AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti insists the outcome of Sunday’s clash with Fiorentina will have no bearing on whether it is his last match in charge. The long-time Rossoneri boss is under contract with the San Siro outfit for a further season but is a reported target of Chelsea.
Milan, who need a win to have a chance of securing automatic qualification for the Champions League, plan to announce who will lead the team next season after the match in Florence.
But Ancelotti said:
“The game in Florence will not influence my or the clubs decision. In terms of my future, the result of Sundays game means nothing. It only has value in view of direct qualification for the Champions League.”
Last week’s 3-2 defeat at home to Roma has left Ancelotti’s team third in the standtainty about who will lead Inter Milan next season after their coach, Jose Mourinho, extended his contract with the Nerazzurri until 2012.
Mourinho, in his first season at the helm, led Inter to their fourth successive scudetto and had been linked with a move to Real Madrid. The Italian champions end their season against Atalanta.
Juventus fans still do not know who will guide their team next term, however. Ciro Ferrara was appointed interim coach earlier this month following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri. Juve won 3-0 at Siena last week to end a run of six consecutive games without a victory. The Bianconeri take on Lazio in Turin looking to hold off Milan in the race for second place.
Sunday’s game against already-relegated Lecce will be the last for Genoa pair Diego Milito and Thiago Motta as both are joining Inter this summer.
Palermo and Sampdoria square off at La Favorita with both sides failing to secure European football next season.
Udinese are the hottest team in Italy after collecting 19 of a possible 21 points, and they go up against Cagliari in their last game.
Victory at home to Catania will ensure Bologna stay in Serie A but a draw or defeat will leave the Rossoblu nervously awaiting the result of Torino’s match at Roma. Bologna are level on 34 points wwill be missing seven players through suspension in their game against the Romans, five of whom were banned for fighting at the end of last weekend’s match with Genoa.
With Napoli having managed just one win in their last 19 league games, Partenopei coach Roberto Donadoni will be glad to see the end of the season. The Naples-based club head into this weekend’s home match against Chievo in 13th position in the standings with nothing to play for except pride.
Finally, Reggina bid farewell to the Serie A after six consecutive years in the top flight when they host Siena. The Amaranto are bottom of the table and were the first team to be relegated this season.
