Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has told the fans ahead of today’s Serie A home clash with Parma that they are not giving his players the respect they deserve after a strong season.

Fiorentina were booed by their fans after Europa League elimination to Sevilla last week.

“It’s true that those that pay have the right to express their opinions,” Montella said.

“But considering what the team has done and how it has played this season, we didn’t deserve to be booed. My players and I leave the competition with our heads held high.

“Considering the resources we had, we have done more than we should have. So, my players deserve more respect.”

Melbourne champs

Melbourne Victory produced a performance of an intensity that recalled coach Kevin Muscat’s playing career to claim a third A-League title with a deserved 3-0 win over Sydney FC yesterday.

Besart Berisha grabbed his fourth goal in three A-League finals but it was not until Kosta Barbarouses and Leigh Broxham scored in the last seven minutes that the result reflected the dominance of the Dark Blues.

Victory are only the second team to win a hat-trick of Australian titles in the 10 years of the league after Brisbane Roar.

Berlusconi to keep major share in Milan

Reports in Italy yesterday said that Silvio Berlusconi is now only ready to sell up to 35 per cent of Serie A club Milan.

Berlusconi, 78, had originally considered selling the majority share but after talks with Thai investor Bee Taechaubol he announced that he would keep at least 51 per cent.

Yesterday, Gazzetta dello Sport reported the Milan supremo had further strengthened his grip on the club, saying at most he will part with 35 per cent of the shares.

“My concern is only to do what is best for Milan and the fans,” Berlusconi said.

Mou for award

West Brom chief Tony Pulis has tipped Jose Mourinho for Manager of the Year.

The reigning Manager of the Year believes the Stamford Bridge boss could succeed him after winning his third Premier League title in England.

Mourinho has questioned why he has failed to win the Manager of the Month award this season, despite Chelsea’s league triumph, but Pulis reckons he could land the top prize.

“He has got to be close,” Pulis, who won the award as Crystal Palace boss last year, said.

“Relentless is a great word and I think you can put that next to his name. I’m not so sure he’ll be worried about that (the monthly awards) when he picks up his medal. I think he will go down as one of the great managers.”

Burnley resigned to losing striker Ings

Relegated Burnley are resigned to losing top scorer Danny Ings when his contract expires at the end of the season, manager Sean Dyche said, with a host of clubs keen to sign the England Under-21 striker.

The 22-year-old has scored 10 goals in his first Premier League season but his strikes could not help Burnley beat the drop.

Ings has been linked with Manchester United and Liverpool when he becomes a free agent, though any club would have to pay a fee, decided by a tribunal, because he is under 24.

“You can never give 100 per cent guarantees. It’s probable that was a farewell from Danny though,” Dyche said following a 0-0 draw with Stoke on Saturday.

San Siro ground a hindrance for Inter

San Siro has become a hindrance rather than a help for Inter, coach Roberto Mancini said following their 2-1 home defeat by champions Juventus.

“It does weigh on you. We should win all the time here but instead we struggle,” Mancini said after their fifth home league defeat of the season on Saturday.

“The stadium should be our fortress but we’re not incisive enough. We should be winning nearly all our games here.”

The defeat left Inter in danger of missing out on European football for the second time in three seasons.

“The Europa League is clearly much further away from us after this game,” said Mancini.

Boca thrown out of Libertadores Cup

Boca Juniors have been thrown out of the Libertadores Cup after players from rivals River Plate were sprayed with an irritant that left them needing hospital treatment and caused their last 16 clash to be abandoned, the continent’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said.

CONMEBOL also hit Boca with a $200,000 fine and ordered the club to play four home games behind closed doors and another four away games without its fans.

Four River Plate players were taken to hospital after they were sprayed with an irritant by fans of their bitter Argentine rivals on Thursday, causing their Libertadores Cup derby to be abandoned at half-time.

Following CONMEBOL’s decision, River advanced to the quarter-finals.

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