Massimo Ambrosini on the Champions League, Liverpool and AC Milan

Largely a one-club man with AC Milan through the glory years, two-time Champions League winner Massimo Ambrosini has seen it all on the European stage.

Courtesy of bet365’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League, where you can check the latest bet365 Champions League odds, the Italian former midfielder ran the rule over the Rossoneri and his favourites to win the Champions League.

The Highs and Lows of the Champions League

Ambrosini struggled with injuries in 2004/05, featuring predominantly as a substitute. However, he managed to rack up 22 Serie A appearances, and also scored the goal to take AC Milan to the Champions League final. His header in the final moments of the second half booked a now-unforgettable date with Liverpool in UEFA’s showpiece domestic event.

Unfortunately, Ambrosini was ruled out of the 2004/05 final in Istanbul through injury, but it clearly impacted him and his teammates; “My memories of Liverpool, of course, include the Champions League finals we played against them in 2005 and 2007, before that we had never had a big Champions League game against them.

I played at Anfield once, during a Legends game four years ago, and it was special. We have a rivalry because of the historic matches, including both a good memory and a bad memory.”

The 3-3 scoreline in Istanbul, which saw Liverpool defy the odds from losing 3-0 at half-time, is widely renowned as one of the most iconic football matches to have ever taken place. The Champions League has a knack for pitting rivals against one another at the biggest moments in the competition, and that was no different in 2006/07 when AC Milan were handed the opportunity for revenge in Athens.

And they took it. This time around, Ambrosini played the whole fixture next to Andrea Pirlo in central midfield. The Rossoneri triumphed 2-1, adding to Ambrosini’s earlier Champions League victory in 2002/03.

Old Foes To Win The Champions League

When quizzed on his favoured club to go all the way in the Champions League and lift silverware on the 31st of May in Munich, Ambrosini, without much hesitation, landed on an old foe,” I have to go with Liverpool, without a doubt.”

“They are the best team in the Champions League right now apart from in the last game against PSV Eindhoven which didn’t mean much. They want to win against everyone in Europe, the same as in England. I think they will go further than the other English clubs.”

Ambrosini mentioned absentees in North London as a critical component in the Champions League race; “Looking at Arsenal, the injury to Kai Havertz has reduced their chances in the competition, so you have to go with Liverpool.”

The Rossoneri Knocked Out of the Champions League by Feyenoord

It was a disappointing evening at the San Siro for all involved with AC Milan. Theo Hernandez’s red card flipped the Feyenoord encounter on its head after going 1-0 up within the first minute, setting the Rossoneri on the way to progressing to the last 16.

Joao Felix struggled to make much of an impact in the second-leg, despite being chosen to see out the 90 minutes ahead of AC Milan’s other new signing, Santiago Gimenez.

Ambrosini touched on the Chelsea loanee, “I’m happy to see Joao Felix at Milan because he is a very talented player. It’s always great to get the opportunity to watch these kinds of players; that is amazing for us.”

“The question around Joao Felix is why he has moved clubs so often just to find somewhere to play. He is a very talented player but has played for Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona. You don’t usually see that at his age with the talent he has; when you can’t find a home for three or four years, that means you are missing something. I think he needs to grow up, and maybe that happens at AC Milan; he has the opportunity to grow day by day and game by game.”

AC Milan Have Lost Part of Its Soul

Although there have been numerous incoming in January, Ambrosini clearly still holds a torch for an AC Milan midfielder that now calls the Premier League and Newcastle home, and one that might have proved useful in the heart of midfield in the Champions League second-leg vs Feyenoord.

“Newcastle fans love Sandro Tonali and so do I. Here in Milan, he had problems after the first year, and it became very difficult. He didn’t play, and he was a little bit shy and timid. The year after the Scudetto, he changed his style of play in an incredible way; he took leadership and responsibility.

Ambrosini spoke about how the loss of Tonali affected the club on a deeper level, not only on the pitch; “when Milan lost him, they didn’t just lose a player; they lost part of their soul. He used to give everything and he is doing the same for Newcastle. I’m so happy for him and I can see that Newcastle fans really enjoy that type of player.”

A soulless San Siro performance was there for all to see as AC Milan scuppered a shot at glory this season. You can be sure that a midfield of Ambrosini and Pirlo would’ve harnessed momentum en route to the latter stages of the Champions League, just as they did in 2007.

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