
sacked by the underperforming seventh-placed side.