Ancelotti eyes Champions League

Carlo Ancelotti admits his main focus is on winning the Champions League, although the eight-point Serie A penalty gives Milan extra motivation.

“We already have the pressure of the handicap and that forces you to avoid all mistakes, even if we’ll never understand why Milan are in this situation. The damage was limited and we have the Champions League, which is our prime objective, and the penalty will provide extra motivation.”

The Rossoneri were originally excluded from Europe by the Calciopoli verdict, but an appeal put them in the preliminary round, which they passed with flying colours by beating Red Star Belgrade 3-1 on aggregate.

“In the Champions League we’ll be starting on the same level as everyone else, but in Serie A that’s not the case. That’s one of the reasons why Europe is our main focus. Having said that, difficulties make it more of a challenge, such as playing without Andriy Shevchenko. These aspects will fire us up.”

Shevchenko’s £30m summer departure towards Chelsea upset many at the San Siro and Ancelotti agrees with captain Paolo Maldini, who suggested there wasn’t enough honesty in his decision.

“He had made his choice to walk away a long time ago. Perhaps Andriy could’ve been revealed that to us at a more appropriate time,” added the tactician.

Milan make their seasonal debut against another club embroiled in the scandal, Lazio, who have an 11-point penalty.

“They will also be angry, just like all the sides who were penalised. It’s going to be a tough game and they’ve shown in the friendlies that they are in good shape. We’ll play with two strikers and Cristian Brocchi could replace Andrea Pirlo. If Alberto Gilardino isn’t 100 per cent fit, then Ricardo Oliveira will start.”

Milan squad: Dida, Kalac; Cafu, Favalli, Maldini, Nesta, Jankulovski, Serginho, Simic; Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf; Gilardino, Inzaghi, Ricardo Oliveira