Haunted Milan stars seek justice after Istanbul nightmare

The Italian club may have won the competition six times and appeared in two finals in the last four years, but the scars inflicted during their dramatic loss to Liverpool two seasons ago still run deep.

Centre forward Alberto Gilardino was not part of the team who lost a 3-0 lead — and with it the trophy — in Istanbul in 2005 but he is aware of its repercussions.

"This club needs another Champions League to make up for what happened," said the Italian international this week.

"Milan need the title of champions to feel that justice has been done in the wake of that incredible defeat against Liverpool.

"This would be the perfect moment. That is why we will be at our maximum in the next two matches against Manchester United."

With their league season wrecked by sanctions imposed in the wake of the match-fixing scandal that engulfed Italian football last summer, Milan made the Champions League a priority a long time ago.

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While United manager Sir Alex Ferguson decided that another Champions League should be his ambition, Milan and their coach Carlo Ancelotti had no choice.

Three group wins and a draw ensured Milan's progress to the knock-out stages and rendered closing defeats to AEK Athens and Lille largely irrelevant.

A 1-0 aggregate win over Celtic was secured in extra time but it was the Rossoneri's 2-0 win at Bayern Munich two weeks ago that served notice of their ability and determination.

Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf said: "The elimination of Bayern Munich was very difficult but it has done wonders for our morale ahead of the United semi-final.

"It was a victory that came through hard work and that says much about the value of our players. What United have to understand is that we are not like Roma.

"They will not score seven goals against us. That was madness."

Milan arrived in Manchester on Monday with good recent Champions League memories. A victory at Old Trafford in the 2003 Final was followed by a 1-0 win against United in the first leg of the teams' quarter-final.

The core of that team remains. As Ferguson has pointed out, Ancelotti's is a talented, ageing team. Now, as then, midfield will be crucial.

Milan's trio of Andrea Pirlo, Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso won that battle two years ago and the latter believes it will be the case again.

"If United think they will have an easy victory against us after the experience of Roma then they are very mistaken," the former Rangers player said.

"We are very motivated for the Champions League. It is our real objective in this season and this is the decisive moment.

"Manchester United is a complicated rival but if Milan desire the title it is obligatory that we win against the best clubs."