Ancelotti defends Milan goalkeeper

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended Dida after the Brazilian goalkeeper came under fire for his performance in the Champions League defeat against Manchester United.

Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport rated the Brazilian as the worst player in Milan’s line-up following their 3-2 loss at Old Trafford.

However, Ancelotti has come out in support of his first-choice goalkeeper.

“Dida made some great saves,” he said. “The first goal wasn’t an easy save because Cristiano Ronaldo was in front of him.

“Perhaps he should have covered the near post in Manchester’s third goal.”

Dida received a mark of 4.5 out of 10 by Gazzetta and was considered the main reason why the Rossoneri lost their semi-final first leg.

“He was uncertain from start to finish. He opened the way to Manchester’s first goal and made it easier for the Red Devils to score the third of the evening,” read Gazzetta’s evaluation of Dida.

The 33-year-old has been inconsistent in the past two seasons but the club are still hoping he can rediscover the form which earned him the best goalkeeper award in the 2003-04 Serie A campaign.

Dida, who last month signed a contract extension with the Rossoneri until 2010, only returned to play yesterday after two weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.