It is not the time to change the objective.
To aim for something more than a return to the Champions League there will be time from March onward, depending on the turn the standings will have taken in spring. The match in Udine, however, has great importance for the Rossoneri.
In the last two decades the club has obtained more than nine points after four rounds only twice, in the title-winning year 2021-22 (10) and in the season prior to it (12), both under Pioli’s guidance.
Tonight, with a third consecutive victory, Allegri can rise to nine points and send a message to the other big clubs. Last year a trio of wins in Serie A was signed by both Fonseca and Conceição, and then everyone knows how it ended, with the Rossoneri out of European competitions. Consistency of performance is needed, not for a limited portion of the league, but until March. Only at that point Gabbia and his teammates (with Maignan and Leao out, the defender will wear the captain’s armband) will be able to aim for something more than fourth place.
This is why yesterday Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said the following:
"The important thing is to give continuity to the results and go onto the pitch against Udinese with responsibility, compactness, and technique. We face a difficult match because the Bianconeri have physical and quality players. It will be a difficult test, one of the four key matches of the league, and we must immediately switch on the light to avoid hurting ourselves."
Maturity and balance...
In the week in which the four Italian sides engaged in the Champions League exhausted themselves, Max was able to work at Milanello and now must exploit the advantage. He has too much experience to underestimate the meaning of a fast start, especially for a team that has not yet digested last season’s disappointment and that has changed over half the squad in the transfer market. The margins for improvement are considerable in all departments and the objective is to oil the mechanisms while continuing to get results. How? By playing with attention and hunger, but above all without exalting themselves. "We must keep a very low profile, not go from exaltation to depression. The watchword is to face this match and the following ones with balance. At Milan normality is to win matches, the exception is to lose one. This must be our mental strength." It sounds like a clear input in view of the trip to the Bluenergy Stadium. During the week he received many compliments, perhaps too many for his liking. So he sensed the danger and spoke clearly to the team, in addition to keeping the level of attention high in training: double session on Wednesday, almost two hours on the pitch on Thursday, to dictate his tactical instructions and correct even the wrong details. "It is not that because of two victories we have all become good and beautiful." This is why even in defense maximum concentration is required, despite the zero in the goals conceded column (and the few shots allowed) against Lecce and Bologna. Woe to feel already strong. "It will not happen because the boys are responsible and serious." Words halfway between coach and psychologist, one of Max’s best qualities.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
