10-man Milan fend off Ajax to scrape through to last 16
Rossoneri are the only Italian side to reach knockout stage
AC Milan squeezed into the Champions League knockout phase after a battling 0-0 draw with Ajax at the San Siro on Wednesday, despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men following Riccardo Montolivo’s sending off.
Ajax dominated even before referee Howard Webb enraged the San Siro by showing Montolivo a straight red card in the 22nd minute for a reckless challenge on Christian Poulsen, but Massimiliano Allegri’s side held on to secure their place in the last 16.
Despite having a miserable season in Serie A, Milan are Italy’s only representative in the last 16 after finishing second in group H with nine points, a point ahead of Ajax and four behind group winners Barcelona, who beat Celtic 6-1 at the Nou Camp.
It was a bad foul, but there was no malice in it. No one can say Montolivo is a vicious player
“There was a big sigh of relief after that because it was such an important objective to be reached for us. It was hard because playing against Ajax with 10 men isn’t exactly easy,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia.
“The defence was very well organised, but we also managed possession quite well, something we don’t always seem to manage in the league,” he joked.
Poulsen hit the post for Ajax after five minutes and Milan keeper Christian Abbiati was forced into a number of saves, but the Dutch champions could not capitalise on their territorial and numerical advantage and have to content themselves with a place in the Europa League.
“It hurts because it always hurts when you get knocked out, but we played well – we did everything we could bar score,” forward Bojan Krkic said.