AC Milan vs AS Roma preview - Garcia calls for concentration

Roma coach Rudi Garcia has demanded maximum concentration from his players ahead of Saturday's match at AC Milan.

The Giallorossi beat Genoa 2-0 last time out to leapfrog city rivals Lazio into second place with four games remaining.

The top two teams in Serie A qualify directly for the Champions League next season.

Roma are one point clear of Lazio, who take on Inter Milan on Sunday.

"We need to be concentrated," Garcia said to the Italian press. "I'm only interested in this game.

"Our focus has to be only on Saturday's match.

"What other teams do doesn't interest me, the important thing is what my team will do to win this match."

Roma endured a difficult few months to fall out of the title race but they have hit back with convincing wins at Sassuolo and against Genoa in the last two rounds.

The Giallorossi have kept a clean sheet in their last two games while they have found the net five times in as many matches.

"We have to continue on this path," Garcia said. "It's vital we take three points on Saturday."

Saturday's match will be Roma's last away from Rome this season.

Garcia's side will host Udinese on May 17 and take on Lazio in the derby a week later, before ending the campaign at home to Palermo on May 31.

AC Milan are having a campaign to forget and last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Napoli was the Rossoneri's third straight loss.

Filippo Inzaghi's side are 11th in the Serie A standings, eight points adrift of the last Europa League qualifying spot.

"We hope for better times," AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez said. "There are so many things that haven't gone right.

"We are all responsible and we know we need to do more in training and in games.

"This jersey is too prestigious to accept our current situation."

Milan will have to overcome the absence of leading scorer Jeremy Menez, who is suspended.

Moreover, defender Mattia De Sciglio must also serve a one-match ban this weekend while captain Riccardo Montolivo is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign after undergoing surgery to remove pins on his left leg this week.