ITALY: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - AC Milan prepare for Champions League game after originally being banned from the competition

AC Milan are gratefully preparing for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday. "Milan's fans have had a really tumultous summer, as have we, and we cannot wait for the matches to start and that is why lots of fans will be at the stadium to support Milan", Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference at Milanello on Tuesday. The six-times European champions were originally banned from participating in this season's Champions League after being found guilty in the Serie A match-fixing probe. But an Italian soccer appeals court adjudicating in the scandal reduced their initial punishment, leaving them in a position to qualify. Milan, initially deducted 15 points, had the deficit cut to eight which enabled them to finish high enough in the league table to be included in the Champions League draw. "Mentally we are really ready especially as this match is like a gift, we deserved to play and seeing as now we can play we will do the best we possibly can," Ancelotti said. Milan will be playing for the first time in seven years star Ukrainian striker Andriy Schevchenko following his move to English champions Chelsea. "Schevchenko has been with us for many years and it certainly has an affect", Ancelotti said. "But we need to think about those who are with us and I am sure they can overcome this important absence", he said.

ITN Source | August 9, 2006

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