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Arsenal draw champions AC Milan | Arsenal draw champions AC Milan |
(20 minutes later) | |
Arsenal have been paired with reigning Champions League title-holders AC Milan in the draw for the last 16. | Arsenal have been paired with reigning Champions League title-holders AC Milan in the draw for the last 16. |
Arsene Wenger's side and seven-time winners Milan meet for the first time in this competition, with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium in February. | Arsene Wenger's side and seven-time winners Milan meet for the first time in this competition, with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium in February. |
Celtic face the 2005 winners Barcelona, while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have to guide his side past French champions Lyon. | Celtic face the 2005 winners Barcelona, while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have to guide his side past French champions Lyon. |
Liverpool take on Inter Milan and Chelsea are up against Olympiakos. | Liverpool take on Inter Milan and Chelsea are up against Olympiakos. |
Interview: Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry Interview: Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman Interview: Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell | Interview: Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry Interview: Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman Interview: Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell |
Manchester United and Chelsea will both have the benefit of playing their second-leg games at home after finishing top of their qualifying groups. | Manchester United and Chelsea will both have the benefit of playing their second-leg games at home after finishing top of their qualifying groups. |
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described Lyon, who knocked Rangers out in the group phase, as the toughest opponents they could have been drawn against. | United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described Lyon, who knocked Rangers out in the group phase, as the toughest opponents they could have been drawn against. |
606: DEBATE Discuss the full ramifications of the draw on 606 | |
"They have won their championship for the last six years now which is an incredible record," he said. | "They have won their championship for the last six years now which is an incredible record," he said. |
"You never expect easy games at this stage of the European Cup, but hopefully we can navigate that and go on to bigger things. But it's an interesting tie." | "You never expect easy games at this stage of the European Cup, but hopefully we can navigate that and go on to bigger things. But it's an interesting tie." |
Arsenal, Celtic and Liverpool will all hope to set up platforms in their first-leg ties before potentially tricky away trips, having finished second in their groups. | Arsenal, Celtic and Liverpool will all hope to set up platforms in their first-leg ties before potentially tricky away trips, having finished second in their groups. |
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is optimistic that his young side can overcome champions Milan. | |
"It's an interesting draw," said the Frenchman. "I believe we can do it if we play at our best. It's a good target for us to get stronger for the match. | |
It's a big one but was it going to be whoever we had drawn Liverpool chief Rick Parry | It's a big one but was it going to be whoever we had drawn Liverpool chief Rick Parry |
"That's achievable because we have plenty of young players who are improving, as we saw against Blackburn in the Carling Cup. | |
"It's an exciting draw. If you look at last season's results then it's the hardest draw because they are the champions. | |
"It's a big challenge but if you ask me do we have a chance to knock them out then I say 'yes'. | |
"After what happened two seasons ago we have a job to do. We must do it the hard way but we're not responsible for the draw. | |
"If you want to win the Champions League then you have to beat the biggest clubs. AC Milan are a very big team - world and European champions. But we can do it." | |
AC Milan director Umberto Gandini believes his team have been given the toughest draw. | AC Milan director Umberto Gandini believes his team have been given the toughest draw. |
"Arsenal is probably the worst possible draw we could get," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "Arsenal is an excellent team, very well coached by Arsene Wenger with a lot of young talent. | "Arsenal is probably the worst possible draw we could get," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "Arsenal is an excellent team, very well coached by Arsene Wenger with a lot of young talent. |
"But they will be playing against the reigning champions and world (club) champions with some of the best players in the world. It will be a fantastic tie for the fans. | "But they will be playing against the reigning champions and world (club) champions with some of the best players in the world. It will be a fantastic tie for the fans. |
"It is Milan v England, with Inter playing Liverpool." | "It is Milan v England, with Inter playing Liverpool." |
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is aware of the threat posed by Inter, the Italian champions and current Serie A leaders. | Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is aware of the threat posed by Inter, the Italian champions and current Serie A leaders. |
"It's a big one but it was going to be whoever we had drawn," said Parry. | "It's a big one but it was going to be whoever we had drawn," said Parry. |
We've got a good home record and hopefully that will help us go through Celtic chief Peter Lawwell | We've got a good home record and hopefully that will help us go through Celtic chief Peter Lawwell |
"It's a long time since we played them, they are a very good team. It's going to be tough but there are no easy ones at this stage. | "It's a long time since we played them, they are a very good team. It's going to be tough but there are no easy ones at this stage. |
"Every team at this stage is a good team, if you look at who we could have drawn it was never going to be easy so we shall take who we get. | "Every team at this stage is a good team, if you look at who we could have drawn it was never going to be easy so we shall take who we get. |
"We've stopped a few hearts the way we have qualified but in the last three games we are clearly in form and scoring goals." | "We've stopped a few hearts the way we have qualified but in the last three games we are clearly in form and scoring goals." |
Liverpool's opponents will make life as difficult as possible for Rafael Benitez's men, according to Inter's chief executive Ernesto Paolillo. | Liverpool's opponents will make life as difficult as possible for Rafael Benitez's men, according to Inter's chief executive Ernesto Paolillo. |
"We feel Liverpool are the strongest team, what better team to have as an opponent?" he said. | "We feel Liverpool are the strongest team, what better team to have as an opponent?" he said. |
"I think Liverpool will make it difficult for us and I hope it will be difficult for them as well. | "I think Liverpool will make it difficult for us and I hope it will be difficult for them as well. |
"The history is in favour of Liverpool but our team has been in good form so I hope we will be in the right condition to win this match." | "The history is in favour of Liverpool but our team has been in good form so I hope we will be in the right condition to win this match." |
Meanwhile, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell believes that his side's impressive record at home may help them against Catalan giants Barcelona. | Meanwhile, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell believes that his side's impressive record at home may help them against Catalan giants Barcelona. |
"Manager Gordon Strachan has done a fantastic job to get us into the last 16 two years in a row and he will have them prepared," he said. "Bring them on. | "Manager Gordon Strachan has done a fantastic job to get us into the last 16 two years in a row and he will have them prepared," he said. "Bring them on. |
"We've got a good home record and hopefully that will help us go through. Any team we got we would be the underdogs. We hope to give a great account of ourselves." | "We've got a good home record and hopefully that will help us go through. Any team we got we would be the underdogs. We hope to give a great account of ourselves." |
Full draw: | Full draw: |
Celtic v BarcelonaLyon v Manchester UnitedSchalke v PortoLiverpool v Inter MilanRoma v Real MadridArsenal v AC MilanOlympiakos v ChelseaFenerbahce v Sevilla | Celtic v BarcelonaLyon v Manchester UnitedSchalke v PortoLiverpool v Inter MilanRoma v Real MadridArsenal v AC MilanOlympiakos v ChelseaFenerbahce v Sevilla |
(Ties to be played on 19/20 February and 4/5 March) | (Ties to be played on 19/20 February and 4/5 March) |