MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI is getting ready for the big Champions League game with Arsenal tomorrow.

Milan have failed to pass the eightfinals stage of the Champions League since winning the cup in 2007. Again, Milan are up against an English team in this stage, as after Spurs last year, they now have Arsenal.

The Rossoneri got back on winning ways against Udinese, and they also welcome some key players back to the squad. Coach Massimiliano Allegri is eager to show his team’s quality and progress in the UCL.

Milan-Arsenal: The Rossoneri squad
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“Tomorrow will be a game where we know the strength of Arsenal, who play good football based on team-work and individuals that enhance the team. We’ll be on our guard in defence, it is not a one-off match, but over 180 minutes,” the Milan boss told the press on today’s pre-game press conference.

“February was not a great start for us, fortunately we won on Saturday. Yesterday’s visit from Barbara Berlusconi has confirmed the importance of this stage of the season, as we go towards the end of the season the games are increasingly important. Winning in Udine was important, it showed we weren’t content to settle for a draw, we continued looking to get the victory. Also we beat one of the big teams.

“The last sixteen in the Champions League? They’re also fundamental, especially to show we’ve improved from last year. Tomorrow we have to play knowing that it is a massive game but also a 180 minute test. Technically we need to play well and we have to realise that we can’t make the same mistakes as last year,” continued the 44-year-old, who won the Scudetto in his first year at Milan. “Against Tottenham we made just one error and tomorrow we need to be fully focused and patient, otherwise we will complicate matters.

“It will be a huge advantage for us if we don’t let them score. We won’t start slow in the game, there will be a high intensity throughout and we mustn’t get hit on the counter attack, which is their strength. Inferiority complex against English teams? No, Arsenal are playing well in recent weeks and are improving. Last year we deserved to beat Tottenham in the second leg and go through so I have a lot of faith in our future.

“[Arsenal strikers Robin] Van Persie and [Thierry] Henry are great players but the collective unit is even more dangerous. Henry is a legend there and I’m sure he’d like to leave in his second spell on a high.”

On his XI choices for tomorrow, Allegri said: “I have to evaluate the injured players, some have done a few workouts with the team, we have to check if they have 90 minutes in them. Boateng? He was out for four weeks, it will be difficult for him to start but I could change my mind and start him. We’ll see. The same goes for Pato. But having them available as well as Abbiati and Alessandro Nesta which is a good thing.

“El Shaarawy? He’s doing very well, he is developing, he is a boy of 19 years and should be left to develop, he is a great finisher with great quality. He will become a regular in attack. The Dutch players we have are all doing really well, Clarence Seedorf has won everything with us, Emanuelson is continually improving and Mark Van Bommel was very important when we won last year’s Scudetto. It’s premature to talk about Seedorf and Van Bommel’s futures, we need to focus on what we do on the pitch to achieve our goals.”

Allegri will try to finally break the taboo against English teams and beat them. Milan have fallen to Manchester United, Tottenham and the very same (but a lot different) Arsenal since the win in Athens.

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