[han2503]

Milan - Anderlecth

Group stage - Matchday 4 - 2006/2007

Wednesday 1st of November 2006

Time: 20:45 (Italian time) 19:45 (UK Time)

[misha]

RSC Anderlecht had better watch out. According to three-times UEFA Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf, AC Milan are "fired up" and ready to take out their frustration at Saturday's painful 4-3 defeat by FC Internazionale Milano on their Belgian visitors.

Painful defeat
Top of Group H, a victory on Wednesday could take Milan into the last 16 with two matches to spare, but it is the weekend Serie A reverse that is foremost in their minds. In Seedorf and company, Anderlecht seemingly are about to face a wounded animal. "We are really fired up," he said. "You should have seen us in training yesterday. That would have shown you better than any words can describe just how charged we are after the derby defeat. Now, we are even more optimistic and determined to do well in this tournament."

European form
Indeed, while they lie 14th in Serie A after a poor sequence of results halted their march up the table following a pre-season points penalty, Seedorf believes the graft that has produced Milan's fine UEFA Champions League form will soon bear fruit in all competitions. "We are very focused at the moment," the 30-year-old said. "We don't want to talk too much because whatever we say, the facts in the league at least say we should keep quiet. Even if we think they are not giving a true reflection of our performances at present, we believe the results will soon speak for themselves. Our hard work will pay off."

Porto example
Whether their toil at the Milanello training base translates into a seventh European Champion Clubs' Cup is the big question, but Seedorf is surely best-placed to comment. "Just look at [FC] Porto," he said. "The year Porto won the UEFA Champions League, Milan had a much better side. But they did what they had to do by beating the teams that were put in front of them. You need to have a little luck but essentially Porto did what was asked of them and the same goes for us. We know we are competitive enough to win it."

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