AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri tried to be positive on Friday after the Serie A champs drew holders and favourites Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
"We've come up against the best team but we have to look on the bright side," Allegri told Milan's in-house TV channel.
"It could be (considered) an early semi-final. It will be an excellent, fascinating clash.
"We have to be positive. We could have faced them in the semi-finals, so it would have been the same".
This season Milan have regained some of their former stature on the European stage after struggling on it since winning their seventh European champions title in 2007.
They caused Barca, who have won two of the last three Champions League titles, problems in the two encounters between the teams in the group stage, a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou and a 2-3 win for the Catalans at the San Siro.
"It's a tough draw but the two matches we played before against Barcelona showed that we can perform well," added Allegri. Milan are Italy's only side in the competition, thanks to a 4-3 aggregate win over Arsenal, after Inter Milan and Napoli were knocked out in the last 16.
If they overcome Lionel Messi and Barca they will tackle the winners of the tie between Benfica and Chelsea.
Facing Barcelona will remind Milan fans of one of their team's finest moments - their 4-0 win over a Barca side featuring current coach Pep Guardiola in the 1994 Champions League final in Athens.
Sono bellissimo...
Administrafan