The Road to European Glory

Umberto Gandini and his AC Milan ready for continental Championships

Twelve months ago AC Milan's general manager Umberto Gandini stood in the foyer at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo and regretted the state of Italian soccer. Serie A was in an apparently shambolic state, besieged by arguments, financial crises and a row over television contracts.
One year on, following the draw for the opening group stage of the Champions League, the Italian picture has changed and last Thursday Gandini was in a very different mood.
In his role with the defending European champions, Gandini had returned to the French Riviera to see his club drawn to face Spain's Celta Vigo, four-times European Cup winners Ajax of the Netherlands and Club Bruges of Belgium in group H.
The signings of Brazilian World Cup-winning right back Cafu from Roma, fellow Brazilian Kaka from Sao Paulo and left back Giuseppe Pancaro from Lazio have added experience and promise to the European champions' squad.
European champions begin the defense of their title against determined old rivals Ajax Amsterdam in their opening group match of this season's Champions League.
Milan, crowned European champions for the sixth time with their penalty shootout victory over Juventus in May, met Ajax in the quarter-finals last season and squeezed through against the exciting young Dutch side by winning 3-2 in the San Siro after a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam.
The most famous game between the clubs was in 1995 when a Patrick Kluivert goal gave Ajax a 1-0 victory over the Italians in the European Cup final in Vienna.
"We have a score to settle," said Ajax captain Rafael van der Vaart. "Milan start as the favourites, but we want our revenge for last season's elimination."
"It was very close against Ajax in the quarter-finals last season but we came through it. We also played Bruges many years ago and beat them and went on to win the final itself and so I hope those are good omens for us again this season," said Umberto Gandini.
Real Madrid, looking for a record-extending 10th European Cup victory, renew their rivalry with UEFA Cup holders Porto who they have met four times in the last seven seasons.
Real will also play Olympique Marseille - winners of the first Champions League format in 1993 - and Partizan Belgrade, who lost to Real in the 1966 European Cup final.
In theory there are more difficult groups than that of Real Madrid's. Ronaldo and Co. can be moderately pleased with the draw. It has to be said, though, that Porto had a great season last time and that Partizan have showed that they are in good form by eliminating Newcastle United in the third qualifying round.
English champions Manchester United will play Scottish champions Rangers in a first European match-up between the sides which will rouse fierce passions both sides of the border.
It will also bring together United's Scottish manager Alex Ferguson and Alex McLeish, the young manager of Rangers who was captain of Aberdeen in the 1980s when Ferguson was in charge there.
McLeish regularly calls Ferguson for advice on managerial matters and will be delighted with the chance of pitting his wits against his mentor.
John McClelland, Rangers chairman, said: "It is a dream for the fans. They will really enjoy travelling abroad to Germany and to Greece - and even further abroad to Manchester. You could say it is going to be a playoff for the unofficial title of the champions of Britain."
Panathinaikos of Greece, who last played United in the Champions League three seasons ago, and VfB Stuttgart of Germany complete the Group E quartet.
This season's Champions League features only one group stage, with the top two in each group advancing to the knock-out stages. The first group games will be played on September 16 and 17 while the final is in the German city of Gelsenkirchen on May 26 next year.
As well as conducting the draw for this season's Champions League, UEFA handed out awards for outstanding players of the last Champions League campaign.
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was named Europe's Most Valuable Player of last season at UEFA's annual gala awards night following his fine performances in the Champions League.
The 25-year-old, who became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when he moved from Parma to Juve for Cdn $60-million in 2001, was also named the best goalkeeper in the competition.
Buffon won that award even though he could not prevent AC Milan winning the Champions League final on penalties at Old Trafford in May.
One of the outstanding moments of his European season came when he saved a crucial penalty in the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid. If Figo had scored, Real would have gone level on aggregate in the match but in the end Juventus won 3-1 to win the match 4-3 and reach the final.
Just as important was his last-minute save from Figo in the first leg in Madrid, which stopped Real from taking a 3-1 lead to Turin. But probably his most impressive display in last year's Champions League run was in the quarter-final second leg at Barcelona as 10-man Juve won 2-1 in extra-time.
Real Madrid's Brazilian international left back Roberto Carlos was named defender of the season while Pavel Nedved of Juventus was named the best midfielder.
Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United, who scored 12 goals in the Champions League, was named best striker.
Paolo Maldini, who captained AC Milan to victory in the Champions League final, was handed the President's Award for his outstanding contribution to soccer in his 17-year career, which shows no sign of ending yet. He is the first player to win the award.

Publication Date: 2003-09-07
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3124