Oddo: It's our fault

Milan defender Massimo Oddo has admitted that the Rossoneri have only themselves to blame for their disappointing season.

The Club World Cup holders were knocked out of Europe in March and are struggling to qualify for next year's edition of the Champions League.

“It's our fault,” confessed Oddo, pointing out the Diavolo's disastrous home form as a reason why they are four points adrift of fourth place Fiorentina with four games to go.

“We have only won six times at San Siro - that's relegation form. This makes me think that we have not been able to exploit home advantage.”

Milan have the second best away record in the League, winning on three more occasions than fourth-place Fiorentina, but the Viola have notched up five more victories than the Rossoneri in front of their own fans.

“The teams we face tend to close us down and we have not been successful in finding a way to unhinge their defences,” mused the right-back.

Oddo also refused to blame referees for the Rossoneri's current position, acknowledging that players are not above reproach themselves.

“They haven't killed us, but they have played their part,” he moaned. “They have made mistakes, as have we.”

Milan face Livorno in Tuscany on Sunday and still have to take on Inter, Napoli and Udinese to complete the campaign.

Cafu: I'm too young to quit

Milan veteran Marcos Cafu is 37 years old, but has absolutely no intention of hanging up his boots just yet.

“I still haven’t decided what I will do and there is still a month to go before the end of the season, but I do not think I will retire,” revealed the Brazilian.

“I am still motivated. When I am on the bench or in the stands, I feel bad. I still have the desire to prove I can do a great deal for football, even if I am 37 years old.”

Cafu has been at Milan since a free transfer from Roma in 2003 and even back then was considering seeing out the final years of his career in Japan.

“I am feeling good at the moment after having a few fitness problems. The important thing is that when the Coach calls, I am ready to give my contribution.

“It always makes a player happy knowing he can contribute to the success of the squad.”

The right-back has had to play more regularly of late because Massimo Oddo underwent surgery and hopes he can help Milan finish in the top four.

“We will try to get there at all costs. There are four rounds left in which we must achieve everything we possibly can and then, if the other sides also do well and end up ahead, all we can do is take our hats off to them.

“The important thing is that we do well so there can be no regrets. If the other teams want to give us a hand by slipping up, then that is even better.”

Zamparini eyes Amauri - Gattuso swap

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini has sensationally proposed an Amauri-Gennaro Gattuso exchange with Milan.

The Rosanero have had confirmed negotiations with Juventus over Amauri, but their patron thinks he’d be better elsewhere.

“I don’t want to judge Milan’s transfer policy, but with Kaka and Alexandre Pato, I don’t think Ronaldinho can be a useful signing,” he told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“We are talking about a player of undoubted value whose name excites the fans, but when you focus only on making the supporters happy then you don’t work for the good of the team.

“Perhaps a hitman like Luca Toni, Didier Drogba or Amauri should be a priority for the Rossoneri.”

Zamparini said this week that the only offer he had received was from Juventus, so this was a clear public invite for Milan to join the race.

His interest in the Rossoneri does not limit itself to strikers, as the patron also commented on reports Gattuso is ready to move on.

“We must keep our transfer targets hidden so they do not escape, but I dream of Gattuso in the Rosanero jersey.”

The World Cup winner has been linked with a new challenge at Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Manchester United, but could be tempted into a surprise switch.

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Berlusconi Jr rejects Ronaldinho

Piersilvio Berlusconi disagrees with his father's intention to bring Barcelona and Brazil star Ronaldinho to San Siro.

The former World Player of the Year has been heavily linked with a move to the Rossoneri after falling out with the Catalan giants.

“I wouldn't take Ronaldinho. Speaking as a fan, Milan do not need a player like him at the moment,” said the Mediaset Vice-President.

Berlusconi Jr has been touted as a future President of the Diavolo and has his own ideas on how the club should be managed, balking at the price of the World Cup winner.

Negotiations have stalled between Barcelona and Milan after the Blaugrana demanded a fee believed to be in excess of £18m for the 28-year-old.

“It's rather a lot to spend on one player, perhaps it would be better to invest in different departments. But if a player of his calibre were to arrive, he would still be welcome,” he ended.

Milan are rumoured to have made an offer of a combined £20m bid for both Ronaldinho and his Italian teammate Gianluca Zambrotta.

Pirlo admits AC Milan failure

Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo has expressed his dissatisfaction at the Rossoneri's lacklustre season in no uncertain terms.

Milan won the Club World Cup in January, but were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 in March and are currently four points from qualifying for next year's edition.

“We went out of Europe, then the Coppa Italia and we haven't even challenged for the Scudetto,” moaned the Italian international.

The Rossoneri currently lie fifth in Serie A, five points away from the top four and a massive 23 points behind city rivals Inter at the top of the table.

The 28-year-old is not too downhearted though, and wants his teammates to channel their disappointment into success in 2008-09.

“We will need all this hurt, it will stand us in good stead for the next campaign,” said the former Inter man, who also gave his view on the future of his midfield partner Gennaro Gattuso.

“Rino is the talisman of this team. I don't think that he has the desire to leave, also because next year we will return to winning ways,” he insisted.

Looking ahead to this summer's European Championship, Pirlo felt inclined to put his weight behind the campaign to get Alessandro Del Piero into the Italy squad.

“Del Piero has always been a part of the Azzurri and it is normal that we would like to see him there for this occasion,” he finished.

AC Milan in the red

Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani has today spoken to shareholders, revealing the Via Turati club to be £24m in the red.

The 63-year old who, since Silvio Berlusconi stepped down earlier this week, has taken the role of President in all but name, moved to reassure the Rossoneri's worried investors.

“To get the books back in order it would be enough to sell Kaka to Real Madrid for £55m,” remarked Galliani to the consternation of Milan's money men.

Shareholders are believed to be angry at the club's recent form on the pitch and in the transfer market.

According to a report in Italian newspaper La Stampa, some investors are unwilling to contribute money to this summer's transfer budget.

Galliani refused to accept all the blame, insisting that they were just as responsible for the Diavolo's current troubles.

“Last year they begged me to renew Dida's contract and adhere to the requests of Emerson, Cafu, Serginho and Favalli.”

Milan have been labelled an old side of late and criticised for not investing enough in young talent, Alexandre Pato aside.

But Galliani defended the Rossoneri's policy, saying: “Footballers are like cars, their condition changes year on year.”

The Diavolo have recently been heavily linked with troubled Barcelona forward Ronaldinho. The 28-year-old has been in limbo this year, but Galliani believes he can get back to his best.

“At the moment he reminds me of when he was at Paris Saint-Germain in 2003. I don't think he'd have a problem playing in the UEFA Cup either. Luca Toni has for Bayern Munich.”