Milan wary of Dutch courage

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini should need no reminder of the surprises Guus Hiddink is capable of producing.The last of Maldini’s reco...

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini should need no reminder of the surprises Guus Hiddink is capable of producing.

The last of Maldini’s record 126 games for the Italian national side was in the World Cup in 2002 when Hiddink’s South Korean team eliminated the Azzurri in one of the biggest shocks in the history of the tournament.

It was a painful night for Maldini and his AC Milan teammate Gennaro Gattuso and while a loss to Hiddink’s PSV Eindhoven tomorrow night would not be as big a surprise as the defeat in Daejeon, the Dutchman knows his team are clear underdogs.

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‘‘If you look at the finances of the two teams I think they can spend 10 or 20 times more than we can on players’’, said Hiddink, whose team clinched the Dutch title on Saturday despite resting half their first-choice players. ‘‘Nevertheless, sometimes a small team can shock a big one.’’

If Maldini and Gattuso do need a memory jog they will surely receive it when two members of that Korean side take the field at the San Siro — PSV defender Young-Pyo Lee and midfielder Ji-Sung Park.

They will perhaps also recall that Italy’s defeat came when they were robbed of the services of classy central defender Alessandro Nesta through injury — Nesta is suspended for Tuesday’s game.

Nesta’s absence, while a blow, would be easier to handle for Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti if he didn’t also have a fitness doubt over Dutch centre back Jaap Stam. If Stam fails to make it then Alessandro Costacurta, who celebrated his 39th birthday on Sunday, could step in or Croatian Dario Simic might be given a rare start. With Nesta in the defence Milan have kept a clean sheet in their last six Champions League games.

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Ancelotti will also have to wait on the fitness of Andrea Pirlo who has been out for the past two weeks with a knee injury and who will be replaced by Massimo Ambrosini if he doesn’t make it.

Without Pirlo, whose passing from a deep midfield role is essential to Milan’s approach, Ancelotti’s side have often lacked fluency but on Saturday they were back to their best with a convincing 3-0 victory over Parma.

That game also saw Filippo Inzaghi appear as a substitute, raising hopes that the Italy striker could play some role in Tuesday’s game.

The San Siro stadium can be an intimidating arena for visiting players but Hiddink’s noted ability to fire up his teams with pride and determination should counter that effect.

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‘‘This team has done a tremendous job so far. We have no fear, because everyone expects Milan to win, so let’s see if we can spring a surprise’’, said Hiddink. PSV travel to Milan after winning the club’s 18th Dutch league title.

PSV cruised to a 3-0 win over Vitesse on Saturday and lifted their first silverware of the season. (Reuters)