AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli believes his side can reach the Champions League final, despite trailing Inter Milan 2-0 after the first leg semi-final.
The two teams will play the second leg on Tuesday at the San Siro, with Inter being the designated home side.
Goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave Inter victory in Wednesday’s first leg.
“We know we start with a disadvantage, but we also have the quality to overthrow it,” Pioli said.
“Now, more than ever, nobody thinks Milan can reach the final.
“We can play a great game and I know how strong my players are. We made mistakes, but the past doesn’t matter.
“We have an important goal in mind – to win and qualify for the final, which no one would have predicted, just like at the start of the year no one would have predicted our presence in the semi-finals.”
Seven-time European champions AC Milan could get Portugal winger Rafael Leao back into shape after the 23-year-old missed the first leg with a thigh injury.
“He [Leao] is better, just like [midfielder Rade] Krunic and [winger Junior] Messias,” added Pioli.
“If everything goes as it should, they will be available for the game.”
Inter are third in Serie A, five points ahead of fifth-placed AC Milan, and are trying to reach the final for the first time since being crowned European champions in 2010.
“We know this is one of the most important games in Inter history,” coach Simone Inzaghi said.
“We have an advantage, rightly so, but we won’t have to manage it. We will have to play with Inter, knowing that we have a solid team ahead of us.
“We’re 90 minutes away from a dream, which me and these wonderful guys had.
“You’ll have to have a cool head and a warm heart. It’s the only way for matches like this.”
Striker Joaquin Correa, who came off at half-time in Inter’s 4-2 win over Sassuolo on Saturday, could feature.
The second leg of the other semi-final is on Wednesday with Manchester City hosting Real Madrid after a 1-1 draw last week in Spain. The final will be played in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10.
