AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is confident in his team's Champions League chances despite being paired with Barcelona, who he described as the "best team in the world", in the quarter-finals.
Serie A leaders AC Milan played the Spanish champions in the group stages, drawing 2-2 away before going down 3-2 at home.
It meant they finished second in the pool but a topsy-turvy 4-3 aggregate win over Arsenal in the last 16 means they face the defending champions again.
"We've drawn the best in the world but we can do well because we've improved since the last time," he said.
"We played well defensively in Barcelona and then just as well in the home game, even though we lost. We have to believe in what we're doing and Milan always give their best in these games.
"We'll see if we can get some players back from injury but we've got to accept what happens.
"It will be very difficult but our self-confidence has grown a lot since those two games and we have the possiblity of going through.
"But let's look on the positive side, if we get through, we'll have a great chance of reaching the final."
Should Milan reach the semi-finals they would face either Chelsea or Benfica.
But in the meantime they have a league encounter against Parma on Saturday night to think about and Gennaro Gattuso has been included in the match-day squad.
The veteran midfielder has not played since the beginning of September and his return is a welcome boost with Mark van Bommel and Robinho ruled out due to slight injuries.
"There's no point thinking about (Lionel) Messi now, we have Parma, a team who don't concede many goals at home and rarely lose," said Allegri.
"It will be difficult, they battle for every ball, they attack, the press, they believe.
"I doubt it will be a good match, it will be the toughest one of the last few but what matters at the end is winning."
Milan lead Juventus, who play earlier on Saturday, by four points at the top of Serie A.
Source: AFP
