Humbling loss to Verona adds to AC Milan’s woes
MILAN— AC Milan’s crisis deepened as it was humiliated 3-0 at struggling Hellas Verona in Serie A on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Juventus won 3-0 at Bologna to leapfrog Inter Milan into second spot, a point behind Serie A leader Napoli.
“We have to apologize and understand why these things happen. We were embarrassing,” Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso said. “I think that until Verona doubled its lead, we did well and even deserved to score. Then, as often happens, we collapsed after the first moment of difficulty.
“We don’t manage to react or if we do, we seem confused and messy. I don’t like this.”
It has been a difficult month for Milan, which has won just two of its five matches since Gattuso replaced Vincenzo Montella as coach.
Milan also had its bid for an agree- ment to end a financial fair play investigation rejected by UEFA on Friday.
One of the few positive notes was its progression to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 3-0 win over Verona on Wednesday.
However, Verona was to avenge that defeat at the Stadio Bentegodi and move one point from safety.
Andrea Caracciolo broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when he headed in a corner off the crossbar.
Milan had several chances to equalize but was denied by an imperious Nicolas between the sticks for Verona.
The hosts doubled their tally 10 minutes after the interval when Daniel Bessa burst down the left and pulled back for fellow substitute Moise Kean to slot past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Milan tried to get back into the match but Verona sealed the result in the 77th with a rapid counterattack as Romulo raced down the right side before crossing for Bessa to tap in.
Milan’s misery was complete in stoppage time when forward Suso was shown a straight red card after a video review of his stamp on Verona midfielder Daniele Verde.