Mourinho backs troubled Adriano

Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho says he is content to see troubled striker Adriano take time away from the game to deal with his personal problems.

The 27-year-old is currently back in his Brazilian homeland and has told reporters that he will not return to football until he has dealt with his issues.

He told reporters: “I have stopped my career for a while because I have lost the joy of playing. It could be one, two or three months.

“Everybody has the right to be happy in his job and I was unhappy in Italy. I will re-think my career. I am happy in Brazil alongside my friends and my family.”

On hearing those statements from his player, Mourinho added: “I don't feel like talking much about this, I only say that Inter has done everything it could to help him.

“They did it before I arrived and when I was here. I as coach and as a human being have always tried to help him, as has the club president Massimo Moratti and his team-mates.

“The important thing now is that he is happy. As I have already said before, if you lose a player but gain a man, this is perfect.

“But I haven't spoken to him and I hope we have the chance to discuss things further down the line.”

Meanwhile, an angry Mourinho admitted Saturday's 2-2 with Palermo felt like a defeat, after his side allowed a two-goal lead to slip.

The Serie A leaders looked to be coasting towards three more points after first-half goals from Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But they lost their focus after the interval and strikes from Edison Cavani and Davide Succi secured a point for the visitors and left Mourinho in critical mood.

“I don't like the result. It feels like a loss,” he blasted. “We lost concentration and perhaps thought the game was over and this was dangerous.”

AC Milan have again insisted that coach Carlo Ancelotti will not be leaving the club next summer to take up the managerial reins at Chelsea.

Reports both in Italy and England continue to link Ancelotti with the Blues hot-seat, but Rossoneri general manager Adriano Galliani says that such suggestions are without foundation.

He told the club's official website: “Milan has never contacted any coach while Carlo Ancelotti has been at the club.

“Ancelotti is under contract with us through to June 30, 2010.”

Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Ancelotti if he does leave the San Siro.