Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan is set to miss Anderlecht's highlight home match in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday against former champions AC Milan. Hassan, a devoted Muslim, refused to break his fasting for restoring his starting spot in the team but said he has full respect for his manager's decision to sideline him. "(Coach) Franky Vercauteren believes that I lose big amounts of liquids and minerals on a fasting day, something I totally respect," Hassan told FilGoal.com. "But I won't break my fasting to take part in a football match, even if it was against Milan." Hassan has also been dropped from Anderlecht's last local game due to the same reason. Muslims across the world halt drinking and eating from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. Although Anderlecht will face the Italian giants without their number 10, Vercauteren voiced his confidence in his players. "My players are ready to give everything. We're younger and perhaps hungrier than them, even if they have more experience," he said in the pre-match press conference. Anderlecht were held to two draws in their opening games in Group H against Lille and AEK Athens despite taking the lead in the two matches. With Hassan's absence, Anderlecht will look forward to Moroccan midfielder Mbark Boussoufa and Congolese striker Mohamed Tchite to do all the work up front.
Milan They eye snatching a goal and protect their advantage against a Milan side who scored only once in their last four games. "I hope their goal-scoring problems continue," Vercauteren added. "But I'm not convinced they will because they have so many players who can create and score." Milan, on the other hand, plan to use their talented contingent to return to winning ways following their goalless draw with Lille. They hope to break their scoring duck after they created several chances against the French side but failed to convert any of them for the winner. "After drawing with Lille we want to win and move closer to qualification," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Milan will be without captain Paolo Maldini and right-back Cafu. Brazilian midfielder Kaka and World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo will be marshalling the midfield while Filippo Inzaghi and Ricardo Oliviera will be making the striking partenrship. However, veteran coach Ancelotti warned of undermining the hosts. "I have a lot of respect for them (Anderlecht). They pass the ball well and construct the play carefully," Ancelotti said. "We'll need to be on our toes because it's important we get a good result." In the same group on Tuesday, Lille will play AEK Athens at home.
