AC Milan fans have grown up watching some of the game's most graceful and creative players, but the current favourite of the 'ultras' in the South End of the San Siro Stadium hardly fits the identikit of a Serie A star.

Hard running, hard tackling and an ever-visible aggression and determination characterise Gennaro Gattuso and the Milan supporters appreciate his style as much as, if not more than, the deft touches of his midfield team mates Rui Costa, Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo.

Gattuso is labelled a 'warrior' in the Italian media and despite clear evidence that he has productive as well as destructive qualities, the player happily accepts the popular view of his strengths.

"I'm not tired of it because people speak well of my work and there is no bad feeling on my part. I don't want to argue with that view," he told Reuters in an interview ahead of next week's Champions League final against Juventus.

"I know that every year the club asks me to play and there has to be a reason for that.

"My usual contribution is a never-say-die attitude, a willingness to sacrifice myself for the others in the team. At the end let others calculate the benefits," he added.

Gattuso was brought up in Calabria, one of the poorest parts of southern Italy, and his career took off in an unlikely setting -- Glasgow Rangers' Ibrox Park Stadium.

Like many young Italian players, Gattuso had initially found it difficult to break into Serie A where expensive foreign signings were dominant.

He made his top-flight debut for Perugia before making a surprise move to Scotland in 1997.

It was an experience that Gattuso frequently recalls with fondness and which he says had a major impact on his development.

"I respect the British way of life, not just the football. I was only 18 when I was over in Scotland and it changed the way I looked at life.

"In Italy people are very materialistic; in Britain people judge you for who you are," said the midfielder.

Gattuso has never made any secret of the fact that one day he would like to return to Britain, but for the moment says that he has his mind focused solely on Milan.

"There have been some rumours about a move over there but I repeat that I feel well at Milan. I have been here a few years now.

"My dream is to return to Great Britain, but now I feel well here and I prefer to stay here and win in this shirt," he said.

Gattuso spent a season-and-a-half in Glasgow before returning to Italy with Salernitana and when they were relegated to Serie B his future was uncertain.

But AC Milan snapped him up and he swiftly established himself at the San Siro with the result that an Italy call-up followed.

Last year he was part of Giovanni Trapattoni's squad at the World Cup and this season he has been at the heart of Milan's revival in the Champions League.

On Wednesday he will return to Britain to face Juventus in the Champions League final at Manchester United's Old Trafford.

In the semi-final derby against Inter Milan, Gattuso was in his element, charging around in the heat of battle, and while the final will have another feel, Gattuso is relishing the prospect.

"It will be a different sort of game, playing with the trophy so near but it will certainly be an atmosphere that I will enjoy.

"I have always dreamed of a game of such importance and I hope we don't miss the chance to crown it with a win," he said.

Opponents Juventus have been a more consistent side than Milan in Serie A this season, winning their 27th Serie A title, but Gattuso believes his team have shown they can rise to the occasion.

"In recent years we have suffered against so-called little teams and that has happened again this time.

"But when the press have written us off we have been able to come up with big results -- that is our strength. We surprise ourselves with that sometimes," he said.

Milan were at their best in early-season wins over Deportivo Coruna, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

"I think at the start of the season we enjoyed the benefit of surprise. It is hard to find an Italian team that played with four or five players in attacking roles like we had," added Gattuso.

Those big wins included a home victory over Juventus in Serie A but Gattuso is not letting that precedent affect his thinking ahead of Wednesday's match.

"There is a lot of respect for Juve. We know we are up against a team that has won a lot, been together for many years and a team that is aggressive and never gives up.

"But it is a final and we have the same chance to win."