Galliani moves to dampen Milan euphoria

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has told the team and fans to calm down following Sunday’s 3-0 win at Bologna that guaranteed the seven-time European champions top spot in Serie A at Christmas.

Milan lead their rivals by six points with only one game to go before the winter break, meaning they cannot be caught until the new year at least.

But as the club seeks its first title since 2004, Galliani wants to guard against complacency.

“Being top of the tree at Christmas is important but it’s a very long season so we shouldn’t get too excited because there’s still a lot to do,” he said.

“Up until now we’ve been playing very well and the summer acquistions have proven themselves good choices.

“However, we’re not even halfway down the path, there are three teams six points behind us who could come back into play, as could Roma, Palermo or Inter (Milan).”

Perhaps most important of all is Milan’s gap to the champions and their arch city rivals Inter which is already up to 13 points, although the nerazzurri, who are on Club World Cup duty, have a game in hand.

And yet, even though many believe Milan to have the best strike-force in Serie A in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho — Ronaldinho cannot even get in the team and both Pato and Filippo Inzaghi are injured — Galliani is still thinking about buying a forward.

“If we can find a striker worthy of Milan we’ll take him, otherwise we’ll put our confidence in Pato’s recovery,” he said.

“(Alessandro) Matri and (Mario) Balotelli are not for sale, (Carlos) Tevez is a great player but we don’t have the means to invest that much money.”