Alexandre Pato Fansite

Carlo Ancelotti has won the Champions League twice as a player and twice as a coach with AC Milan.

Now, after a disastrous start to the season, the pressure is mounting on Ancelotti as he takes the club into the second-tier UEFA Cup. The seven-time European champion faces FC Zurich on Thursday.

“The biggest mistake would be to say who’s to blame and who’s not to blame,” Ancelotti said. “We’re staying united and the only thing we’re focusing on is training well.”

Milan has no points from two Serie A games and is next to last in the standings — despite the arrival of Ronaldinho and return of Andriy Shevchenko.

Shevchenko, who scored 73 goals in 296 games during seven seasons with Milan before a disappointing spell at Chelsea, said a victory over Zurich could ignite the season.

“We’re going through a rough period,” the Ukraine striker said. “We’ve got to try to stay united and get a victory right away to bounce back.”

Ancelotti is the longest serving coach in Serie A, but has failed to win the Italian league in the past four seasons. After the club finished fifth last season and missed out on a Champions League spot, fans and the media questioned whether Ancelotti had lost his touch.

Losses to modest Bologna and Genoa in the first two Serie A games and a 2-0 defeat to Swiss second-division side Lugano in a friendly have exacerbated to his woes. A defeat to FC Zurich in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round could be the tipping point for Ancelotti.

Andrea Pirlo joined Milan’s injury list on Tuesday with a right thigh problem. He joins midfield partner Gennaro Gattuso, defender Alessandro Nesta and striker Filippo Inzaghi on the sidelines. Ancelotti may even rest Ronaldinho and Shevchenko.

Thursday’s game at San Siro is one of several eye-catching confrontations among the 40 games which will decide which clubs go through to the group phase.

(IHT)