The AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri, spoke to the media outlets in a press conference today ahead of tomorrow's serie A fixture vs Lecce:
What was the team’s reaction after the defeat?
“There is definitely a desire for payback. It was an unexpected defeat for everyone. With more attention in the situations that led to their goals, we could have brought home the win, as we created several chances. Tomorrow we have the chance to make up for it. Lecce play fast football, they’re very well-organised, and it’s never easy to play there.”
What do you think about coaching a team while the transfer market is still open? Do these last few days worry you or give you hope?
“As for the final days of the transfer market, they don’t worry me. By now we are used to the ups and downs that come with it. The market is the club’s responsibility, they’re working to bring in players who will help the team grow and allow us to reach March in the best possible condition and in a good position in the table. I’m happy with the players I have available. We’re angry about the defeat against Cremonese. We need to keep working and focus on what we have to do.”
Given all these moves, is Milan still a work in progress? And how important is Santi Gimenez to you?
“Santi, at the moment, is the only striker we have. I’ve known him for twenty days, he’s a good player, and we expect a lot from him. As for being a work in progress, I think we need to work daily, monitor the team’s growth as well as that of individual players. Several young, strong players with great potential have arrived. We must work to improve on last season’s position, and we have six months to do it.”
How is your synergy with the management? Allegri said:
“We talk regularly with the club. With Furlani, Tare, Ibra and Moncada, we’re in constant communication. The market is handled by the club, and we should not forget that the instruction I was given, and it has always been this way, is to balance the sporting side with the financial side, in order to keep the club sustainable. We just need to work. I need to concentrate on tomorrow’s match, which is important and difficult like all of them. The rest will be handled by the club.”
I don’t know if you want to speak about specific players like Nkunku, but what have you asked of the club?
“I’ve spoken with the club, but they know the opportunities, that’s their job, while mine is different. I’m here to work and coach the players at my disposal. I’m happy with the squad I have, because there are important qualities, and we must work.”
What do you think about Jashari, and in what position?
“He’s a strong player with great potential. Unfortunately, this morning he got injured in a training match after a clash with Gimenez and won’t be available tomorrow in Lecce. As for his role, I think he can either play as a holding midfielder in front of the defence, or in a midfield two. He can also play as a mezzala, but that depends on what is required from the mezzala role.”
Will De Winter play? And how do you assess the defence’s performance?
“I don’t know yet if De Winter will play. We’ve analysed the goals we conceded. We could have done better and avoided them because we were in position. These mistakes happen, but in the two errors we made over 90 minutes, we conceded goals. We need to reduce mistakes, if not eliminate them entirely, at this stage.”
Do you still need a striker like Giroud, or have the priorities changed?
“Nothing has happened. We need patience and trust in the market work the club is doing. It’s in everyone’s interest, especially the club’s, to build a team capable of competing with others. Do we need a striker of a certain type? That applies to everyone. I outline the characteristics, and then it’s up to the club to act in the market.”
Milan have conceded 137 goals in recent years. How are you working to improve this?
“By working, we’ll improve focus in the defensive phase. We’re working on it. Hopefully tomorrow we won’t concede, but you can’t fix such a deficit of goals conceded in just a few weeks. It will take some patience, but I’m sure we’ll solve it.”
How do you explain the difference in performances between the friendlies and the official matches?
“Against Cremonese we created a lot, had many shots. We conceded two crosses where we were positioned correctly, but mistakes crept in. Against Bari we conceded four shots on target and Maignan made two big saves. Already in Perth we conceded three or four chances against a side with limitations. After Bari, I sensed some alarm. Against Cremonese, in terms of prevention and counter-attacks, we did well, but on the goals we made mistakes. On Saturday we didn’t expect to concede, while against Bari we risked more. These things happen.”
Have you been in touch with Rabiot?
“No, not since before the holidays. Adrien is a player I’m fond of. He’s a Marseille player now. I have an emotional bond with him because we worked together.”
Is it true you’re unhappy with how the market is going?
“That’s not true. I’m used to working with the club and the players I coach, and for me, they are the best.”
Is there a need for another central defender?
“I don’t know if there is a need, but we must create the conditions to win. And when I talk about the defensive phase, I mean the whole team. We must win.”
What are your plans for the attack tomorrow?
“We need to approach the match the right way, with great respect. They have a lot of enthusiasm and played well in Genoa. Di Francesco makes his teams play good football. We must match their intensity and run as much as they do. Then, technical quality will come through — and that’s where we must improve.”
Can Leao, Pulisic, Saelemaekers and a striker coexist? Allegri commented:
“It all depends on them. If they give full commitment, we can do anything. I’m happy to coach this group because they train well and work hard. Tomorrow, more than playing a beautiful game, we need to win.”
Has there been any issue with Alex Jimenez?
“Everyone is late sometimes, one time or another. I have nothing against Alex, who is a good player. Nothing at all happened.”
Have you ever asked the club for Dusan Vlahovic?
“No, because Dusan is a Juventus player. With the club we’ve spoken about the characteristics of players and what can be done. If players with different characteristics arrive, we’ll adapt.”
