The bitter row between AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini and Inter coach Jose Mourinho has escalated. After Ambrosini's demands that Mourinho apologise for stating Milan would finish the season trophyless, the coach responded by stating the Milan man "lacks moral authority" because he "never said sorry" for an incident in 2007 when he told Inter fans they could stuff the Scudetto where the sun doesn't shine after winning the Champions League that same year.

"I am stunned and bitter that a man like Mourinho, who is usually so precise in his verbal communication, could comment on my statements with such a superficial approach," slammed Ambro on the official Milan website this evening.

"My original comments were in no way aimed at provoking or causing controversy. I absolutely will not accept lectures in morality from this man, as two days after that incident I did apologise to the Inter players and fans.

"In doing so I proved that moral authority that he, with little focus and no knowledge of the facts, dared to doubt."

Earlier in the day, the Special One had declared: "He's a charismatic player. He's important for Milan and yet I have never seen him say sorry. It sticks in my mind when Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o once apologised to Real Madrid fans. He was a man.

"Ambrosini lives in Milan and he has never done it," Mourinho ranted. "He doesn't have great moral authority speaking like this.

"But if Milan win the championship - that by the way is a theoretical and practical hypothesis - then I will be the first to offer my congratulations to my opponents. I did it when I lost in England when Manchester United beat us,"