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Leonardo looks to AC Milan future

Pa
Wednesday 09 December 2009 11:11 GMT
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AC Milan coach Leonardo preferred to focus on the positives after his team progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League last night.

The Rossoneri were held to a 1-1 draw at FC Zurich but finished second in Group C thanks to Real Madrid's 3-1 triumph at Olympique Marseille in the other pool game.

"The important thing was to qualify to the next round," said Leonardo. "We have achieved that.

"We now look ahead to the next round of the competition where we will have to change the way we play.

"We didn't play good football against Zurich but we cannot forget the importance of progressing to the last 16."

Leonardo was unimpressed by his side's performances against Zurich, who finished bottom of the standings.

Milan lost 1-0 to Zurich at the San Siro earlier in the competition and had to come from behind to rescue a point against the Swiss outfit yesterday with Ronaldinho's second-half penalty cancelling out Milan Gajic's 29th minute opener.

"Our biggest regret in the group stages was our defeat against Zurich," said Leonardo. "That slip forced us to fight until the end to qualify.

"Yesterday, we played against a team that had no pressure as they were already eliminated.

"I think this conditioned my players from a psychological point of view.

"We also had several players that were doubts going into the game with Ronaldinho and Thiago Silva that were not 100%."

After qualifying second in the group Milan could face the likes of Chelsea and former boss Carlo Ancelotti in the next round after the Blues finished top of Group D to remain unbeaten in the competition.

"There is that possibility but we will have to wait and see," Leonardo continued.

"The important thing is that we have to take it one game at a time without making too many calculations.

"For the time being we must concentrate on the domestic front for the next two months."

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