AC Milan boss Leonardo admits they were a mess for the opening 20 minutes of yesterday's 3-1 defeat by Palermo.

Cesare Bovo, Abel Hernandez and a glorious Fabrizio Miccoli effort earned the three points for the Rosanero.

"The approach to the game was all wrong. I had a team on that field that could've played the opening 20 minutes a lot better," said Leonardo.

"We conceded goals that could so easily have been avoided in the circumstances. We should've been solid, tight and tried to close down the spaces.

"Palermo took advantage of our mistakes and that ended up affecting the whole game."

Milan were already effectively out of the Scudetto race, but with a second straight defeat it is now mathematically certain too.

"In the second half the team took back the reins of the game. We scored a goal and threatened to equalise, but Palermo's third was the death knell."