Milan feels pressure in Anderlecht match

MILAN - The Associated Press

Milan’s Robinho (L) celebrates with his teammate Kevin Constant after scoring against Juventus. Milan starts its Champions League campaign against Anderlecht tonight. EPA Photo

Budget-thinned AC Milan is feeling the pressure ahead of tonight’s Champions League opener against Belgian side Anderlecht at the San Siro.

Milan slumped to a 1-0 loss to Serie A minnow Atalanta on Saturday - the first time the club has lost its opening two home games in 82 years.

However, despite losing to newly-promoted side Sampdoria and a team which usually fights against relegation, the club’s Vice President Adriano Galliani says coach Massimiliano Allegri’s job is not in danger.

“Allegri is not in discussion, he should stay calm,” Galliani said, who spent Sept. 16 at the club’s training ground talking to the coach and the players. “

“Club president Silvio Berlusconi asked me to stay close to the squad and calm them at this time.”
Both of Milan’s Brazil forwards Alexandre Pato and Robinho are working their way back from leg muscle injuries and Allegri will want the duo back as soon as possible, with the attack struggling after the sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Milan has scored just three goals so far this season. All three came in the away match at Bologna and were scored by Giampaolo Pazzini.

Anderlecht is having its own troubles after more poor finishing saw it held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Lierse at the weekend, failing to close the gap on league leader FC Brugge.

Zenit has been pinpointed as the main threat in Group C, but the Russian champion is also going through a blip and fell to its second straight loss last week, a 2-0 home defeat to title rival Terek Grozny.

It faces Champions League debutants Malaga.