Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his team could have no complaints about their shock 1-0 defeat at Livorno which left the defending Serie A champions five points behind leaders Juventus.
Corrado Colombo scored what turned out to be the vital goal for Livorno in the 28th minute.
“We played well at the start up until Kaka hit the woodwork, but then Livorno closed down all the space and we tired a lot,” said Ancelotti.
“I have to say that we were poor and Livorno were excellent. I don’t know why, but we’ve had some problems scoring away from home this season.”
Livorno coach Roberto Donadoni, a former teammate of Ancelotti in the great Milan team of the late 1980s and early 1990s, praised his players.
“We tried to play our own game and the team did that and fully deserved the victory,” said Donadoni.
“But the season is long and we have achieved nothing yet. I have been in this game a long time and know the dangers of complacency.”
The former Italian international has now presided over successive victories since taking over from Franco Colomba earlier this month.
Juventus extended their lead over Milan with a 2-0 home win over Brescia.
France international David Trezeguet opened the scoring on his return after three months out with injury, before a Maurizio Domizzi own-goal doubled Juve’s lead on the stroke of half time.
“I am very happy with the way we approached the game,” said Juve coach Fabio Capello.
“We conceded little and created plenty of chances against a very dangerous team.
Juve’s victory celebrations were tempered by an injury to Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved.
“We’re a little worried as he felt a strong pain, but we don’t know what the problem is – we’ll wait and see what the doctors say,” Capello added.
