Milan urged to beat United to complete year-long comeback

ROME, May 1 (Reuters) AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said his players could complete a remarkable turnaround in the club's fortunes by beating Manchester United tomorrow to reach the Champions League final.

Milan touched one of the low points of their recent history last July, when they lost their place in the Champions League after being found guilty of attempting to rig Serie A matches.

Reinstated in the competition on appeal, the Italian giants will be just one win away from the biggest prize in European soccer if they overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit against the Premier League leaders at the San Siro stadium.

''We've made a cake. Now all that's missing is the cherry on top,'' Ancelotti was quoted as saying on La Gazzetta dello Sport's Web site www.gazzetta.it today.

''In November, after all the problems we had last summer, people were saying that the final in Athens was a pipe dream. Now that dream is transforming into reality.'' Milan were used to being written off, added Ancelotti. In recent years, some critics have suggested the team's relatively old squad was no longer capable of competing for top honours.

Of their regular starters, goalkeeper Dida, defenders Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Oddo, midfielder Clarence Seedorf and striker Filippo Inzaghi are all over 30, while captain Paolo Maldini is 38.

''They were saying that Milan's winning cycle was finished. They said it after Istanbul (where Milan lost the 2005 Champions League final to Liverpool), they said it after last year's semi-final defeat against Barcelona, and again at the start of this season,'' said Ancelotti.

''But we are still here, and I'm convinced that this team still has a lot of life left in it.'' Maldini could miss Wednesday's game because he has not fully recovered from a knee injury he picked up in the first leg at Old Trafford last week.

''He isn't at his best. I'll take a decision on him tonight,'' Ancelotti said.

''If he's not fit, he'd be the first one to say so. Whatever happens, I've got good substitutes ready.'' REUTERS BJR KN2108