Gattuso headbutt sums up low Milan expectations

MILAN (Reuters) -- Gennaro Gattuso's headbutt on Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Joe Jordan, explained by the player as a loss of control, was also a further sign of AC Milan's downbeat Champions League expectations this term.

Milan's 1-0 home defeat to Spurs in the first leg of their last 16 tie, which began with a whimper as Massimiliano Allegri fielded a defensive team, ended with an explosion of frustration that could lead to a lengthy suspension for Gattuso.

UEFA opened a disciplinary case against him on Wednesday and the Milan captain has already apologised for his "inexcusable" behaviour and said he would accept any punishment coming his way.

Given that Gattuso is already suspended for the return leg in London on March 9, and the strong position Tottenham are now in, he may have suspected their European adventure would not last much longer in any case, and such an episode would therefore not hurt his side significantly.

"I won't tell you what we said to each other, but we were talking in Scottish," the former Rangers player told reporters after his confrontation with Jordan, an ex-Scotland international who was regarded as one of the game's hard men.

"I lost control. There is no excuse for what I have done.

"Do I expect a ban? I will accept whatever decision."

EUROPEAN NOVICE

Milan's focus appears to have been on Serie A from the day they appointed the unheralded Allegri, a former Cagliari boss with no European experience at all, in the close season.

With the mercurial Antonio Cassano and combative Mark Van Bommel ineligible having played in the competition already this term for Sampdoria and Bayern Munich, Allegri's hands were tied against a vibrant Tottenham side in pouring rain which epitomised Milan's night.

The club knew what they were doing when recruiting the cup-tied Cassano and Van Bommel.

The Serie A leaders desperately want a first Serie A title since 2004 and if that means putting Europe on the backburner for a season then so be it.

Allegri, though, has not given up hope that the 2007 winners can recover at White Hart Lane.

"We will play a different game. Everything is still possible," he said.