CROUCH AND GERRARD MUST BE STOPED

Paolo Maldini has pinpointed Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard as the main threat to AC Milan lifting a seventh European Cup in Athens. And the veteran defender is confident he will be able to play in a record-breaking eighth Champions League final next Wednesday.

A niggling knee injury has cast a shadow over the 38-year-old’s participation in the showdown with Liverpool, a re-run of the 2005 final. But a specialised training programme means the left-back – who scored Milan’s opener two years ago – should be fit to lead his team out in search of a fifth European Cup winners medal having won the trophy with Milan in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003. And he believes the primary danger will come from Liverpool skipper Gerrard and Crouch, who is second only to Milan’s Kaka in the goalscoring charts for this season’s competition.

“It is the biggest game of the season. To play a final fills you with pride and to do so as the captain for a third time really makes me proud. The fact we are playing Liverpool again could be seen as our vendetta, but we have nothing personal against them. I think we have got to not think about the opponent too much but concentrate on what Milan know how to do and then accept the result at the end of it,” he said

Maldini added: “I think we have to watch out for (Steven) Gerrard and (Peter) Crouch. Gerrard because of the way he gets into good positions and Crouch because of his height, but then danger could come from anybody. I would say we are two teams with winning traditions.”

Of his own fitness, Maldini said: “I am feeling well. I am preparing myself well physically and I think in that department, Milan lead the way.”