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| Version 15 | Version 16 |
|---|---|
| Arsenal draw champions AC Milan | Arsenal draw champions AC Milan |
| (about 1 hour 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 2006 winners Barcelona, while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have to guide his side past French champions Lyon. | Celtic face the 2006 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. |
| href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/sol/newsid_7150000/newsid_7156300?redirect=7156307.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Interview: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/sol/newsid_7150000/newsid_7156200?redirect=7156271.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Interview: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger | |
| 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 | 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. | 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 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. | "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 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'. | "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. | "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." | "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 boss Rafael Benitez said his team will draw on the experience of winning the tournament in 2005 and finishing runners-up last year. | Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said his team will draw on the experience of winning the tournament in 2005 and finishing runners-up last year. |
| 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 |
| "Everybody was expecting a difficult draw and Inter Milan are one of the top sides," he said. | "Everybody was expecting a difficult draw and Inter Milan are one of the top sides," he said. |
| "They have good players and experience in Europe. It is very difficult but we know the team and we have confidence in ourselves. | "They have good players and experience in Europe. It is very difficult but we know the team and we have confidence in ourselves. |
| "All the teams are difficult to beat but we have some experience of this. Hopefully we will see another of those performances in the knockout stages. | "All the teams are difficult to beat but we have some experience of this. Hopefully we will see another of those performances in the knockout stages. |
| "I think they (Inter) will be worried, for sure. They know we are a good team and anything can happen in two months' time." | "I think they (Inter) will be worried, for sure. They know we are a good team and anything can happen in two months' time." |
| Liverpool's opponents will make life as difficult as possible for Benitez's men, according to Inter's chief executive Ernesto Paolillo. | Liverpool's opponents will make life as difficult as possible for 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) |