Author of a famous comeback over Milan himself, Javier Irureta has urged that Barcelona must score early against the Italians this week.
Barca host the Rossoneri on Tuesday in the Champions League Last 16 second leg looking to overturn at 2-0 deficit suffered at San Siro.
One of the last instances that Milan were on the receiving end of a memorable comeback in the competition was back in the 2003-04 quarter-finals, when Deportivo turned around a 4-1 first leg defeat with a 4-0 second leg win.
Irureta, who coached Depor to that famous win, took time this week to consider how he successfully masterminded the turnaround.
“I remember it as a special night. We knew that, with the support of our people, we had the chance of progressing,” the 64-year-old reflected to Marca this week.
“We had a very adverse outcome, but I think it was undeserved. We did not deserve that punishment at San Siro. We had taken home a result that was too one-sided for the balance of play.
“Milan had a great team then with Kaka, Shevchenko, Nesta and so on. Those days there was also a unique atmosphere in our city.
“What I tried was to have all the players believing that they could overcome Milan. We managed to create an atmosphere of trust that was so great that, coupled with the desire of revenge for the unfair result of the first leg, it ended up being decisive.
“Fundamentally, I told them to go out and bite into them within the first few minutes.”
Irureta believes that Milan are to be taken seriously going into Tuesday’s second leg at Barcelona.
“In the first leg they showed that they can play very well together. They had an impressive level of pressing and made the most of their chances.
“I’m convinced that they will defend, in the catenaccio style, and it will be really complex to get to their goal. This team is different to the one that faced us, but the Italian essence is the same.
“With a goal in the first 20-30 minutes, Milan would find it very hard to hold out for the rest of the game.
“The Camp Nou stadium is imposing and Jordi Roura’s players will have the support of the public. I think the pressure can be with them.
“Clearly, if they want to be in the quarter-finals, they will have to score early.”
