AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng celebrates after scoring his second goal against Barcelona during their Champions League match at San Siro stadium in Milan on Wednesday. Barcelona won 3-2, ensuring it will be at the top of Group H, with Milan second. Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters

After tough Champions League loss, Milan coach says Barcelona rules

MILAN, Italy - AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said Barcelona had proved it was still the best team in the world in winning 3-2 at the San Siro in their Champions League clash on Wednesday.

But the Italians' boss believes the signs are good for his own side in the knockout stages of the competition next year.

Barca's win ensured it will top Group H, with Milan finishing second and potentially facing a much harder last-16 clash.

But if anything, his team's performance has given Allegri a boost.

"Barca are still the best in the world right now. Real (Madrid) and Barca are definitely better than the others, they're still the favorites for the Champions League," he said.

"We needed to play this game to see where we are in relation to Barca and the rest of Europe. We interpreted the match in the best way, we're on the right path and this bodes well for the last 16 in February.

"We played well, we had to play like this and we did so. It was a good game, it was open, we conceded chances but we also created some.

"In the first half we had a lot of attacking situations and we leave this match with self-confidence knowing that we will be competitive in the Champions League.

"I don't know if we can go all the way, it depends on episodes, but tonight we had to play like this and the lads did so.

"We made some mistakes, we played worse than we did away to Barca, we should have drawn but tonight's performance was not as good.

"We could have made more of our chances but we didn't quite make the last pass, we didn't stretch them enough as we did when we scored the goals."

Twice Milan pegged back the visitor but ultimately Barca always had something extra up its sleeve.

A Mark van Bommel own-goal gave it the lead before Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalized.

Lionel Messi restored Barca's advantage from the penalty spot, but Kevin-Prince Boateng scored the goal of the night to restore parity.

A sublime Messi pass released Xavi to notch the winner.

"We can't expect to come here to the San Siro and not be put in some difficulty," said Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

"If we wanted to play more conservatively we would take out an attacker and play an extra defender.

"Other than the opportunities Milan created, which is normal given their quality and the team they are, we can also talk of the chances we created.

"It was important to win at the San Siro, they're happy, they said they played well, we're happy, they're happy, everyone's happy."

Guardiola reserved special praise for Sergio Busquets, who started the game at centerback but was then brought out into defensive midfield leaving three at the back.

"It's not easy to play three at the back, Busquets's position wasn't easy. When you play in midfield it's easy to break forward but it's not easy to go backwards."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 11/25/2011 page22)