I so wanted to do the same max, but I don't want to hoodoo us. Apart from the possibility of being crushed if we don't make it.. losing my money..

What odds did your get? The bet I was going to take was $2.15 for milan to go to athens.

Manchester's call ups:

MANCHESTER UNITED: L'ELENCO UFFICIALE DEI CONVOCATI
01/05/2007
PORTIERI: Van der Sar, Kusczak, Heaton.
DIFENSORI: Brown, Rio Ferdinand, O'Shea, Vidic, Heinze.
CENTROCAMPISTI: Carrick, Eagles, Fangzhuo, Fletcher, Giggs, Richardson, C.Ronaldo, Scholes.
ATTACCANTI: Rooney, Saha, Smith, Solskjaer

Fan v Fan: AC Milan-Manchester United 

Before last week's great Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford, Goal.com asked Goal.com asked United fan Tony Canning and Milanista Roberto Rivera how they saw the game going. Now on Wednesday night the second leg takes place at Milan's famous San Siro, and we asked Roberto and Tony for their views ahead of this decisive, and potentially epic, return leg, with United holding a slender advantage and everthing still to play for between two European thoroughbreds with enviable pedigrees in this competition...

GOAL: Let us start with your thoughts about your team's performance during the first leg? What emotions did it evoke?
ROBERTO (Milan):Well, when we went down on the early goal, I was a little bit worried about Man. Utd. picking up where they left off against Roma (having scored seven goals in the second leg), and that we might be in big trouble.  Then, when we took the lead through two amazing goals by Kaka, I was ecstatic.
Even though we gave up the late goal to lose rather than draw the match, I am still pleased with the way we performed, especially considering we lost our two biggest leaders through injury during the match (Paolo Maldini and Rino Gattuso).
TONY (Man Utd):  It was a typical roller-coaster of emotions that United fans are well used to. As Fergie often says, we always seem to do things the hard way, and so it was against Milan. The early goal was just the start we needed - settle the nerves, allow us to relax and play, etc, etc. But Kaka was reading a different script, and the United defence didn't seem to have any script at all, so suddenly we'd gone from 1-0 up to 2-1 down, and I admit I was very apprehensive at half-time. OK, we've come from behind against many teams to win - we did so against Everton at the weekend - but with Milan you're talking about a team famed for its defensive ortganisation.  So I was thrilled with United's brilliant second-half display, we just really went for it and never gave up, and in the end we got our reward.

GOAL: Were you lucky, or did you deserve more from the game?
ROBERTO (Milan): We definitely should have come away with the draw, at least.  We took our foot off the pedal on the hour mark, and basically allowed Manchester to control the rest of the match, after having dominated the first half.
TONY (Man Utd):  There was nothing lucky about it, we won because we deserved to. OK, you could argue that Dida's flap for the first goal had an element of good fortune about it for United. Overall, though, the victory was all about effort and determination. As they say in football, you make your own luck - and we did.

GOAL: Where does that result leave you heading into the second leg? What do you feel about the away goals situation?
ROBERTO (Milan): We pretty much always knew we would need to win the second leg in order to advance.  Now, we just simply must win without allowing them to score much.  I feel comfortable about our two away goals holding up, if we actually need them.
TONY (Man Utd):  To win and have a lead was priceless. At 2-2 it would have been tough. As it is I'm worried about their two away goals, but if there's one thing United have done consistently well this season it's score goals, and I back us to get more in Milan.

GOAL: What about your opponents? What did you think about their performance?
ROBERTO (Milan): They were fortunate on the first goal, but I will give them credit for the second and third.  They would have gotten more if our goalkeeper hadn’t made several great saves.
TONY (Man Utd):  They are are a class team, but we always knew they were. However, I think they relied heavily on Seedorf and of course Kaka. OK, they were a bit unlucky to lose Maldini and Gattuso, but to be honest I was pretty surprised by Milan's weak defending, and I'm encouraged about that for the second leg.

GOAL: How has your opinion of them changed after the game, if at all?
ROBERTO (Milan): My opinion hasn’t changed.  I admit they are a very good team, but they just don’t have as much skill as we do, which is essential to win the Champions League.
TONY (Man Utd):  I'm less impressed with their defence and even more respectful of Kaka.

GOAL: Coming ahead to the second leg, where do you think it will be won or lost now?
ROBERTO (Milan): Our defence must be focused.  They will surely attack at times, just as they did in the second half of the first leg.  They could advance with a scoreless draw, but does anyone believe Milan will not score at home?
TONY (Man Utd):  I think both defences will be under a lot of pressure, and any more pantomime defending like we saw last week will again be punished. We allowed Milan to dominate the midfield in the first half and can't afford to let that happen again. But in the second-half we bossed the game - and our strikers are more potent than theirs, from what we saw last week.

GOAL: Did you see any weakness in your opponents that your team can exploit better?
ROBERTO (Milan): We simply need to go harder and more directly at their defence.  The chances will be there for the taking.
TONY (Man Utd):  Dida is obviously a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character - he pulled off a couple of great saves but we can exploit his nervousness when he comes off his line. And they lack pace in the centre of their defence.

GOAL: Which opposition player did your team struggle against the most? How can you do better against him?
ROBERTO (Milan): Wayne Rooney scored twice, but we were constantly having to track back to stop Ryan Giggs.  We need to retain our shape in midfield, and our backline was caught too far up the field on occasion.
TONY (Man Utd):  You'd have to say Kaka - pure class. His two goals were exceptional and he was the creative heart as well as the cutting edge of their team. But I was also impressed with Seedorf, who seems to have been around for decades, with who knows how many different teams, but can still cut the mustard with his passing.

GOAL: Any other areas you need to polish up? How are injuries and suspensions affecting your team?
ROBERTO (Milan): It would be great if our strikers could do a bit more in getting into scoring positions.  Alberto Gilardino ran a lot in the first leg, but he was almost absent every time we went at goal. We are definitely in trouble regarding injuries, with Gattuso and Maldini not completely fit.  On the issue of suspensions, we are not missing anyone, but Kaka and Maldini could miss the Final if they get a single yellow card in this match.
TONY (Man Utd):  Of course we need to sharpen up defensively, and it is also here of course where we are struggling with injuries. Fergie has taken Vidic and Ferdinand to Milan but it may be too soon for either to play. I and every other United fan would love to see Vidic in particular back in action. Gary Neville is a big miss for an occasion like this, with his experience and leadership qualities. We will be without Evra, but to be honest he didn't perform at his best last week, especially on their second goal. Heinze is more comfortable at left-back than centre-back, and I'm more comfortable when he's there too. Obviously there's the Scholes yellow card issue, so I just hope he doesn't get booked and miss the final, but at the same time I can't see Scholesy holding back if it comes to the crunch. 

GOAL: Who from your team do we keep an eye on here?
ROBERTO (Milan): After Kaka’s dominance in the first leg, he will be watched constantly.  So, Clarence Seedorf should find more room to work some of his own magic.
TONY (Man Utd):  Ronaldo and Rooney are the obvious names, they carry a real goal threat and Ronaldo can make their defenders dizzy. But I have a feeling Carrick could really shine on Wednesday. I think the stage will suit him.

GOAL: Going back to your opponents, anyone from their team you would want on your side in the future, based on what you saw?
ROBERTO (Milan): Cristiano Ronaldo would take much of the attention away from Kaka, but only if he matured some.  He just wanted to show off his tricks in the first leg, and was clearly caught up in the media hype of him versus Kaka.
TONY (Man Utd):  Who wouldn't want Kaka?

GOAL: Anything particular lingering on from the first leg which could affect the upcoming clash?
ROBERTO (Milan): The Red Devils are able to do well on set pieces, and we are not good defensively on set pieces, so this could be a problem.  Man. Utd. scored at the weekend from another deflected header by C. Ronaldo.
TONY (Man Utd):  The knowledge that Kaka can take a team apart single-handedly, and needs very close attention.

GOAL: What could be the ramifications for your club should you fail to go through?
ROBERTO (Milan): As the higher-ups, and the supporters, have become restless for silverware, the manager would probably lose his job, as well as certain players being sent packing in the summer.
TONY (Man Utd):  I don't want to count any chickens here, but after Saturday's results I think the Premiership title is almost in the bag for us, and United winning that for the first time in four years would be a huge compensation if we should go out to Milan, especially with the FA Cup final still to come. But there is something special about the Champions League and we'd love to be there in Athens.  Even if we don't make it, this has been a much better season than many United fans expected, and there'll be no panic or wholesale changes because the team is getting stronger and definitely going in the right direction.

GOAL: What do you think the result of this game will be, and how will it affect your week?
ROBERTO (Milan): I firmly believe in our ability to get the result when we need it, and we will in fact win this match, probably 1-0.  When, not if, this happens, I will have a smile on my face all the way up until the Final takes place in Athens.
TONY (Man Utd):  There will be more goals, definitely. I would not be surprised with a scoring draw, even 2-2, but with United going through on aggregate. It will be a fabulous feeling to know we are in another European Cup final but the week as a whole will also depend upon us beating Man City and Arsenal beating or holding Chelsea at the weekend. 

Goal.com
GOAL: What could be the ramifications for your club should you fail to go through?
ROBERTO (Milan): As the higher-ups, and the supporters, have become restless for silverware, the manager would probably lose his job, as well as certain players being sent packing in the summer.