Do not underestimate Lille, Milan coach warns players AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned his players not to underestimate French side Lille ahead of their Champions League Group H match.
Lille go into Tuesday's game on the back of their third domestic league defeat in nine matches -- a 4-1 loss away to Olympique Lyon that left them ninth out of 20 teams in Ligue 1.
Lille would prove tougher customers in Europe, Ancelotti said, reminding his team of last season's Champions League when the French side's unbeaten record at home was crowned by a 1-0 defeat of Manchester United.
"It's the most delicate match in the group because we're facing our toughest away test," Ancelotti was quoted as saying on La Gazzetta dello Sport's Web site on Monday.
"At home they are a team we should fear. It won't be easy to keep control of the game because they are fast and play a very dynamic and aggressive kind of football."
Ancelotti's caution will have also been fuelled by Milan's frustrating 0-0 draw with Serie A rivals Livorno at the weekend, which ended their 100 per cent winning record this season.
It was an nervy, off-colour performance by the six-times European champions, which Ancelotti put down to tiredness.
"It's a problem we face in common with all the other clubs that are playing in more than one competition," he said.
"When you're trying to stay with the pace it's inevitable that you're going to struggle sometimes."
On Tuesday, Milan start without regular captain Paolo Maldini, who suffered a thigh injury against Livorno, but will hope their 3-0 win over AEK Athens in the first round of matches two weeks ago augurs well for the rest of their group-stage campaign.
In each of the past four seasons Milan have won their first game in the competition and gone on to top their group.
"A win would set us on the way (to reaching the knockout phase)," said Ancelotti.
"We've always started the group phase well. Let's hope we do the same this year."
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