Ancelotti Puts Juve Snub Behind Him
Friday 7th December 2001
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that revenge is the last thing on his mind ahead of arguably the Serie A clash of the season so far, against his former club Juventus on Sunday.
Ancelotti was replaced at the Turin giants by Marcelo Lippi in the close season and before returning to Milan last month, was set to take over at another of his previous clubs, Parma.
A successful start at the San Siro has probably gone some way to easing the obvious bitterness he must have felt after being dismissed in the wake of signing a contract extension, after a season where Juve finished in runners-up spot.
"It will be Milan against Juve, not Ancelotti against Juve," claimed the former Italy international. "I had two very happy years at Juventus, so personally I am not looking to get one over them.
"However, for Milan it is a game we always want to win. It always has a major bearing on the table and this season is no different."
Milan hold a two-point lead over Juve and are a place above their old rivals in fourth spot and, if anything, tradition is on Ancelotti's side, as he has never lost to a side managed by Lippi.
Milan will be without striker Filippo Inzaghi who desperately wanted to play against his former side, but a ligament injury sustained in last week's 3-2 win over Chievo Verona has ruled the Italy international out for four months.
Brazilian midfielder Serginho will be sidelined for another two weeks. But Ancelotti welcomes back Demetrio Albertini to the centre of midfield while Marco Simone looks certain to partner Andriy Shevchenko in attack despite Javi Moreno scoring the equaliser in the 1-1 Uefa Cup draw at Sporting Lisbon.
Edgar Davids is set to return to the Juventus midfielder to face his former club, as Igor Tudor looks unlikely to recover from an ankle injury sustained in the 3-1 Champions League defeat at Arsenal.
The Dutch international has found himself the odd-man out in Lippi's return to a 4-4-2 formation, but now has the chance to reclaim a regular place.
Milan: Abbiati, Helveg, Chamot, Costacurta, Maldini, Gattuso, Albertini, Kaladze, Rui Costa, Simone, Shevchenko.
Juventus: Buffon, Birindelli, Thuram, Montero, Pessotto, Zambrotta, Tacchinardi, Davids, Nedved, Trezeguet, Del Piero
