Notebook

Dutch matchup in Champions League final

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- It's not just Juventus vs. AC Milan in the first ever all Italian Champions League final.

There's also a Dutch matchup in Edgar Davids vs. Clarence Seedorf.

Davids, a tough Juve midfielder who was known as "Pitbull" at Ajax Amsterdam, is in his fourth final having won with Ajax and won and lost with Juve.

And Seedorf, his teammate on that Ajax lineup in 1995, is bidding to become the first player to won the title with three different clubs having also triumphed with Real Madrid.

"I think I have been fortunate enough to be in two other finals," Seedorf said Tuesday on the eve of the game at Old Trafford.

"I love the emotion of the Champions League. I think that the emotions are still flying high for me."

Seedorf said he was looking forward to facing his fellow Dutch star in the final.

"I am very proud to see him in the final. We have been clubmates together, we have lived together in our first years in football," the Milan star said.

"I am so proud that we have made it once again to the final. It's a great feeling."

All-star team

Four players who could play in Wednesday's Champions League final between Juventus and AC Milan were named Tuesday in the competition's All-star team

Juve 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Lilian Thuram were joined by AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini and Rivaldo, even through the Brazilian World Cup star has spent the last few games on the bench.

Notable absentees were the Real Madrid trio of Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos.

The lineup, sponsored by MasterCard and selected by Manchester United great Bobby Charlton and Benfica star Eusebio, is:

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus); Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Lilian Thuram (Juventus), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen); Rivaldo (AC Milan), David Beckham (Manchester United), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid); Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Thierry Henry (Arsenal).

Fergie's choice

He believes that Juventus, the team that eliminated the club that ousted his beloved Reds out in the quarterfinal will win the title.

Juventus, Italian champion for the second season in a row, beat defending champion Real Madrid in the semifinal after Madrid had outplayed United over two legs in the previous round.

Now Juve faces five-time winner AC Milan in the final at Old Trafford and Ferguson, who allowed Marcello Lippi's team to tune up at the Reds' training ground on Tuesday, expects the Serie A champion to go on and add the Champions League crown to its record 27th domestic league title.

"As host I should be neutral, but the truth is that I believed since the second phase it was going to be Juventus," the United manager said.

"I was certain that they would overcome the quarterfinal stage and that they would take out Real Madrid even after the 2-1 result at the Bernabeu because the Spanish were already tired against us, psychologically and physically."

German ref's OK

Instead, Germany's Markus Merk has the job along with two of his countrymen.

As AC Milan and Juventus prepare to meet at Old Trafford on Wednesday there were suggestions in the media that an Italian referee, used to the behavior of the Serie A stars, might be better suited to the game.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti didn't see it that way and is happy for Merk to officiate.

"It's not a danger for the match (to have a non Italian referee). We have played 18 matches in Europe this season with no problems," he said.

"It's a matter of refereeing and understanding that football is a show. This game will go perfectly well."

BRRRR

But this is Manchester.

The 48th Champions League final is being staged at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, and it happens that, for the first time, two Serie A teams have qualified.

Some 50,000 Milan and Juve fans are arriving in the city and it's hoped they brought their raincoats and sweaters.

Manchester is renowned for its rainy weather, even in the height of summer.

Locals not interested

The showpiece event of European soccer's most prestigious soccer competition has two Italian teams facing each other for the first time and, while the local Italian restaurants are making a big deal of AC Milan vs. Juventus, the rest of Manchester isn't that interested.

There are few advertising banners promoting the event, which takes place Wednesday before 62,000 fans at Old Trafford.

But there have been some noticeable changes to the ground itself.

All logos relating to the Reds' own sponsors have been taken down by orders of UEFA and replaced with their own. And even the stadium's unofficial title "Theatre of Dreams" has been changed to "Theatre of Football."

 

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