Pato tips Milan impact

Alexandre Pato thinks AC Milan can match any Champions League opponent, despite being held 2-2 away to Czech newcomers Viktoria Plzen.

Goals from Pato and his fellow Brazil international Robinho saw Milan take comfortable 2-0 lead in their final Group H match away to the Czech champions.

But the Serie A title-holders, already through to the next stage, conceded twice in the closing minutes at the Synot Tip Arena, and had to settle for a point.

Nevertheless, Pato is confident his team have what it takes to progress from the round of 16.

“Milan are always ready,” he told the UEFA website.

“We now have to wait and see who we’ll get.”

“I think that we have to think about ourselves, think about doing our best, but we can be a match for anyone.”

Speaking after the draw in the Czech Republic, Pato confirmed he and his team-mates were far from satisfied with the outcome against unheralded Viktoria.

“We had the result in our hands,” he said.

“We then conceded two goals at the end, and that’s why we’re not happy. They had chances, we had more possession in the first half, but didn’t create anything.”

“The chances came along in the second half, and we did well to score them, but we’re disappointed not to have won as we played well.”

“At half-time, the coach asked us to press more.”

“We suddenly got two chances, and scored two goals, but they didn’t get us what we wanted as the draw was not the result we were looking for.”

Milan finished second in Group H with nine points from six match, seven points behind group winners and defending champions Barcelona.