Seedorf ready for United test

Dutch midfielder feels Red Devils clash will prove Milan potential

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 11th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Seedorf ready for United test

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Clarence Seedorf believes AC Milan's UEFA Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester United will reveal the true potential of the side.

The Rossoneri started the season sluggishly under new manager Leonardo following Carlo Ancelotti's departure to Chelsea in the summer.

However Milan seem to have turned things around and currently sit second in Serie A, eight points behind leaders and city rivals Inter with a game in hand, after an impressive 3-0 win away at Juventus on Sunday.

Despite the turnaround in form many class United as favourites to progress especially after they eased past Inter at the same stage of the competition last season.

"It is a big game, we have met each other quite some times in the last six or seven years so I am very much looking forward to that," Seedorf told Sky Sports News.

"I feel it is a very fundamental match for Milan to understand the real potential of the squad so I am looking forward to it."

Tougher task

Seedorf found himself on the scoresheet the last time the two teams met in 2007 when Milan thumped United 3-0 in the San Siro in the Champions League semi-final - the Rossoneri went on to beat Liverpool in the final - but the Dutchman feels things will be a lot tougher this time around.

"Manchester have a great squad, they have made some changes but as we see they are still competing perfectly in the English league," he added.

"I feel it is going to be a match of truth for Milan in Europe to really understand our potential and I said this last week we have to keep on dreaming.

"It was perhaps more impossible to do what we did in 2007 than this year."

The 33-year-old is currently out with a thigh injury and missed the win over Juve but was confident he would be back within a week.

"Actually I am going to start training either today or tomorrow with the team," he pointed out.

"I was almost ready for the (Juventus) game but we didn't want to risk anything and we have a lot of games coming up.

"So I am feeling much better and in a week I will be with the team again."