UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
THE CLOSING STRAIGHT
U E FA
CHAMPIONS
LEAGUE
Four top-class teams who have left their
mark on football at European and interna
tional level in the past, and who are
continuing to do so, have made it through to
the semi-finals of the 1994/95 UEFA CHAM
PIONS LEAGUE. Bayern Munich (Germany)
take on Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands), and
Paris St-Germain (France) are pitted against
AC Milan (Italy). Three of the semi-finalists -
Paris St-Germain are the only exception - are
previous winners of the European Champion
Clubs' Cup, and AC Milan are the current
title-holders, after last season's brilliant UEFA
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE campaign. Paris St-
Germain, a relatively young club founded in
1973, have pushed themselves to the fore
front of the European game to join their illus
trious rivals, and have been no more than a
hair's breath away from reaching European
club competition finals in recent years. The
losing quarter-finalists also belong to this
continent's club elite: IFK Gothenburg
(Sweden), SL Benfica (Portugal), Hajduk Split
(Croatia) and OF Barcelona (Spain).
The semi-final fixtures in this season's
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE therefore
provide a mouthwatering prospect for foot
ball fans. All four teams have a certain
obligation - namely, a sense of responsibility
towards everyone interested in sport. The
further they progress in the competition, the
greater their prestige at home and abroad. I
hope that the players, coaches and officials
of the four semi-finalists will bear this in mind,
Together with millions of football enthu
siasts throughout Europe, I am very much
lokking forward tomseeing exciting and hard-
fought matches. I am aso sure that toe sprit
of Fair Play will prevail. In addition, I would
like to take this oppotunity to thank our
commercial partners in each country for their
contribution to the succes of the UEFA
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. A particular
welcome to the spectators at the semi-finals
venues - as well as to the many representa
tives of the media who will be reporting for
radio, television, newspapers and magazines
on this latest enthralling instalment in the
UEFA CHAMIONS LEAGUE.
Enjoy the action!
Lennart Johansson
President of UEFA
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