Group C Kick-off: 19:45 (BST)
Milan may have opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Marseille, but they have only scored one home goal all season and Group C visitors FC Zurich are hoping to take advantage.
Milan’s Brazilian coach Leonardo, who has come under pressure after the club’s disappointing start to the season, said his players must ignore their poor domestic form and focus on the task in hand.
“We’ve had highs and lows this season and it’s an important game against Zurich,” said Leonardo. “It’s not always easy to play so many games in so few days. We have to look ahead to our next games without thinking about what happened in the past.
“We shouldn’t think about the home draw against Bari. We’re playing in the Champions League now and we have to focus on that. We don’t need to change much, we know how to play in Europe. I’m not worried.
“Our team is built to play football and to play it well, and when we are not able to do well in attack then of course we are going to concede in defence. We are looking for alternatives.
“We should play the ball fast, we should start pressing with our forwards, and if we manage to play like that we will surely create chances. We shouldn’t change our way of playing. The best formation with the players I have is 4-3-1-2, though of course during a game we can adapt things, especially when things don’t go as planned. But it’s not good to keep changing things.”
Bernard Challandes coach of FC Zurich, believes that his side have found the perfect time to play their illustrious opponents.
“Milan are struggling at the moment and we hope we can take advantage but it is not easy,” he said. “True, they haven’t scored many goals but they haven’t conceded many either. I have seen their games against Marseille and Bologna and they didn’t give many chances to their opponents so it will be tough. But I believe in my team’s qualities and I don’t want to talk too much about Milan.
“Almen Abdi [who has announced his departure next summer] will play tomorrow. I am Zurich’s coach and I want my team to win, so I will do everything necessary to win; if I think he can help us I will field him, no matter what. Alphonse is the only player in doubt, he trained with the team today and we will see tomorrow if he is fit to play.”
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