Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard is all geared up for the anticipated clash against his former club AC Milan in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. "I think it will be a very interesting game against a very strong team," told a press conference following Barcelona's 2-0 win over Benfica on Wednesday. "They've been playing at an extremely high level in recent years and have got a very strong squad of players," the Dutchman added. Rijkaard, who won two European Cups and two Scudetto titles with Milan, said the clash represents no sentimental value for him.
"Personally for me the tie will not mean anything special because I have faced them before both as a player and as a coach. It will just be a hard fought game between two very strong sides," he added. Barcelona, who were held to a goalless draw by Benfica in the first-leg, had a hard time infiltrating the Portuguese team's defense after going one up through Ronaldinho early in the first-half. To kick off with the aggregate score still 0-0 meant we had to be completely focused on winning the match," Rijkaard said. "It was a very tense second half, which is normal at this level, because although we were 1-0 up, they could have changed the game so I was very glad when we got the second goal."