[misha]

Paolo Maldini says Milan must take it one game at a time if they are to emerge from their crisis, starting tonight against Roma.

The Rossoneri have lost two of their last three Serie A encounters, sitting 17 points behind joint leaders Inter and Palermo, and face another tough task against Roma this evening.


“We’ve had a few problems, it’s pointless denying it,” said the captain. “We had a good start and won our first three matches, but at least in terms of results, haven’t done a great deal recently.”


While Scudetto talk may be shelved now, Maldini is trying to focus on short-term objectives.


“We have to take it one game at a time. As Serie A is a longer competition than the Champions League, there’s more time to recover, but we also started with an eight-point deficit and that makes it difficult to picture a campaign in the spotlight,” he said of the Calciopoli penalty.


“The best thing for us to do right now is not look too far into the future, concentrating only on the sides closest to us in the table and taking it week by week.”


The difference in form between Italy and Europe has been particularly jarring in the circumstances, as Milan went from a 4-1 mauling of Anderlecht to losing 2-0 at newly promoted Atalanta in the same week.


“So far we’ve done well in the Champions League and need only one point to secure qualification for the next round, so we have to learn from those performances and apply them to Serie A.”


If he’s not looking into the future for his club, then Maldini is doing the same on a personal level, staving off talk of retirement.


“I feel good and this season have almost always been available for selection. It’s my intention to experience this year playing consistently.”

Football Italia