Media pillories ‘Didastro’ after Celtic charade

“DIDASTRO” read the front page in the Gazzetta dello Sport.

For Milan’s accident-prone goalkeeper, Nelson Dida, Wednesday night’s display against Celtic could lead to his club losing patience.

At Old Trafford in 2003, Dida played a big part in Milan’s Champions League win against Juventus, but fans have long believed he was a “didastro” waiting to happen.

After he conceded two bad goals against Bayern Munich in last year’s quarter-final, the Brazilian was pilloried on TV shows for two days, with reports that Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi wanted him fired immediately. Fans launched an internet petition calling for his new contract to be terminated. This time the criticism is more pointed, with players, management and supporters all embarrassed by his theatrical dive as well as his errors.

Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti tried to play down the incident.

“I’d like to hear what Dida has to say first, but in any event it doesn’t seem a serious incident to me. Dida may have exaggerated it.”

Vice-president Adriano Galliani phoned Berlusconi before telling journalists: “We both agreed that Milan wouldn’t be taking any action over the incident. Certainly it’s not a good thing to see a fan come onto the pitch and strike a player. If the gentleman concerned had stayed in his seat, Celtic would have won just the game and we all would have been happier.”

Dida, 34 on Sunday, had seemed likely to miss the Celtic match because of an injury to his left shoulder in the league game against Palermo. Back in action unexpectedly quickly, he, like other Milan players, was obviously confused when the fan ran on the pitch, but his absurdly delayed reaction was not forgiven, even if Dida was a genuine victim back in April 2005 when he was struck by a flare during the Champions League tie between Milan and Inter.

That game was abandoned, with Milan then awarded the game 3-0. By coincidence the referee on that occasion was also Markus Merk.

The Gazzetta commented: “Initially there was a moment of fear, but it didn’t last long, just time for the fan to get to Dida and give him a pat. Because that’s all it was.

“Then came another fear. That Dida’s piece of exaggeration, stretched out on the ground, stretchered off, would infect the other players and the coaching staff and the Milan management itself. Fortunately both fears turned into a double relief: Dida was fine, but more importantly Milan did not try and take advantage of the situation. That’s the sign of a big club.”