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Seedorf 'convinced' of AC Milan future

AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf says it will be club president Silvio Berlusconi and not the media who determines his future at the club.

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caption:Clarence Seedorf could still take Milan into the Europa League.
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The Dutchman's position has been debated in the Italian press this week with rumours of a division in the dressing room and a breakdown in the coach's relationship with general manager Adriano Galliani.

At his prematch news conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Livorno, however, Seedorf shrugged off the speculation, telling reporters it will not be up to them if he remains on the Rossoneri bench next season.

"I'm convinced that I will be AC Milan coach next season," he said. "Until I receive a call from the president telling me he's changed his mind, I will remain convinced.

"My communication with the club is direct and if they have anything to tell me, they will do so. I don't have anything to say on the things that are only being presumed by the press. Our professional pride is superior to everybody.

“We may not have been at our best against Catania [in a 1-0 home win], but we showed a fighting spirit and that's important; being clinical is all that matters now."

Milan are five points behind fifth-placed Inter Milan in the race for a spot in the Europa League next season, though sixth may also be enough with Fiorentina and Napoli contending the Coppa Italia final and set to finish inside the top five.

That would, however, necessitate an additional qualifying round and would force the Rossoneri to call off a lucrative preseason tour of the United States.

After hosting struggling Livorno, Milan travel to Roma before hosting Inter in a derby that could well determine the two sides' destiny this season.

Seedorf is not contemplating that just yet, claiming he and his squad are "focused on Livorno," before adding: “Galliani has said to me exactly what he's said in public, which is that we want to qualify for Europe.

"There are two places available and we're going to try to get the one as high as possible. My team have always wanted to emerge from a negative phase, and we've done that. Now we want to extend our run of wins right to the end of the season."