The mayor of Milan has expressed concern that the 2015-16 Champions League final, being staged in the city, could take place without either of its two clubs having qualified for the competition that season.
Defeats at the weekend saw both AC and Inter Milan drop off the pace at the top of Serie A, although Milan boss Filippo Inzaghi said after the 2-0 loss to Palermo that he believed they could still seal a Champions League spot.
His Inter counterpart Walter Mazzarri is under increasing pressure after a poor start continued with another defeat, this time to Parma.
The cities of Turin and Genoa have more points between their two Serie A clubs than Milan, which is represented in European competition this season only by Inter in the Europa League.
And mayor Giuliano Pisapia told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "We have the final of the 2016 Champions League in Milan, and if just one of our clubs could take part [in the tournament], knowing that the final will be held in the city, it would be a source of extraordinary motivation and would bring some enthusiasm back to the whole city.
#INSERT type:image caption:Gattuso won two Champions Leagues and two Serie A titles during his 13 years at Milan. END#
"Right now, there are lots of seriously disappointed fans in Milan -- and I certainly am not experiencing a good time either, being one of them.
"But the times have changed. We were all used to the possibility of major investment in real champions, while now we're forced to focus on up-and-coming talent and our youth academies.
"The city of Milan has coped generally well with the financial crisis, which cannot be said of its two clubs, but hope springs eternal."
Nevertheless, AC Milan are only three points adrift of Lazio -- who are in third place, the final qualifying spot for the Champions League -- with the Nerazzurri a point further behind.
Inter supporter Pisapia said followers of both clubs could play a big part in getting them back into the Champions League next season, adding: "The fans can be that 12th man who is often fundamental for success.
"For this reason, it's important that they do not abandon their team, particularly not in times of difficulty. Faith in the colours you follow never dies."