The AC Milan head coach, Max Allegri, spoke to the media as usual in a press conference ahead of the next match against Como.
“It’s important because we’re in the final three months of the season. This is where the season is decided: the league title, Champions League spots, and staying up. We have very little room for error and little time to make up ground. Tomorrow is a difficult match, Como are still fully in the race for the Champions League. We’ll need to stay focused and prepare for the game in the best possible way.”
Allegri provided a medical update:
"Other than Rabiot, who is suspended, the rest are doing fairly well. Saelemaekers is available, we hope Pulisic will be too, because he still has this slight discomfort. We’ll see if he can be there. Gimenez will be back with the squad as soon as possible."
How did you experience the last weekend of controversy?
“Many people have already spoken about it. We have to stay focused on our objective, without wasting mental and nervous energy on what happened. We need to be good at managing the unexpected during a match. These things have always been part of football, they are part of it now and they always will be. The people in charge are working to improve the objective aspects of VAR. The subjective ones can be debated, the objective ones cannot. What matters for us is getting points tomorrow. We need to take another small step forward.”
What percentage fit is Leao right now? Allegri replied:
“It’s hard for me to give a percentage. Let’s say he’s doing well. He trained well yesterday too. He’s a player who, like Pulisic, has had physical issues this season but has still scored important goals. In the final part of the season, when matches will change completely and technical players like them will be needed, they will surely do very well.”
Still on referees:
“I don’t know whether referees need to become fully professional or not. Our league is beautiful, these things have always happened and always will. We even ended up analyzing an incident from the English league. We should ask ourselves whether matches and technical play are more important, or the referees’ decisions. Instead of analyzing a player or a coach, we focus on referees. Reducing the pressure on referees would be important. The average age of referees has gone down and it’s not easy for them at all. In Italy there’s a lot of pressure because qualifying for the Champions League is an economic matter of life or death. We have to stay clear headed about our final objective. Everything passes through that.”
Fabregas did not take the defeat in the first match very well…
“I don’t think there’s a debate. Let’s say that Como and Fabregas are doing an important job. They’re in the fight for the Champions League. In such a short time they’ve done very well and they deserve only compliments. Then there are moments when you play well and moments when you play less well. For us at Milan, it’s important to get results through performances, whether they are good or not so good. We have an objective to reach, which is a Champions League place.”
What do you think about diving? Is it still tolerable? How can it be limited?
“Football has become extremely fast, it’s not easy for referees. The speed of the ball, the pace of play, the physicality of the players is different compared to 30 or 40 years ago. VAR needs to improve and solutions must be found, which I’m sure they are working on. You don’t find them in a single day. We should try to reach objectivity. And what is objectivity? In my opinion, one thing that absolutely needs to change is when there’s an offside and the action ends in a corner. That corner should never be given. Simulations? That’s subjective, it’s at the referee’s discretion. There’s nothing you can do about that. I already struggle to pick a lineup, imagine me telling VAR what to do. Football is not easy to explain, we can’t indoctrinate everyone. It’s beautiful because the weaker side can beat the stronger one. What happened on Saturday is disappointing for everyone, but I think the most disappointed are the ones directly involved.”
Is it pressure or an honor to keep the title race open?
“We’re not the only team still in the title race. There are 13 matches left and anything can happen. We have to be very cautious, both at the top and the bottom of the table. We absolutely must not waste energy on outside factors. Right now we need tunnel vision.”
Is there a risk the team will go into tomorrow’s match with heavy hearts after Saturday? Allegri said:
“Why? We’re doing good things. Inter were the clear favorites for the title, they started as favorites along with Napoli and right now they’re even more favored. For us there are still many points to fight for, and the teams behind are moving forward. Juve, Napoli, Roma, Como… We need to stay very calm. Once we secure the Champions League objective, then we’ll see.”
Valentine’s Day: a banner against you in Como’s stadium and dinner with Galliani…
“Adriano and I are friends. When we can, we meet and talk about everything. There’s always something to learn from Adriano. He’s Milan’s number one supporter. The first message I get when we win is always from him. Now there are excellent directors working for Milan’s future. The banner in Como? It’s part of the folklore, that’s fine.”
How do you replace Rabiot tomorrow, since he’s suspended? Is Ricci his replacement?
"As for the lineup, I haven’t decided yet. Jashari is doing very well, I still need to evaluate who to put on the pitch. Adrien is in great shape, he’s grown technically, tactically, physically and mentally. Whoever plays tomorrow will definitely put in a great performance."
