UEFA Champions League Preview: AC Milan v Auxerre
After a very successful and shocking summer transfer campaign, the Italian giants
Milan are heading towards success in both domestic and European competitions. AC Milan’s pursuit for an eighth UEFA Champions League starts on Wednesday night. The Italian giants will be hosting the French side AJ Auxerre. However,
both the clubs are placed in the group of death, which also contains Spanish giants Real Madrid and Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.
The Rossoneri have spent extravagantly over the summer transfer window, capturing the signatures of one of the best centre-forwards around Zlatan Ibrahimovic (albeit on loan).
Milan was also successful in signing the very talented Brazilian Robinho. After such intelligent signings from the
Milan president, they are now in possession of one of the world’s most formidable attacks as they also have Ronaldinho along with Alexandre Pato and Pippo Inzaghi.
Yet simply opening the chequebook is not a complete guarantee of success. New
Milan boss, Massimiliano Allegri learnt this at the weekend, when the newly promoted
Cesena proved too good for Milan, running out 2-0 winners at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi.
The Dream Group
This UEFA Champions League season is proving to be quite the dream for the French side. Auxerre fought courageously against a Zenit St. Petersburg side in the play-off stages. One could forgive Auxerre’s players if they were a little saddened at being placed
in a group from which they have virtually no chance of advancement in the knock-out round.
But the Auxerre boss simply chose to smile when Auxerre were drawn alongside the Real Madrid, AC Milan and
Ajax – three European clubs with astonishing pedigrees.
“This is the group of death and we are the underdogs, no doubt about it,” prolific Auxerre striker Ireneusz Jelen told the media. “Then again, I always dreamed about playing against teams like Real Madrid, AC Milan and
Ajax.
Without a doubt, over the past few years UEFA Champions League has proven to be something of a distraction from the domestic game for many clubs. Clubs prefer to prepare more about European fixture and pay less attention to the domestic league, which has cost
them at times.
Same has happened to the French side, Auxerre has already played five matches in the Ligue 1 and they have failed to even record a single win. This team that finished third last season are lingering towards the bottom half
of the table with four draws to their name after five games.
On Saturday night, Benoit Pedretti almost gave Auxerre their first take of domestic success this season against
Caen, but the club was nailed back at the last moment.
Even such a late blow will not be able to take the winds from their sails ahead of this mouth-watering opportunity however.
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