Atletico and Liverpool unlucky to be grouped with Milan - Shevchenko

Former

star Andrei Shevchenko believes that Liverpool and Atletico Madrid were unlucky to team up with Milan in the Champions League.

Milan started the new season with three consecutive victories against Sampdoria, Cagliari and Lazio and has performed very well so far. Last season, they managed to reach the Champions League after many years, and this season, they were grouped with Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. Now Shevchenko, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2004 and has played 322 games for Milan and scored 175 goals for the team, claims that this is the misfortune of two rival teams that are in the same group with Milan.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport:

“Their group is the toughest of all. It’s no drama if they are eliminated, it can never be considered a failure.

“The team is competitive and has a chance to go through. And then let’s also look at it from the opponents’ side: drawing Milan in the fourth tier is unfortunate for them.

“Let’s take one step at a time. The group is ready to play for a place in the top of the championship, but the Champions League is different from everything.

“The enthusiasm of returning after years will give an extra boost, anything can happen. Above all, it’s in games of this depth the players grow, they increase awareness, they feel stronger and stronger.

“It’s a conscious circle: you play, gain experience, win, grow.”

Shevchenko then praised the performance of Pewley and his team. He added:

“Compared to the last few seasons, they ave already grown a lot,” he said. “They are more convinced of their strength, they are aggressive, they press, they create.

“They transmit passion to those who follow them. Pioli has done a great job over the last two years, he has regenerated the team.

“And [technical director Paolo] Maldini was very good too. The club made excellent signings.”

Follow 

for the 

.