Ancelotti does not fear axe Milan boss focused on Champions League qualification

AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti insists he does not feel under undue pressure despite slipping out of Europe on Thursday.

The Serie A giants were dumped out of the Uefa Cup in midweek by German outfit Werder Bremen.

A 2-2 draw at the San Siro saw Bremen progress to the last-16 of the competition on the away goals rule, following a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg.

"I don't feel under pressure," said Ancelotti.

"Although I take full responsibility. The season is a negative one."

Milan were strong favourites to take the Uefa Cup crown this term, having failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League following last season's disappointing fifth-placed finish.

The competition represented their best chance of securing some silverware, having already been eliminated from the Coppa Italia and trailing league leaders Inter Milan by 11 points with 13 games remaining.
Target

Ancelotti admits his side played poorly against Bremen, but insists Champions League qualification remains the club's priority.

"Milan didn't play well," he added.

"Werder have been very good and it is right they have gone through after their great performance.

"We knew we had to impose our game from the start but Werder have been superior in terms of play and physically.

"Now we must try to reach our aim, which is to finish second or third in Serie A.

"It will not be easy, especially from a psychological point of view.

"We will have to find a way to overcome this and react as we know how in order to play all of our remaining games at our best."
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Hughes hails Bellamy City boss praises striker's mental strength

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has praised Craig Bellamy's mental strength against FC Copenhagen after the striker decided to play despite the death of a family member.

Bellamy scored two goals in the aggregate 4-3 win at Eastlands on Thursday, dedicating both to his late cousin.

The brace - netted inside seven minutes in the second half - helped ease City through to the last 16 of the Uefa Cup where they will face another Danish side Aalborg.

Heaping praise on his striker's character, Hughes admitted Bellamy's decision to play was a huge benefit to City's progress.

Character

"Craig showed great character as he has done for many years," said Hughes.

"He showed real mental strength to play after a close family member had passed away.

"It was touch and go whether he was in the right frame of mind to play. He wanted to play and we benefited from that.

"Under difficult circumstances he has come through and made the impact we hoped he would."

He added: "My satisfaction comes with winning the game and progressing into the next round.

"We are delighted with that as some big names have gone out. I think we deserve a bit of credit."

Tough

Bellamy later revealed he had been hit hard by the death of his cousin.

"I lost my cousin, one of my closest friends, on Thursday morning," said Bellamy.

"It was a hard day for me, for my family and his family. I'll miss him dearly and I'd like to dedicate this game to him and the goals as well."
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CSKA v Villa preview Villa hoping to prevail in Moscow mission

Aston Villa head to Russia on Thursday knowing they have to score to keep their European dreams alive.

A 1-1 draw with CSKA Moscow in the first leg of their Uefa Cup contest means Martin O'Neill's men must adopt a positive attitude in the return fixture if they are to reach the last 16.

Vagner Love's away goal at Villa Park has put a serious dent in those aspirations, but the Premier League side created enough opportunities on home soil to suggest they are capable of troubling their Russian opponents.

However, Martin O'Neill has made it clear that UEFA Champions League qualification remains his priority this season and he will field a shadow side as a result.

That could work against the Villans, with the club already slipping to two defeats during the group stages when fielding a weakened team.

CSKA will be in no mood to go easy on O'Neill's second string either, with Zico's side looking to stretch their unbeaten run in Europe to eight games.

The winners of this tie will go on to play either Shakhtar Donetsk or Tottenham in the next round.
Key men

CSKA welcome two key performers back into their squad ahead of the crunch clash.

Anton Grigoriey and Deividas Semberas are both in contention again after serving one-match bans.

Russia international Yuri Zhirkov is only one booking away from a suspension of his own so he must tread carefully on Thursday.

For Villa, Steve Sidwell returns from a ban while Craig Gardner walks the disciplinary tightrope.

O'Neill has decided to leave Gareth Barry, Brad Friedel, Emile Heskey, James Milner, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carlos Cuellar and Stiliyan Petrov back in England as he looks to keep his star men fresh.

Six inexperienced youngsters, Elliott Parish, Eric Lichaj, Ciaran Clark, Shane Lowry, Barry Bannan and Mark Albrighton, whose average age is 19 and have just one first-team appearance between them, have been included in the travelling squad.
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Tottenham v Shakhtar preview Redknapp to rest key players ahead of Carling Cup final

Tottenham must overcome a 2-0 deficit at home to Shakhtar Donetsk if they are to progress to the last 16 of the Uefa Cup but Harry Redknapp will field an under-strength side.

Spurs battled hard in the first leg in Ukraine a week ago but fell behind after a Heurelho Gomes mistake in the 79th minute and Jadson then added a second late on.

Redknapp has made Premier League survival his top priority but he is also looking ahead to Sunday's Carling Cup final against Manchester United.

The last thing Redknapp wants is for any of his key men to pick up an injury so he is expected to select an inexperienced team.

The likes of Dean Parrett, John Bostock and Giovani Dos Santos are set to feature once again, while Gomes will line up in goal in the absence of Carlo Cudicini, who has a knee injury.

Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and Luka Modric are among those who will not be risked, although Jamie O'Hara may play after recovering from a hip complaint.

Robbie Keane, Vedran Corluka and Roman Pavlyuchenko are all cup-tied, while Alan Hutton and Jermain Defoe are long-term absentees.
Shakhtar news

Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu is expecting a difficult test despite Redknapp's selection concerns.

"I still think the Tottenham team will be strong and we will be strong as well," said the Romanian. "There are no weak players in their squad.

"This is one of the high-level opponents we will be playing, like our matches against Barcelona, Valencia or Celtic - they are that kind of team."

Shakhtar's preparations have been disrupted by snow in Ukraine and last week's match was the club's first since early December.

Lucescu will welcome Tomas Hubschman back from suspension, while Brazilian playmaker Jadson is likely to provide the main threat again.
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Man City v Copenhagen preview Blues looking for safe progression into the last 16

Manchester City hold the upper hand heading into their Uefa Cup clash with FC Copenhagen on Thursday.

The Blues twice took the lead in the first leg of their last 32 encounter in Denmark, only to come away with a 2-2 draw.

However, two away goals could prove to be priceless as the tie heads to Eastlands.

City will be confident that they can get the job on home soil, though, with Copenhagen having failed to win in their two previous visits to England.

The Blues enter the game unbeaten in their last three outings, with a morale-boosting 1-1 draw away at Liverpool secured last time out.

They have also overcome Danish opposition once already in this season's Uefa Cup, seeing off FC Midtjylland on penalties in the second qualifying round.

Copenhagen, who are coming towards the end of their off-season, remain upbeat, though, and their manager Stale Solbakken believes his team are capable of causing an upset.

"We will be better than we were a week ago. The mood among the players is great as these are two bonus games for us before the season re-starts," he said.

"Perhaps our hopes are not as big as they were before the first game but the last goal at the Parken gives us a chance."
Kompany doubt

City midfielder Vincent Kompany is a major doubt heading into the game as he struggles with a toe injury.

Mark Hughes is hoping the problem will settle down as he is already without Nigel de Jong, who was not registered for the competition.

Shaun Wright Phillips is available again, however, as his domestic ban does not apply to the European tie.

He has a slight ankle injury but is expected to recover in time to take his place in the side.

Copenhagen will hand a late fitness test to striker Cesar Santin after he suffered a slight groin strain in the first leg.

The Danes will also be hoping to call upon two players with prior experience of life in England.

Jesper Gronkjaer and Niclas Jensen can boast the likes of Chelsea, Birmingham, Manchester City and Fulham on their respective CVs.
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