AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti insists their Champions League hopes are still alive, despite last night's 1-0 home defeat by Barcelona.
"I think that it was a balanced game in which Milan tried to take the game to Barca, who tried to slow down the tempo," said Ancelotti.
"We had some good chances and couldn't quite finalise them. It's a bad result, but it doesn't kill our hopes of reaching the Final, as anything could happen in the second leg."
Alberto Gilardino hit the woodwork and there were two fine saves on Andriy Shevchenko and Paolo Maldini headers, but the finishing prowess of Pippo Inzaghi - out with tonsillitis - was sorely missed. It's particularly worrying that Gilardino is yet to score in the Champions League.
"Barcelona created almost all their opportunities on the counter-attack, especially after the goal, as we had to leave a bit more space open at the back," added Ancelotti.
"We have to be convinced we can do it and play like we did tonight, as we did well and just didn't take our chances. That was the only problem we had, really."
The tactician does not think the Rossoneri are done for, as it is still a slender result and Inzaghi should be back for the second leg.
"Paradoxically, this result allows us to be free and attack at all costs, whereas I think Barca will hold back a bit more at the Nou Camp. The Spaniards didn't particularly impress me tonight, as they tried to slow the tempo and control the pace."
Former Milan star and current Barcelona Coach Frank Rijkaard put Edmilson in a man-marking job on Kaka.
"I tried to change a few things as we had trouble winning back the ball, so I changed our midfield and they adjusted to mutate with us," explained Ancelotti.
"Barcelona are very good at keeping possession, so it was tough to break through that, but the number of good scoring opportunities we created proves that we managed it several times and can do so again at the Nou Camp."
"I think that it was a balanced game in which Milan tried to take the game to Barca, who tried to slow down the tempo," said Ancelotti.
"We had some good chances and couldn't quite finalise them. It's a bad result, but it doesn't kill our hopes of reaching the Final, as anything could happen in the second leg."
Alberto Gilardino hit the woodwork and there were two fine saves on Andriy Shevchenko and Paolo Maldini headers, but the finishing prowess of Pippo Inzaghi - out with tonsillitis - was sorely missed. It's particularly worrying that Gilardino is yet to score in the Champions League.
"Barcelona created almost all their opportunities on the counter-attack, especially after the goal, as we had to leave a bit more space open at the back," added Ancelotti.
"We have to be convinced we can do it and play like we did tonight, as we did well and just didn't take our chances. That was the only problem we had, really."
The tactician does not think the Rossoneri are done for, as it is still a slender result and Inzaghi should be back for the second leg.
"Paradoxically, this result allows us to be free and attack at all costs, whereas I think Barca will hold back a bit more at the Nou Camp. The Spaniards didn't particularly impress me tonight, as they tried to slow the tempo and control the pace."
Former Milan star and current Barcelona Coach Frank Rijkaard put Edmilson in a man-marking job on Kaka.
"I tried to change a few things as we had trouble winning back the ball, so I changed our midfield and they adjusted to mutate with us," explained Ancelotti.
"Barcelona are very good at keeping possession, so it was tough to break through that, but the number of good scoring opportunities we created proves that we managed it several times and can do so again at the Nou Camp."
