There was relief at UEFA after AC Milan's victory over Manchester United avoided an all-English Champions League final - and president Michel Platini is convinced the climax of the European season will pass off in Athens on May 23 without any crowd trouble.

The fact Liverpool and AC Milan met in the Champions League final only two seasons ago will help security preparations, while a potential flashpoint between rival sets of English fans has been avoided.

UEFA are also pleased Milan's victory means they are not faced with overwhelming dominance of Premier League sides in Europe's top club competition.

One senior UEFA executive admitted: ''I think many of us at UEFA are relieved it is not a Liverpool v Manchester United final - not just from a security point of view but because this is meant to be a pan-European competition, and it is much better if it is not two clubs from the same country in the final.''

Platini, who was elected UEFA president earlier this year, praised the players and fans of all four semi-finalists.

He said the prospect of a re-match between the 2005 finalists was mouth-watering.

He added: ''They are two clubs who have won the trophy 11 times between them will meet for the second time in two years.

''On the last occasion in Istanbul in 2005, Liverpool and Milan produced a match that occupies a special place in European football history.''

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned his players to be wary of a ''dangerous'' AC Milan team.

The Italians swept aside Manchester United in the semi-final and he said: ''It's clear we are going to play a team with players with a great attitude and quality.

''You could see by how hard they worked last night (Wednesday). They are desperate to win the Champions League and after what happened two years ago we must be very careful.

''They are a very dangerous opponent for us.''

Having defeated Jose Mourinho's men in the semi-final, parallels have obviously been drawn with Liverpool's successful European campaign two years ago, when the Stamford Bridge side were dispatched at Anfield at the same stage.

However, Benitez said history does not dictate who wins trophies andsaid: "'We must focus on the final. The hard work for the players begins now. The final is not today, it is in a few weeks time and we must start our preparation from this moment.

''Some people think because we won two years ago and we also beat Chelsea we will do it again, but this is not the right message.

''You do not win a trophy for winning a semi-final.''