Bianchi targets World Club treble
YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi believes his side can help him make history with victory over AC Milan in Sunday's World Club Cup clash in Japan.
A win for the South American champions in the annual intercontinental showdown would make Bianchi the first coach to win the trophy three times.
The 54-year-old led Boca to the title in 2000 and beat Milan in 1994 when he was in charge at Velez Sarsfield.
"Milan are obviously a quality side but we have no reason to fear them," said Bianchi, who lead Buenos Aires giants Boca to their 20th Argentine title last month.
"We have been preparing for this match for five months. We are absolutely confident we can win."
Boca, who beat Santos in July's Copa Libertadores final, are also hoping to win the title for the third time, their first coming with a win over Borussia Moenchengladbach in 1977. They also lost the 2001 final to Bayern Munich.
European champions Milan however are hunting a record fourth title in their seventh appearance. They won in 1969, 1989 and 1990 and lost in 1963 and 1993 as well as 1994.
"We are very motivated to win this title," said Milan defender Cafu, a World Cup winner with Brazil on his last appearance in Yokohama.
"Winning this game is all I have thought about since leaving Italy. This is a rare chance for us to test prove ourselves on a world level, so we must perform."
Milan's veteran defender Paolo Maldini is set to make a record fifth appearance in the final, while Boca are pinning their hopes on a player at the other end of his career -- 19-year-old Carlos Tevez.
Tevez, dubbed the "new Maradona" inspired Boca's Libertadores win over Santos and is set to play after recovering from a knee injury.
"We will need to be very careful with Tevez," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.
"He is their best player. But there are excellent players throughout the Boca team, so we know it will be a battle."
