Rome - AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani Tuesday sent a clear message to coach Carlo Ancelotti, saying he is only certain to keep his job if the Devils retain their current third place in the Italian Serie A, Italian media reported.

Galliani said that his message should already be clear to everyone and wondered if he "has lost his ability to communicate or others have forgotten how to listen."

Finishing third in the Serie A secures a berth in next season's Champions League without having to play a preliminary round, which is necessary for the fourth-placed club.

Galliani also denied that Milan intend to sell Brazil star Kaka to Real Madrid and that the club is about to go on sale, as hinted recently by some Italian newspapers.

Milan are going through one of their poorest seasons since winning their seventh European title and the Club World Cup in 2007.

Last week they were eliminated from the UEFA Cup and lost 2-1 at Sampdoria in the Serie A, dropping 12 points behind leaders and city rivals Inter Milan.

Ancelotti said he "doesn't fee like a scapegoat and nobody in this club makes me feel like that. I am as responsible as anyone else is. When we get back some important players, this will be a different team."

Milan have played without key defender Alessandro Nesta since the start of the season, strikers Marco Borriello and Andriy Shevchenko have seldom been available, midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is out until the end of the season.

Kaka has nursed a foot injury in the past three weeks and his Brazilian compatriot Ronaldinho has also suffered from a flu and minor injuries. (dpa)