Sky Sport Italia journalist Manuele Baiocchini has made the claim that AC Milan internally are not happy with drawing Roma, as they wanted to avoid an all-Italian clash.
The Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draw took place this afternoon in Nyon, and Milan therefore found out their potential path to the final in Dublin in May.
Given that there was no longer a block on drawing a team from the same country and seeding was removed, it meant Milan could draw the following: Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham, Benfica, Atalanta, Roma or Marseille.
Milan were the first team out of the hat and they were drawn against domestic rivals Roma who they have beaten twice already this season but are enjoying a resurgence after the sacking of Jose Mourinho and the appointment of Daniele De Rossi as caretaker.
According to the Baiocchini, players and staff members followed the draw live at Milanello having returned from Prague. The journalist was asked who Milan wanted to avoid, and he replied: ‘Liverpool and an Italian club’.
On the other hand, Milan ambassador Daniele Massaro didn’t seem to be too deterred by the outcome, insisting that the Europa League represents the ‘primary objective’ for the club, though he did praise the work of De Rossi to this point.
