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AC Milan insists that its humbling 4-0 loss to Manchester United won’t affect its performance in Serie A, where it has moved within four points of leader Inter Milan.

The shutout in England that ousted Milan from the Champions League was Milan’s worst performance in Europe in six years, since getting beaten 4-0 by Deportivo La Coruna in the 2004 quarterfinals.

Milan president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reportedly shut off his TV after Wayne Rooney put United ahead with his second goal a minute into the second half.

The Gazzetta dello Sport’s front-page headline on Thursday read, “Once Upon a Time There Was Milan.”

Milan’s next game is against midtable Chievo Verona on Sunday.

“The defeat will not have repercussions on the league,” Milan coach Leonardo said. “There are 11 games remaining and we’ve got to stay focused on those.”

However, Milan has injury worries after key defender Alessandro Nesta was ruled out from the United game shortly before kickoff because of a right-knee problem that could be another serious blow to his injury-riddled career.

Nesta’s replacement, Daniele Bonera, injured his calf and was removed at halftime, prompting Leonardo to move Massimo Ambrosini back from midfield to defense. Striker Alexandre Pato also did not play in Manchester but is nearly ready to return from a hamstring injury.

Inter visits Catania on Saturday ahead of its return-leg Champions League game with Chelsea on Tuesday.

Inter forward Mario Balotelli will miss the game after bruising his right knee in training on Thursday.

With Walter Samuel suspended, Marco Materazzi could return in Inter’s defense alongside Lucio, with Ivan Cordoba an option at left back. Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is also set to return after a two-game ban.

Catania is coached by Sinisa Mihajlovic, the former Inter player and assistant coach.

Mihajlovic said he had been bombarded by so many text messages from his former teammates and players this week that he had turned his phone off.

Third-place AS Roma, which trails Inter by seven points, visits struggling Livorno, while fourth-place Palermo is at Udinese.

Juventus, which trails Palermo by two points in the hunt for the last Champions League spot, hosts last-place Siena on Sunday.

Fiorentina, which was ousted from the Champions League on Tuesday by Bayern Munich on away goals, visit Napoli on Saturday. AP