Head coach Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of tomorrow's Serie A match against Cremonese.
Here's what he had to say:
Tomorrow the month of March begins, a month that has often echoed in his press conferences. How is Milan arriving at this point?
“We have made it to March, and fairly well too. We could have done even better. Now the season will be decided. In March, April and May the league and the Champions League spots are decided. Starting tomorrow, the downhill stretch begins.”
What did you say to the team after the defeat? What kind of week has it been?
“After six months without losing, we all felt the blow. On Tuesday we were all a bit dazed, while on Wednesday we had a good training session. Sooner or later we were bound to slip up, we hoped not, but it happened. Now we have to start running again. Cremonese have quality, they have had a good season. In the last three matches Milan have never scored in Cremona: two 0-0 draws and one defeat. The last win dates back to 93/94, the year before with Capello it ended 1-1. As for the injury report, Gabbia is out. He still has this inflammation issue. We hope he returns as soon as possible. They have put all of Loftus-Cheek’s teeth back in. Gimenez has completed all of his pre-fitness work. He is in good condition. It is possible that from this week he will start training with the team. It is a good sign, a strong recovery.”
Are there any regrets? Or do you think the team has given everything it could?
“This team comes to Milanello every day with the desire to improve and achieve the maximum. Of course there are opponents as well. Inter are doing excellent things, they have won 21 out of 26 matches. The points we have are the ones we deserve. We have reached March, that was the objective. Now we go match by match with the aim of collecting as many points as possible. Then on May 25 we will see where we have ended up.”
On the strikers:
“More than their understanding with each other, all four of my strikers are doing well. I do not know who I will start tomorrow. In the last half hour tomorrow we will need those who are on the bench. Pulisic has grown physically and mentally, he will score again. The important thing is that they are all in good shape.”
Risk of suspensions with Fofana, Rabiot and Saelemaekers:
“The most important match is tomorrow. Then, once tomorrow’s game is over, whoever is still standing will be available for the derby. Anyone who is suspended will be in the stands.”
In favor of a coach’s challenge for VAR:
“I think new rules came out today, which is a positive sign. It shows they are trying to improve the situation and make the best use of VAR. There are pros and cons to allowing a challenge. It needs to be studied, we cannot just throw something in. Changes should be made after proper testing, not introduced and then reversed.”
Capello says Leao does not fully convince him as a striker:
“Fabio and I stay in touch, I respect him a lot and we exchange views. So far Leao has scored important goals. Given the players we have at the moment, he and Fullkrug are the center forwards, with different characteristics. It is true that sometimes it feels like something is missing in the box, but we still create chances. With Fullkrug it is different, he is a traditional center forward. As a striker Leao has often made good movements, and many times he has not been given the ball. That is something we need to improve.”
Allegri, last night there was a similar incident to Milan Parma, but with a different refereeing decision:
“My message to the team is that we must focus on what we have to do. One incident cannot shape the whole match. We cannot look for excuses about a goal, a penalty, a foul or not a foul, otherwise we go in the wrong direction. We have to manage unexpected situations, there are many and we must handle them well. If we fall behind, if a penalty is given against us, these things must not affect us. The focus has to remain on the game itself.”
Again on VAR and the protocol:
“I repeat. Today I read that if a corner kick is awarded incorrectly, it will instead be given to the right team, which is an objective matter. Let’s start by improving the objective aspects, then what is subjective remains subjective.”
According to CIES, Milan is the worst European team for pressing index. Can you explain this figure:
“There are teams that play one way and teams that play another way. There is no single method to win in football. There are different approaches, there are teams with players who have certain characteristics. We have earned 54 points and that is what we deserve, so we must keep moving forward from there.”
The future of Allegri. Can he really leave at the end of the season? What does he say to the fans? Do some internal dynamics need to be clarified?
“Regarding these rumors that came out this week, there is complete harmony with the club. Then, as is normal in a discussion, there can be different points of view. It is important that everyone works for the good of Milan. I am very happy to have returned to Milan after 15 years and to have started working with a wonderful group of players. The club is planning and structuring Milan’s future. To do that, we need to achieve the most important result. As of March, for now, we are doing quite well. Now we have to see whether we are good enough to stay there or to take the final step. There is harmony between me and the club.”
Juventus and Inter out of the Champions League. Will it affect the league?
“Only the standings will tell us that. First of all, it is disappointing that the Italian teams have gone out of the Champions League. We hope that Atalanta, Bologna, Roma and Fiorentina go as far as possible, since they give us the chance of a fifth Champions League spot. As long as Italian teams go forward, it is good for Italian football. Now a 12 match league campaign begins with this table. We have points ahead of the teams chasing us. Staying where we are does not exist, so we must increase them.”
If the season ended today, what grade would you give Milan?
“Fifty four, which are the points we have earned. But the season does not end today. We must remain focused on achieving our main objective.”
Would the environment be happy at the end of the year with a second place finish? What would you say to fans who believed in the Scudetto?
“I would have nothing to say to the fans who, rightly, when you coach or play for Milan, you must have the ambition to aim for the maximum. If the maximum is first place, that is welcome. If it is second, that is welcome and so on. It means you have done your best. The league is always won by the best team of the season. At this moment Inter are the best, they have a ten point lead. I believe that for a club like Milan it is very important to play in the Champions League. Reaching March still involved in competitions is a very important result. That is the first objective a big team must have. We must work so that next year in March we are in this situation, and not only in the league.”
On Rabiot and Jashari:
“They are players with completely different characteristics. Jashari is very good in building play, he makes fewer forward runs than Rabiot, also because of his physical structure. He had an injury at the start of the season, but in the last two months he has grown, like Athekame, De Winter and Odogu. All the players the club signed in the summer have improved, just like those who were already here.”
Allegri, how is Pulisic? What is he missing to return to being lethal?
“I think he is close to a very good percentage. He has grown physically, he is much calmer, he has much more self confidence. He could return to scoring.”
How did you see the team these days? What did you insist on?
“We had a good week, trying to think less and run more.”
Can Jashari play as a mezzala?
“I believe he is growing a lot. He played good matches, also against Parma when he came on. It is normal that he makes fewer forward runs than Rabiot, he has different characteristics. But he has been an excellent signing.”
Does “Per sempre” by Sal Da Vinci also apply to Allegri and Milan? Do you have the mentality to one day become a manager like Ferguson or Wenger?
“I liked it. In any case, just look at the fact that in 20 years in Serie A I spent eight at Juve, this is my fifth year at Milan. It is in my DNA to move from one place to another, at least up to now. The thing I am very happy about is that those who work with me, like Paolo Bianco, give me so much and it is a wonderful staff. The younger ones, when they leave, start coaching and become good, it makes me proud. You need young people, fresh people. So far what has happened is that I spent many years at Juve and many years at Milan. We are closely tied to results. You can build an important path at Milan too. The club has an important project, which is to return to playing in the Champions League and then to go back to trying to win.”
