Rome: AC Milan went back to the top of Serie A, for 24 hours at least, with a hard fought 1-0 victory at Chievo in rainy Verona.
Milan bounced straight back from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Fiorentina despite being ravaged by injury and suspensions — they had 14 players missing on Tuesday.
Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari scored the only goal of the game early on as Milan moved two points clear of Juventus.
The Old Lady of Turin can retake the lead if they beat Lazio on Wednesday.
But after the victory Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri vented his anger at the media for their criticisms of his team over the last 10 days.
“Many people were delighted we fell to Fiorentina but we’ve got back up,” he told Sky Sport.
“We knew that tonight if we lost or failed to win we could be out of the title race.
“Even when we were four points clear there was a media campaign waiting for us to lose but you still need to wait for our funeral.
“What disappoints me is that we’re fighting with Juve and it seems as if they’re doing amazing things and we’re messing up. The numbers say something else: that we’re not less than Juve.”
It was a far from vintage Milan performance as Chievo bossed the game but showing the true form of champions they managed to nick the three points despite not playing well.
Such were their problems that Allegri gave teenage full-back Mattia De Sciglio a first ever league start, although he previously played in the Champions League. (AFP)