Leonardo plays down sack talk

Under-fire AC Milan coach Leonardo claimed he is not worried about his position ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League Group C clash against FC Zurich.

Rookie coach Leonardo has already come in for much criticism after an unspectacular start to the Serie A season with just two wins in his first six league matches.

But the Brazilian World Cup winner and former Milan midfielder insists he has nothing to fear.

“A coach’s job is always on the line but for me that’s the least important thing so I’m not worried about it,” he said during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.

In European competition, however, Milan are a different proposition, as they often have been, having won 2-1 away to Marseille in their first group match.

Milan have a proud tradition in Europe, winning more European Cup or Champions League crowns than all other Italian teams put together.

And yet they are not the most successful club domestically.

“We need the Champions League Milan. Will this be the turnaround? Right now any match could seem like a turnaround,” said the Brazilian.

“What we’re really looking for is the compactness that would bring consistency.”

Leonardo has put his faith recently in the Milan old guard as he’s tried to spark some life into his team.

Thirty-somethings such as captain Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Filippo Inzaghi — the ageing players Milan were supposed to be gradually phasing out — have found themselves on the front line leading the team.

And Ambrosini says they need to do more to drag themselves out of the rut.

“Leonardo is asking us to interpret differently the same model (of play) but more than anything else we’re all aware that our attitude on the pitch is fundamental,” he said.

“We’ve got no excuses, we’re all aware that we need to do more and from the off to motivate our fans.”

Zurich coach Bernard Challandes believes his team could make the most of Milan’s problems but he claims they are still one of the giants of European football, notwithstanding their current snooze.

“We can try to profit from their problems but Milan are still Milan. However, we know we’re capable of playing well and we’re ready to face up to a great team, as we did against Real Madrid.”

The omens are not good for Zurich who were beaten home and away by Milan in last season’s UEFA Cup, now the Europa League, and began their Group C campaign with a comprehensive 5-2 home defeat to Real.