AC Milan head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of the match against Cremonese, which is the Serie A opener:
Regarding formation, will we see a Milan playing with three upfront?
"We’ve always done it. Rafa is playing up front, and you could see it also with Saelemaekers and Pulisic, so we’ve already done this. Santi (Gimenez) has played as well, and we also have Chukwueze, there’s great spirit."
On midfield:
"Today I’ll decide whether to start Modric or not. Loftus-Cheek and Fofana will have to score at least 15 goals between them, it’s a target I’ve set and that I care about."
An update on Rafa Leao?
"There isn’t any; he’s fine, and hopefully we’ll have him for Lecce, otherwise we’ll see him after the break."
Will Milan play with three or four at the back?
"It’s not a question of how we play, but of the characteristics we have. The important thing is to maintain balance and order; then I will decide based on the qualities and traits of my players."
On the transfer market
"The club has done a good job both in departures and arrivals. We speak with the management every day to understand objectives and see what might happen. But right now, the important thing is the match we have tomorrow night."
On Modric and the champion seen at Milanello:
"Technically speaking about Modric, there’s no need to discuss him… his career speaks for itself. He plays more as a wide player than a central one, and few do that. He is a boy with great humility. He can’t have the physicality of ten years ago, but together we will manage him in the best way. He’s in very good physical shape."
Leaving Juventus and the renewed enthusiasm at Milan:
"It wasn’t bad; we won the Coppa Italia in the last match, and everyone knows what Juventus meant to me. I am very excited and happy to return to the bench after a year and to do it with Milan. Hopefully, we won’t make too many mistakes (laughs)."
The San Siro atmosphere like in 2010:
"We will have to be the ones to motivate the players through victories and matches; if we do that, the stadium will definitely give us a hand."
Do you feel the responsibility of having to achieve something important?
"It’s not that if Allegri is here, Milan automatically wins. In great clubs, it’s not about the coach or the players, it’s about the club’s history. When you are here, you have to feel the responsibility to work in a certain way and not make mistakes. We all have to work together to ensure that Milan, which is above everything and everyone, returns to play in the Champions League next year."
Could another central defender arrive?
"I am happy with the players I have. We have Tomori and De Winter who can play in the middle, but also others like Pavlovic and Athekame, who have different characteristics. Nine times out of ten, it’s the players who come off the bench who decide the championships."
You took over a Milan coming off a less-than-positive season. What do you think coaching these players?
"You have to show it on the field, with actions. The team has excellent qualities. I always say that someone good can become even better, but someone weak stays weak—maybe they can improve a little, but that’s it. Here we have strong players, but we will have to show everyone on the field. It will be fundamental to find team chemistry. As for last year’s dynamics, I don’t want to judge them; only those who were involved could know."
