Injured Pato to miss most of Milan run-in
Reuters - Monday 18 April 2011, 12:04
MILAN - AC Milan's charge to the Serie A
title suffered a hiccup when striker Alexandre Pato was told on
Monday he could be out for three weeks with a hamstring problem.
The Brazilian limped out of Saturday's 3-0 win over
Sampdoria and Milan said in a statement that scans had showed a
muscle pull.
The absence of Pato and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is suspended
for two more league games, means Robinho and Antonio Cassano are
the only forwards available to the club.
Ibrahimovic, though, can play in Wednesday's Italian Cup
semi-final first leg against Palermo.
Napoli's 2-1 home defeat by Udinese on Sunday gave Milan a
six-point lead with five games left and even their cautious
coach Massimiliano Allegri has said a first scudetto since 2004
is now in sight.
Third-placed Inter Milan lost 2-0 at strugglers Parma on
Saturday to all but wave goodbye to their title after five
straight scudettos but president Massimo Moratti has backed new
coach Leonardo.
Media reports have said last season's Inter treble winner
Jose Mourinho might return to the club from Real Madrid next
season.
"I've read what the newspapers say about Mourinho but
there's nothing in it," Moratti told reporters while
acknowledging his side, also dumped out in the Champions League
quarter-finals as holders, were in "crisis".