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UEFA Champions League: Vieri to make debut for AC Milan against Fenerbahce [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Milan (Reuters) - Christian Vieri will partner Andriy Shevchenko in attack for AC Milan when last season's runners-up begin their campaign against Turkey's Fenerbahce at the San Siro stadium.
Vieri, who has missed Milan's opening two Serie A games due to suspension and has yet to appear in an official game, will replace Alberto Gilardino alongside European Footballer of the Year Shevchenko, coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
"Vieri will certainly play, he is the most fresh and also therefore fired up and in good shape. I am convinced he will do well," said the Milan coach.
The much-travelled Italy international striker joined Milan on a free transfer during the close-season after being released by city rivals Inter.
Vieri played for Italy in their 1-1 draw in Scotland in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month, but was left out for the 4-1 victory over Belarus and badly needs a good run of form to keep his place in the squad ahead of next year's finals.
Gilardino, a big money signing from Parma, has yet to get off the mark for Milan and has not appeared to settle in to his new side who beat Siena 3-1 in Serie A on Saturday.
"His performances are improving and if he doesn't play on Tuesday then it is no reflection on his performance against Siena, because I liked what I saw," Ancelotti said.
"Goals are important for a striker but a coach looks at everything. He hasn't played enough games yet to start talking about a drought. We all have faith in him."
Ancelotti said that he expected an attractive match in the opening game in Group E which also features Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and Germany's Schalke 04.
"In terms of quality they are better than Schalke and PSV and that is why the return game in Istanbul will be the most difficult for us," Ancelotti said.
"They are quite similar to us in style because they have quality footballers who like to be on the ball. It will be a good game with little negativity."
The Milan coach picked out three of Fenerbahce's foreign players as the main threat.
"Nicolas Anelka is in great form. I have always followed his career and rated him, especially at the time when he might actually have come to play in Italy.
"He is in form and is back to the player he once was. Then there are Alex and Stephen Appiah," added Ancelotti, referring to the Brazilian forward and the Ghanaian midfielder who joined Fenerbahce from Juventus.
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