Berlusconi gives up on title Monday 12 December, 2005
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Milan chief Silvio Berlusconi has made the surprise announcement that his side’s title race is already over. "The Champions League is our only remaining chance now," he said.
Milan have slipped to fourth place in Serie A and are now lying 11 points behind League leaders Juventus and, following their Milan derby defeat at the San Siro on Sunday night, Berlusconi declared that the gap is too great to bridge.
"The Champions League is our only remaining chance now," he said. "Juve are far ahead and there’s not much difference between being eight points or 11 points behind."
Such defeatist talk is a great surprise from the normally confident Milan owner, whose side were just two points behind the Bianconeri after beating them on October 29.
"I was tempted to run out on to the pitch myself," joked the Italian Premier, who also laughed off any suggestion of Coach Carlo Ancelotti being dismissed after three defeats in four Serie A matches.
"You win some, you lose some," he added. "Obviously, it’s better to win than lose, but when it happens there’s no point in making a drama out of it."
Striker Andriy Shevchenko was more positive about his side’s title chances, though, two weeks before the Christmas break.
"As far as the Scudetto race is concerned I’m still optimistic," he said. "We’re thinking about winning the next two matches to round off the year with six more points. Hopefully, things will start to go awry in Turin during 2006."
Milan entertain Messina next weekend, before Ancelotti takes his men to high-flying Livorno who are bossed by Rossoneri legend Roberto Donadoni.
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