UEFA Champions League: Kaka eyes turning point as Milan prepare for Celtic test
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 26, 2013, 10:35
Kaka and company travelled to Glasgow on Monday sitting a lowly 13th in Serie A on the back of a dismal run of five league matches and another defeat at Parkhead would deal a blow to their hopes of making the Champions League knock-out stages.
Milan are currently second in Group H, one point ahead of third placed Ajax, but a Celtic win would lift the Scottish champions above their Italian rivals with just one game left to play.
With Milan fans showing signs of turning on boss Massimiliano Allegri and his team, Brazilian veteran Kaka acknowledges they are in desperate need of a morale-boosting win on Tuesday.
"This is going to be a very difficult match but, by winning tomorrow, we could kickstart our season," Kaka said.
"We could even qualify if we win and the other result goes in our favour. This match could be a turning point in our season.
"It`s definitely a challenge to put indifferent form and off-field problems to the side.
"We`ve got to try to have a good season and to do as well as we can on all fronts."
Asked about the morale in the camp ahead of the match with Celtic, Kaka said: "At this moment, the atmosphere is a little tense.
"But that`s not bad sometimes. Sometimes it`s a motivation, when you use this tension and pressure.
"We are always under pressure at Milan. We are seven matches now without a win and the pressure to end that bad run certainly gets more and more.
"This is an important match and we have to be mentally ready for it against what will be a difficult opponent."
Kaka and Christian Abbiati spoke to furious fans outside the San Siro following their 1-1 draw against Genoa at the weekend, with the Brazilian adding: "Speaking to the fans the other night wasn`t a huge burden to me.
"It`s not something I`m used to doing, but if I`m seen as one of the senior players in the squad then I have to get used to this type of responsibility."
Meanwhile, Allegri denied failure to secure a win, and book their place in the knockout stages, would cost him his job.
"Not at all," he said. "Playing against Celtic will be very difficult."
"Maybe even a win for us won`t be enough depending on what happens in the other match."
Responding to reports about players reporting late for training, he said: "What makes me angry is that false information gets out.
"For reports to say that five players were late for training is nonsense. I`d like to know where these stories come from." AFP ----------------- ZEENEWS.com
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