Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi feels the club's transfer policy is catching up to them.

Sacchi is critical of Milan's sacking of technical director Paolo Maldini at the end of last sesaon.

He told Corriere della Sera: "Sending Paolo Maldini away was an act against nature.

"However, signing 6-7 new foreigners at once is a gamble, especially in a team with few Italians. They need time to settle in, and to learn."

Sacchi was also asked why he was so critical of the Italian national team.

He continued: "Let's stick to football, after all it's you journalists who every second define it as a metaphor for life. We are a country that deludes itself into thinking it is great, but deep down we are aware that we count for little or nothing.

"I see commentators, former players and former coaches who on television claim that everything is exceptional, fantastic, but then when the microphone is off they claim the opposite."