Alessandro Nesta is confident that his side can clinch a spot in the Champions League next season – if they finish fourth in the Serie A.

Champions League football for Milan next season?

It’s possible, if only the Rossoneri can climb eight places up the Serie A table.

So said Alessandro Nesta, after he completed a training session at Dubai’s Al Nasr Club on Friday.

The World Cup winner believes Milan have to overtake fifth-placed Fiorentina, who currently have 28 points - 10 more than his team - to secure a Champions League place next season.

"We're aiming for fourth place because that means we can go for the Champions League again," said Nesta.

"We think Fiorentina will be easier to catch than teams like Roma and Juventus. We will be focusing hard and are ready to play five games in a month when we get back."

And, th ... Read more »

Milan defender Alessandro Nesta believes that the critics should leave struggling goalkeeper Nelson Dida alone.

The much-maligned Dida has been in the firing line this term after some costly errors - most critically against Inter - and made a shaky start to 2008 by conceding six times in a training match in Dubai.

The rumour mill has been working overtime to suggest alternative names for the Rossoneri No 1 shirt, including Celtic’s Artur Boruc and Fiorentina’s Sebastien Frey, but Nesta believes in the current custodian.

“We could have won the game against Inter, but Dida has done well to bounce back from his error and turn up at training in the right frame of mind,” the former Azzurri star claimed.

“He is a good teammate and h ... Read more »